DPDx is a Web site developed and maintained by CDC's Division of Parasitic Diseases (DPD) 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 Web site.

Please include the following information along with your message:

• Your name
• Your affiliation
• Your telephone contact number (optional)

If you have digital images or other documents, please attach them.  When submitting digital images, we ask that you attach several images to better assist us in making an identification.  Please keep attachments under 500 KB in size.  If you are unable to meet this size requirement, send multiple emails and state in the initial email the number of images you are sending.

Please include the following additional information when submitting digital images for consultation:

• Specimen ID code,
• Mailing address for final reporting,
• Type of specimen,
• Date specimen was collected, stain used, and magnification of the microscopic field captured,
• Presumed diagnosis, and
• Any other pertinent data (e.g., pre or post Rx, travel history, etc.).

This assistance is free of charge.  Diagnostic assistance is not provided on the weekends or holidays.  If you have an urgent case, please do not delay case management and treatment.

Please send your diagnostic request to dpdx@cdc.gov.