Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is progressive neurological disease that affects several cervid species. The CWD susceptible species are white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, red deer, reindeer, sika, and moose. Since it was first reported in 1967, it has been documented in both captive and free-ranging cervid species in 25 states and three Canadian provinces.
As the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) tests hundreds of thousands of samples annually. However, on the brink of each year’s deer hunting season, test numbers begin to spike as the demand for CWD testing increases.
As with all TVMDL tests, it’s imperative samples arrive at the laboratory at the appropriate temperature and condition to allow for efficient and accurate testing.
Here are the steps TVMDL recommends to ensure samples submitted for CWD ELISA testing arrive safely at the lab.
1. Choose the proper size shipping box and styrofoam cooler for the amount and size of samples being sent.
2. Place a cool pack in the bottom of the styrofoam cooler to keep the samples properly preserved.
3. Place the sample in a whirl-pak and squeeze out as much excess air as possible. Fold the top of the whirl-pak down in a rolling fashion. Fold the tabs over to seal the whirl-pak.
4. Place the whirl-pak in a biohazard bag and seal it closed. Please note the Department of Transportation requirements when shipping biohazard materials.
5. Place the biohazard bag directly on the cool pack in the styrofoam cooler.
6. Use crumpled paper to fill the void in the styrofoam box to avoid the sample from moving around.
To download this information, click here. For more information on CWD testing, and other services offered at TVMDL, visit tvmdl.tamu.edu or call one of the agency’s full-service laboratories.