Diagnostic Assistance
As of 09/01/2023, parasitic disease testing provided by CDC has resumed. Please refer to CDC’s Laboratory Test Directory for additional information on available tests, procedures to submit specimens, and required forms.
Please contact parasiteslab@cdc.gov for information on submitting specimens for diagnostic testing.
Healthcare providers needing assistance with diagnosis or management of suspected cases of parasitic diseases may contact CDC’s Parasitic Diseases Hotline at (404) 718-4745, or parasites@cdc.gov. For information on clinical management of malaria cases, please contact malaria@cdc.gov.
DPDx is a website developed and maintained by CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (DPDM) that uses the Internet to assist laboratorians and pathologists in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases, both in the United States and abroad. Please remember that DPDx will not respond to inquiries that are outside the goals and objectives of this website.
If you are a laboratorian, pathologist, or other health professional, please click here.
If you are a patient with a medical emergency, contacting CDC is not the proper way to get help. CDC is not a hospital or clinical facility; we do not see patients and are unable to diagnose your illness, provide treatment, prescribe medication, or refer you to specialists. Please see your health care provider or go to the nearest emergency room. We recommend that you view the CDC/DPD fact sheet on How to Find a Physician. This fact sheet has several links that might help you in locating a physician in your area.
If you would like information on parasitic diseases written for the public, please visit the DPDM website.
How to obtain health information:
- Please see if the subject of your inquiry is addressed as a fact sheet in CDC’s Alphabetical Listing of Parasitic Diseases or CDC’s Health Topics A-Z page.
- For general information on parasitic diseases, you may also want to contact local sources of health and disease information, such as a physician or health care provider, state or local health department, public or university library, or state and county medical association.
Resources:
DPDx is an educational resource designed for health professionals and laboratory scientists. For an overview including prevention, control, and treatment visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/.