Program Standards

Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Veterinary Services

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Program Standards

November 2013

Contents

Introduction....................................................................................................................................................5

Definitions......................................................................................................................................................6

Part A. Herd Certification Program .............................................................................................................11

(1) Administrative Procedures ..........................................................................................................11

Supervision ..........................................................................................................................................11

Entering Premises................................................................................................................................11

Providing Services ...............................................................................................................................11

Reporting Activities ..............................................................................................................................11

Designated Epidemiologist ..................................................................................................................11

Designated CWD HCP Coordinator.....................................................................................................11

Review of Approved State HCP Progress ...........................................................................................11

Selection of States for Approved State HCP Review ..........................................................................12

Approved State Review Report ...........................................................................................................12

(2) Participation.................................................................................................................................12

(2.1) Approving Existing State CWD Herd Certification Programs......................................................12

(2.2) Provisional Approval....................................................................................................................12

(2.3) Participating Approved State: Requirements ..............................................................................13

(2.4) Participating Herd: Requirements for Enrollment........................................................................15

(2.5) Herd Owner Enrollment and Advancement.................................................................................16

(2.6) Additions of Animals or Genetic Material (Germplasm) to a Herd: Effects on Status.................17

(2.7) Inspections and Inventories.........................................................................................................17

(2.8) Loss of Certification Status..........................................................................................................18

(2.9) Relocation of a Herd....................................................................................................................19

(2.10) Cancellation of Participation......................................................................................................19

(3) Registration, Identification, and Recordkeeping .........................................................................20

(3.1) Premises ID.................................................................................................................................20

(3.2) Animal Identification ....................................................................................................................20

(3.3) Herd Inventory: Records .............................................................................................................21

(3.4) National Herd Inventory Electronic Recordkeeping ....................................................................21

(3.5) Data Security in the Electronic CWD National Database............................................................22
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(4) Fencing Requirements ................................................................................................................22

(5) Surveillance and Sampling..........................................................................................................22

(5.1) Reportable Disease.....................................................................................................................23

(5.2) CWD-Suspect Animals................................................................................................................23

(5.3) On-Farm Surveillance .................................................................................................................23

(5.4) Animal Surveillance on Private Hunt Facilities............................................................................24

(5.5) Slaughter Surveillance ................................................................................................................24

(5.6) Sample Collection: Owner Responsibility ...................................................................................25

(5.7) Sample Collection and Submission Procedures .........................................................................25

(5.8) DNA Comparison for Verification of Animal Identity....................................................................26

(5.9) Quality Control.............................................................................................................................26

Exceptions ...........................................................................................................................................27

(6) Diagnostics..................................................................................................................................27

(6.1) Testing Authority and Approved Laboratory................................................................................27

(6.2) Official CWD Test........................................................................................................................29

(6.3) Confirmatory Testing ...................................................................................................................30

(6.4) Test Results.................................................................................................................................30

(6.5) Autolyzed Samples......................................................................................................................31

(6.6) Reporting of Results....................................................................................................................31

(7) National Reports .........................................................................................................................31

(7.1) Data Entry and Purpose ..............................................................................................................31

(7.2) Reporting Intervals .....................................................................................................................31

(7.3) Components of Report ................................................................................................................31

(8) Interstate Movement ...................................................................................................................32

(8.1) Requirement for Interstate Movement.........................................................................................32

(8.2) Issuance of Certificates (CVI) for Interstate Movement ..............................................................32

(8.3) Exemption for Interstate Movement ............................................................................................33

(8.4) Transiting.....................................................................................................................................33

Part B. Guidance on Responding to CWD-Affected Herds.........................................................................35

(1) Herd Plan ....................................................................................................................................35

(1.1) Herd Plan: CWD-Positive Herds .............................................................................................36

(1.2) Herd Plan: CWD-Exposed Herds ............................................................................................38

(2) Quarantine...................................................................................................................................41

(2.1) Release from Quarantine ............................................................................................................41

(3) Depopulation ...............................................................................................................................41

(4) Carcass Disposal ........................................................................................................................42

(4.1) Suitable Disposal Methods..........................................................................................................42

(5) Sanitary Precautions and Biosecurity Practices for Herd Plans and Depopulations ..................42

(6) Epidemiology...............................................................................................................................42
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(6.1) Responsibility ..............................................................................................................................42

(6.2) Investigation ................................................................................................................................43

(6.3) Traceback and Trace-Forward Notifications ...............................................................................43

Appendix I: Animal Identification.................................................................................................................44

Appendix II: Fencing Requirements and References .................................................................................46

Appendix III: Sample Collection ..................................................................................................................47

Appendix IV: Guidelines on Environmental Contamination and Recommended Procedures for Disinfection 

and Decontamination of Premises ..............................................................................................................54

Appendix VI: CWD Epidemiology Investigation and Report Template ......................................................61

Appendix VII. Links to Forms and Documents............................................................................................65
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Introduction

The goal of the CWD Program is to assist States, Tribes, and the cervid industry to minimize the risk of 

introduction, transmission, and spread of CWD in captive cervid populations in the United States. This is 

accomplished through the establishment of the national CWD herd certification program (HCP) and 

interstate movement requirements found in title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 55 and 

81.

The Program Standards are optional guidelines that provide detailed descriptions of suggested methods 

for complying with the legal requirements in the CWD regulations (9 CFR parts 55 and 81). These 

methods have been approved by the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS) to meet those requirements. Following the methods described in the Program Standards will 

facilitate achievement of herd certification status for participants in this voluntary national CWD program. 

These Program Standards will be reviewed at least annually by representatives of the cervid industry and 

appropriate State and Federal agencies. A notice will be published in the Federal Register to inform 

stakeholders of any revisions APHIS plans to the Program Standards. These Program Standards also 

may be amended in the future by replacing pages or by adding new pages with input from all 

stakeholders. 

Part A. Herd Certification Program. These Program Standards are optional guidelines to meet minimum 

requirements of the CWD rule adopted and approved by the Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services 

(VS), APHIS, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). They were established for three primary

purposes: 

1. To assist Federal and State agencies in maintaining CWD-certified herds of deer, elk, and moose 

(all Odocoileus spp. and Cervus spp. and their hybrids and Alces alces). 

2. To provide guidance on procedures to certify herds as a low risk for CWD by remaining in 

continuous compliance with the CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) requirements found in 

9 CFR 55. 

3. To provide guidance on complying with the minimum requirements for interstate movement of 

cervids found in 9 CFR 81. 

Enrollment and participation by cervid herd owners in the national CWD Herd Certification Program may

only occur in States that permit cervid farming. 

Approved States may have additional or stricter requirements that exceed the national program minimum 

requirements. 

Part B. Guidance on Response to CWD-Affected Herds. The CWD regulations in 9 CFR 55 describe 

minimum requirements in response to the finding of a CWD-affected herd in accordance with the national 

CWD HCP. This section further provides optional guidelines on best management practices that may be 

used by a State and herd owner to investigate and manage CWD-affected herds, including quarantine, 

depopulation, cleaning and decontamination, and herd plans.
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Definitions

Accredited Veterinarian. A veterinarian approved by the Administrator in accordance with Part 161 of 

this chapter to perform functions specified in subchapters B, C, and D of this chapter.

Administrator. The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or any person

authorized to act for the Administrator.

Animal. Any farmed or captive deer, elk, or moose.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

of the United States Department of Agriculture.

APHIS Employee. Any individual employed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service who is 

authorized by the Administrator to do any work or perform any duty in connection with the control and 

eradication of disease.

Approved State. A State that the Administrator has determined has an Approved State CWD Herd 

Certification Program.

Approved State CWD Herd Certification Program. A program operated by a State government for 

certification of cervid herds with respect to CWD that the Administrator has determined to meet the 

requirements of 9 CFR Part 55.

Approved Laboratory. A diagnostic laboratory approved by the Administrator to conduct official tests for 

CWD in accordance with 9 CFR 55.8

Assistant District Director (ADD). The APHIS veterinary official assigned by the Administrator to 

supervise and perform the official APHIS animal health work in the APHIS District and corresponding 

State(s) concerned.

Certified Herd. A Certified herd is regarded as low risk for CWD because it has attained Certified status 

as defined in 9 CFR 55.24.

Certified CWD Sample Collector. An individual who has completed appropriate training recognized by 

his or her State on the collection and preservation of samples for CWD testing and on proper 

recordkeeping, and who has been certified to perform these activities by his or her State regulatory 

authority for farmed and captive cervids.

Cervid. All members of the family Cervidae and hybrids, including deer, elk, moose, caribou, reindeer, 

and related species. For the purposes of this part [rule], the term “cervid” refers specifically to cervids 

susceptible to CWD. These are animals in the genera Odocoileus, Cervus, and Alces and their hybrids, 

i.e. deer, elk, and moose.

Chronic Wasting Disease, (CWD). A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids.

Commingled, Commingling. Animals are commingled if they have direct contact with each other, have 

less than 10 feet of physical separation, or share equipment, pasture, or water sources/watershed. 

Animals are considered to have commingled if they have had such contact with a positive animal or 

contaminated premises within the last 5 years.

CWD National Database. For the purposes of the CWD rule and the Approved State CWD HCP, a CWD 

HCP database administered by APHIS or a State database approved by the Administrator as compatible 

with a “CWD National Database” for the Approved State CWD HCP program.
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CWD-Exposed Animal. An animal that is part of a CWD-positive herd, or that has been exposed to a 

CWD-positive animal or contaminated premises within the previous 5 years.

CWD-Exposed Herd. A herd in which a CWD-positive animal has resided within 5 years before that 

animal’s diagnosis as CWD-positive, as determined by an APHIS employee or State official.

CWD Herd Certification Program. The Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program established 

in 9 CFR part 55. This program includes both herds that are directly enrolled in the CWD Herd 

Certification Program and herds that are included based on their participation in Approved State CWD 

Herd Certification Programs.

CWD-Positive Animal. An animal that has had a diagnosis of CWD established through official 

confirmatory CWD testing conducted by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).

CWD-Positive Herd. A herd in which a CWD-positive animal resided at the time it was diagnosed and 

which has not been released from quarantine.

CWD Source Herd. A herd identified through testing, tracebacks, or epidemiological evaluations to be 

the source of CWD-positive animals identified in other herds.

CWD-Suspect Animal. An animal for which a State official or APHIS employee has determined that 

preliminary laboratory tests from an approved laboratory or clinical signs suggest a diagnosis of CWD, but 

for which official confirmatory laboratory results have been inconclusive, or not yet conducted.

CWD-Suspect Herd. A herd for which preliminary laboratory tests from an approved laboratory, or clinical 

signs, suggest a diagnosis of CWD, as determined by a State official or APHIS employee, but for which 

official confirmatory laboratory results have been inconclusive or not yet conducted.

Deer, Elk, and Moose. All animals in the genera Odocoileus, Cervus, and Alces, and hybrids of these 

species. This includes white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and 

black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and any associated subspecies. Also includes 

North American elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and Sika deer (Cervus 

nippon).

Deputy Administrator. The VS Deputy Administrator or any other official to whom the Administrator has 

delegated authority to act as the Deputy Administrator.

Designated Epidemiologist. A State official or Federal veterinarian with epidemiology training or 

experience who assists in decision-making about the use and interpretation of diagnostic tests, analysis 

of field investigation data, and the management of CWD-affected herds.

Enrollment Date. With the exceptions listed in 9 CFR 55.22(a)(1), the enrollment date for any herd that 

joins the CWD Herd Certification Program after the effective date of this rule will be the date the herd is 

approved for participation.

Farmed or Captive. Privately or publicly maintained or held for economic or other purposes within a 

perimeter fence or confined area, or temporarily captured from a wild population for interstate movement 

and release.

Herd. One or more animals that are:

(1) Under common ownership or supervision and are grouped on one or more parts of any single 

premises (lot, farm, or ranch) or

(2) All animals under common ownership or supervision on two or more premises which are 

geographically separated but on which animals have been interchanged or had direct or indirect contact 

with one another.
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Herd Inventory. A herd owner’s written record of all of the animals belonging to a herd that includes 

species, date of birth, age, sex of each animal, the date of acquisition and source of each animal that was 

not born into the herd, the date of disposal and destination of any animal removed from the herd, and all 

individual identification numbers (from tags, tattoos, electronic implants, etc.) associated with each 

animal. Herd inventory can also refer to the process of reconciling a herd owner’s written record with the 

animals physically present in the herd. 

Herd Plan. A written herd and/or premises management agreement developed in collaboration with the 

herd owner, State representatives, and other affected parties. The herd plan will not be valid until it has 

been reviewed and signed by the State representative and the herd owner. A herd plan sets out the steps 

to be taken to control spread of CWD from a CWD-positive herd, to control the risk of CWD in a CWDexposed or CWD-suspect herd, or to prevent introduction of CWD into that herd or any other herd. A herd 

plan will require specified means of identification for each animal in the herd; regular examination of 

animals in the herd by a veterinarian for clinical signs of disease; reporting to a State or APHIS 

representative of any clinical signs of a central nervous system disease or chronic wasting condition in 

the herd; maintaining records of the acquisition and disposition of all animals entering or leaving the herd, 

including the date of acquisition or removal, name and address of the person from whom the animal was 

acquired or to whom it was disposed; and the cause of death, if the animal died while in the herd. 

A herd plan may also contain additional requirements to prevent or control the possible spread of CWD, 

depending on the particular circumstances of the herd and its premises, including but not limited to 

depopulation of the herd, specifying the time for which a premises must not contain cervids after CWDpositive, -exposed, or -suspect animals are removed from the premises; fencing requirements; selective 

culling of animals; restrictions on sharing and movement of possibly contaminated livestock equipment; 

premises cleaning and disinfection requirements; or other requirements. A herd plan may be reviewed 

and changes to it suggested at any time by any party signatory to it, in response to changes in the 

situation of the herd or premises or improvements in understanding of the nature of CWD epidemiology or 

techniques to prevent its spread. The revised herd plan will become effective after it is reviewed and 

signed by the State representative and the herd owner.

Herd Status. The status of a herd assigned under the CWD Herd Certification Program in accordance 

with 9 CFR 55.24, indicating a herd's relative risk for CWD. Herd status is based on the number of years 

of monitoring without evidence of the disease and any specific determinations that the herd has contained 

or has been exposed to a CWD-positive, -exposed, or -suspect animal.

Hold Order. A temporary order issued by a State prohibiting movement of animals from or into a 

premises for a given period of time.

Hunt Facility. A privately owned ranch or other premises selling commercial hunts. These facilities 

should have fenced enclosures maintained to prevent ingress and egress of cervids. They may

participate in an Approved State CWD HCP if they can comply with all minimum requirements for

Approved State CWD HCPs as set forth in the Federal regulations. 

Initial Reactor ELISA. The result of a CWD ELISA test conducted at an approved laboratory in which the 

optical density (OD) of the Bio-Rad ELISA test is above the prescribed cutoff OD value. 

Limited Contact. Any brief contact with a farmed animal such as occurs in sale or show rings and 

alleyways at fairs, livestock auctions, sales, shows, and exhibitions. Limited contact does not include 

penned animals having less than 10 feet of physical separation or contact through a fence; or any activity 

where uninhibited contact occurs such as sharing an enclosure, a section of a transport vehicle, sharing 

equipment, food, or water sources; or contact with bodily fluids or excrement. Pens at fairs, livestock 

auctions, sales, shows, and exhibitions should be thoroughly cleaned and all organic material removed 

after use and before holding another animal.
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Location-Based Numbering System. The location-based number system combines a State- or Tribalissued location identification (LID) number or a premises identification number (PIN) with a producer’s 

unique livestock production numbering system to provide a nationally unique and herd unique 

identification number for an animal.

National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). The USDA APHIS National Veterinary Services 

Laboratories.

Official Animal Identification. A device or means of animal identification approved by APHIS for use in 

the CWD Herd Certification Program to uniquely identify individual animals. For the purposes of the CWD 

regulations, and in accordance with the Animal Disease Traceability regulations (9 CFR 86.1, et seq.), the 

official identification number must be a nationally unique number that is permanently associated with an 

animal and that adheres to one of the following numbering systems: 

(1) National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES). 

(2) Animal Identification Number (AIN). 

(3) Location-based number system.

(4) Any other numbering system approved by the Administrator for the identification of animals in 

commerce.

Official CWD Test. Any test for the diagnosis of CWD approved by the Administrator and conducted in a 

laboratory approved by the Administrator in accordance with 9 CFR 55.8.

Owner. An individual, partnership, company, corporation, or other legal entity that has legal or rightful title 

to an animal or herd of animals.

Premises. The ground, area, buildings, water sources, and equipment commonly shared by a herd of 

animals.

Premises Identification Number. A unique number consistent with official animal identification as set 

forth in USDA’s Animal Disease Traceability framework, used to identify the premises on which a herd 

resides. This number is recorded in the CWD national database.

Quarantine. An order issued by a State prohibiting movement of animals from or into a premises for a 

given period of time.

Research Animal. An animal held captive for research purposes.

SCS − Core One. Surveillance Collaboration Services – Core One is a module of the VS Comprehensive 

and Integrated Animal Health Surveillance System. SCS –Core One supports routine animal health 

surveillance and program management under the purview of the VS National Center for Animal Health 

Programs (VS NCAHP) and the National Surveillance Unit (NSU).

State. Each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all territories or possessions of 

the United States.

State Official. An individual employed in livestock animal health or wildlife activities by a State or a 

political subdivision of a State who is authorized by the State or political subdivision to perform the 

activities involved.

State Veterinarian. The veterinary official of a State authorized by the State to supervise and perform the 

official animal health work of the State concerned.

Status Date. The day, month, and year on which the respective State or APHIS employee approves a 

change in the status of a herd in regard to CWD.
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Suspect Positive ELISA. The result of a CWD ELISA when either of the duplicate wells from repeat 

testing at an approved laboratory of the initial reactor ELISA homogenate by the Bio-Rad ELISA is above 

the prescribed cutoff OD values. These results must be confirmed by NVSL.

Suspect Positive IHC Test. The result of an approved CWD IHC test conducted at an approved 

laboratory in which the presumptive identification of abnormal protease resistant prion protein (PrPres)

has been detected in the tissue samples and that result must be confirmed positive by NVSL.

Traceback Herd. A herd in which a CWD-positive animal formerly resided.

Trace-Forward Herd. A herd that has received exposed animals from a CWD-positive herd within

5 years before the diagnosis of CWD in the positive herd or from the identified point of entry of CWD into 

the positive herd.

Veterinary Services (VS). The APHIS unit authorized to conduct prevention, control, and eradication 

programs for diseases of livestock and poultry.
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Part A. Herd Certification Program

(1) Administrative Procedures

The CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) is a cooperative effort between APHIS, State animal health 

or wildlife agencies, and farmed/captive deer, elk, or moose owners. Under the program, APHIS reviews 

State CWD HCPs and approves the programs if they meet Federal standards, monitors them to ensure 

consistency with Federal standards, and administers the national CWD HCP, subject to the availability of 

appropriated funds, in States that do not have an approved State CWD HCP. APHIS will execute a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with States having an approved CWD HCP.

Supervision

Routine supervision is provided by full-time State officials or APHIS employees. 

Entering Premises

In accordance with the MOU, persons working in the program must be authorized by the State to enter 

premises to carry out program activities. While on those premises, they must use standard sanitary 

procedures to minimize the risk of disease transmission to other premises. 

Providing Services

Owners may need to engage accredited veterinarians or other appropriate animal health professionals to 

perform program activities at the owner’s expense. Owners are responsible for assembling, handling, and 

restraining their animals. If resources are available, program services may be rendered by State and 

Federal agencies without expense to the herd owner. 

Reporting Activities

All CWD activities shall be reported as directed in 9 CFR part 55 and further described in the Program 

Standards. 

Designated Epidemiologist

A State official or Federal veterinarian (where applicable) with epidemiology training or experience to: 1) 

make decisions about the use of CWD diagnostic test results; 2) participate in field epidemiologic 

investigations; 3) manage CWD-infected herds; and 4) ensure data quality and accuracy for the CWD 

program in his or her State or District. In each State, a designated epidemiologist may be selected jointly 

by the State representative with regulatory authority for CWD and the APHIS Assistant District Director. 

Only persons with the requisite epidemiology training or experience should be selected.

Designated CWD HCP Coordinator

The State has designated at least one State representative, or has worked with APHIS to designate an 

APHIS employee, to coordinate CWD HCP activities in the State in accordance with 9 CFR 55.23.

Review of Approved State HCP Progress

APHIS may periodically review an approved State’s CWD program. Objectives of the review include:

1. Evaluate program activities to verify Approved State status. 

2. Identify and provide guidance on State problems in complying with Federal requirements. 
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3. Review farmed cervid surveillance activities and enrolled herd owner compliance. 

4. Review records and documents on enrolled herds, including laboratory reports and herd 

inventories. 

5. Review epidemiological reports submitted by the State-designated epidemiologist to the CWD

Epidemiologist and national CWD program manager. 

6. Assess compliance and completeness with data entered into the national CWD database or 

equivalent State database. 

7. Review educational and outreach efforts to producers. 

8. Evaluate personnel and other resource needs. 

9. Conduct site visits in accordance with VS Guidance 5509.1.

Selection of States for Approved State HCP Review

CWD Epidemiologists, with input from District leadership and national program staff, will consider States 

with compliance or program consistency issues, States with varying sizes of cervid industry, District 

balance (selecting States from each District), and review intervals (at least once every 5 years). 

Approved State Review Report

APHIS will give a State Review report to the Approved State that will include the findings of the review, 

and a request to the State to develop a response which could include an action plan. The plan will include 

a list of recommendations or requirements to address specific issues identified and a specified period of 

time to complete. 

(2) Participation

The regulatory authority for the requirements for participation in the national CWD HCP is found in 9 CFR 

Part 55 Subpart B and describes the surveillance, monitoring, and related actions to determine the CWD 

status of farmed or captive deer, elk, and moose. Herds that successfully complete 5 years of the 

program with no evidence of disease will be designated as certified and will be eligible to move interstate.

(2.1) Approving Existing State CWD Herd Certification Programs

APHIS will accept applications to become an Approved State CWD herd certification program and will 

review the State’s documentation of the CWD programs already existing within the State to determine if 

the State meets the program requirements. Existing State CWD programs and farmed or captive elk, 

deer, and moose owners participating in them will be approved if they meet the minimal requirements of 

the CWD rule (9 CFR part 55). The date that these herds enrolled in a State program that APHIS 

subsequently determines qualifies as an Approved State CWD herd certification program would be 

considered their enrollment date in the national CWD HCP. This process will allow herds participating in 

approved State programs to retain their State status in the APHIS national CWD HCP. A list of Approved 

State CWD HCPs will be posted on the APHIS CWD Web site. 

(2.2) Provisional Approval

Provisional approval may be granted to States that do not meet all the national CWD HCP minimum

requirements on application to the program. APHIS and the State will work to develop a plan with an 

appropriate time frame to meet program requirements. 
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(2.3) Participating Approved State: Requirements

States must submit an application, including a completed VS Form 11-2 and supporting documentation, 

describing their ability to meet the national CWD HCP requirements. In reviewing a State program’s 

eligibility to be designated as an Approved State, the Administrator or designee will evaluate the State 

statutes, regulations, and directives pertaining to the State agency responsible for farmed or captive 

cervids, as well as relevant reports and publications of the State animal health or State wildlife agency. 

The Administrator or designee will also review a written statement from the State animal health or State 

wildlife agency describing State CWD control and farmed or captive elk, deer, and moose herd 

certification activities. In determining whether the State program qualifies, the Administrator or his or her 

designee determines whether the State: 

1. Has the authority, based on State law or regulation, to quarantine and restrict intrastate 

movement of all CWD-positive, CWD-suspect, and CWD-exposed animals. 

2. Has the authority, based on State law or regulation, to require the prompt reporting of any animal 

suspected of having CWD; and to forward test results for any animals tested for CWD to APHIS 

and State representatives, or State wildlife authorities when they are the appropriate regulatory 

authority. 

3. Has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between APHIS and the State that 

delineates the respective roles of each in CWD HCP implementation. A link to the MOU form can 

be found in Appendix VII. 

4. Has placed all known CWD-positive, CWD-exposed, and CWD-suspect animals and herds under 

movement restrictions, with movement of animals from them only for destruction with appropriate 

carcass disposal, or under permit.

5. Has effectively implemented policies to: 

a. Promptly investigate all animals reported as CWD-suspect animals within 7 days of 

notification. 

b. Designate herds as CWD-positive, CWD-exposed, or CWD-suspect and promptly restrict 

movement of animals from such herds after an APHIS employee or State official determines 

that the herd contains or has contained a CWD-positive animal.

c. Remove herd movement restrictions only after completion of a herd plan. 

d. Conduct an epidemiological investigation of CWD-positive, CWD-exposed, and CWD-suspect 

herds that includes the designation of suspect and exposed animals and that identifies 

animals to be traced in accordance with recommended guidelines. 

e. Initiate and conduct tracebacks of CWD-positive animals in affected herds and trace-outs of 

CWD-exposed animals. 

f. Report, within 30 days following notification of a CWD-positive animal, any out-of-State traces 

to the appropriate State official and APHIS employee. 

g. Conduct tracebacks based on slaughter sampling. Investigation should be initiated promptly 

following notification of a CWD-positive animal at slaughter. 

6. Effectively monitors and enforces State quarantines or hold orders and State reporting laws and 

regulations for CWD, documenting any noncompliance with quarantines, hold orders, or 

reporting. 
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7. Has designated at least one State official to coordinate CWD HCP activities in the State. 

8. Has programs to educate those engaged in the interstate movement of farmed or captive elk, 

deer, or moose regarding the identification and recordkeeping requirements of 9 CFR part 81. 

9. Requires, based on State law or regulation, official identification of all animals in herds 

participating in the CWD herd certification program, effectively enforces this requirement, and 

documents any noncompliance with this requirement. 

10. Maintains the following information in the CWD National Database administered by APHIS (SCS

– Core One), or in a State database recognized by the Administrator as meeting the data 

requirements in the CWD National Database as outlined below: 

a. Premises information and assigned premises numbers. 

b. Individual animal information on all farmed or captive elk, deer, and moose in herds 

participating in the CWD HCP in the State. 

c. Individual animal information on all out-of-State farmed or captive elk, deer, and moose to be 

traced. 

d. Accurate herd status data. See Section A3, “Registration, Identification, and Recordkeeping” 

for detailed information on data requirements. 

11. Requires that tissues from all CWD-exposed and suspect animals from affected herds that die or 

are depopulated or otherwise killed be submitted to a laboratory authorized by the Administrator 

to conduct official CWD tests. 

12. Requires appropriate disposal of the carcasses of CWD-positive, CWD-exposed, and CWDsuspect animals (Appendix V). 

13. Enforces all testing and disposal requirements, and documents any noncompliance. 

The State further ensures that herds comply with program requirements including physical herd 

inventories at least every 36 months, annual herd and premises inspections, and verification of required 

CWD surveillance. Physical inventories may be conducted on unrestrained animals if it is possible to 

visually inspect and verify at least one CWD HCP required identification number and device on each 

animal, and that information is matched to herd records. Animals may be temporarily gathered in pens or 

other means used for viewing. Any animals in which ID cannot be visually inspected will need some form 

of restraint for confirmation. 

Farmed or captive elk, deer, and moose herd owners who do not wish to move their animals interstate or 

who cannot meet the requirements of the National CWD Herd Certification Program may choose not to 

participate such as commercial hunt facilities that receive animals from multiple sources.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

15

(2.4) Participating Herd: Requirements for Enrollment

A. Herd owners already participating in an Approved State CWD HCP will maintain the same 

enrollment date for the National CWD HCP as the first date that the herd participated in the 

Approved State program. 

B. Herd owners may be able to enroll directly in the National CWD HCP, subject to the availability of 

appropriated funds, if they do not have an Approved State CWD HCP in their State. Their 

enrollment date will be the earlier of: 

1. The date APHIS approves enrollment; or 

2. A date no more than 3 years before the date APHIS approved enrollment if the owner has 

demonstrated the herd has been maintained in a manner that substantially meets the 

requirements listed in Sections A 2.4 (C) and 2.5.

C. Herd owners enrolled in either the Approved State CWD HCP or directly enrolled in the national 

CWD HCP agree to maintain their herds in accordance with the following requirements: 

1. Each animal in the herd must be identified before reaching 12 months of age using means of 

identification described in Section A 3.2 of these Program Standards. 

2. The herd premises must have perimeter fencing adequate to prevent ingress or egress of 

cervids. This fencing must comply with any applicable State regulations, and follow the 

guidance provided in these Program Standards (See Section 4 – Fencing Requirements). 

3. The owner must immediately report in a prompt and timely manner to a State official of the 

Approved CWD HCP or to an APHIS employee (where applicable) all deaths of farmed or 

captive deer, elk, and moose aged 12 months or older (including animals killed on premises 

maintained for hunting and animals sent to slaughter), and must make the carcasses of such 

animals available for tissue sampling and testing in accordance with instructions from the 

State representative (Approved State CWD HCP) or APHIS employee (where applicable).

States may routinely allow up to 1 week for reporting mortalities. However, State or APHIS 

employees may approve mortality reporting schedules other than immediate notification when 

herd conditions warrant it in the opinion of both APHIS and the State. Mortalities also should 

be reported to the States through laboratory reports of samples tested by the Approved labs. 

Herd inventory records should be updated and reconciled at least annually for submission to 

the Approved State Official.

4. The owner also must immediately report in a prompt and timely manner of discovery to a 

State official (Approved State CWD HCP) or an APHIS employee (where applicable) animals 

that have escaped or disappear, or are otherwise missing from the premises as well as entry 

of any wild cervids into the facility. States may routinely allow up to 72 hours for reporting 

such incidents. This also may allow time for the herd owner to recapture the animal and work 

with the Approved State for decisions on disposition of the animal(s).

5. Records, including a complete inventory of animals, must be kept in accordance with Section 

A 3.3 of these Program Standards. Herd owners must make animals and records available to 

accredited veterinarians, APHIS employees, or State officials for inspection. Owners are 

responsible for assembling, handling, and restraining animals for physical inventories or other 

inspections under conditions that will allow the accredited veterinarian, APHIS employee, or 

State official to safely read all identification on the animals. The owners are responsible for 

the costs that may be incurred to present the animals for inspection and must agree that any 

liability or injury to the animals during handling rests with the owner. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

16

6. If an owner wishes to maintain two or more separate herds, he or she must maintain separate 

herd inventories, records, working facilities, water sources, equipment, and land use. There 

must be a buffer zone or geographic zone of at least 30 feet between the perimeter fencing 

around the separate herds, and no commingling of animals may occur. Movement of animals 

between herds must be recorded as if they were separately owned herds. 

A herd consists of an animal or group of animals that are either under common ownership, 

control, or supervision and are grouped on one or more parts of any single premises (lot, 

farm, or ranch) where commingling of animals occurs; or a single herd of all animals under 

common ownership, control, or supervision on two or more premises which are 

geographically separated but on which animals have been commingled or had direct or 

indirect contact with one another.

Farmed cervids are commingled if they are housed or penned together having direct physical 

contact with each other, have less than 10 feet of physical separation or any activity where 

uninhibited contact occurs such as sharing an enclosure, a section of a transport vehicle, or 

sharing equipment, pens or stalls, pasture, or water sources/watershed (i.e., housed in a pen 

that receives runoff or shares a natural or manmade body of water with another pen), or 

being grouped together for bottle feeding (such as in fawn rearing facilities). Commingling 

includes contact with bodily fluids (blood, saliva, urine), or excrement from other farmed 

animals. Farmed cervids commingled with other farmed cervids assume the status of the 

lowest program status animal in the group.

7. New animals may be introduced into the herd only from other herds enrolled in the CWD herd 

certification plan and under the conditions outlined in Section A 2.6.

Failure to comply with any of the listed HCP requirements will affect the herd status and could result in 

suspension or removal from the national CWD HCP. 

(2.5) Herd Owner Enrollment and Advancement

A. Individual herd owner direct enrollment will be for herds that reside in States that do not have an 

Approved State HCP and is subject to availability of appropriated funds. Herd owners wishing to 

participate in the National CWD HCP must first submit a signed application for enrollment form 

(VS Form 11-1), a current inventory, documentation showing that all animals in the herd 12 

months of age or older were inspected and inventoried within the previous 12 months, and a 

statement attesting to the requirements listed in Section A 2.4 of the Program Standards. 

APHIS will determine the herd enrollment date for HCP participation on receipt and evaluation of 

the information provided. The enrollment date may include no more than 3 years of credit time if 

the owner can demonstrate the herd has been maintained in a manner that substantially meets 

the requirements in Section A 2.4

The enrollment date will be the day, month, and year in which an owner’s herd is officially 

enrolled in the HCP. This date is important because it would typically be used to calculate when

herds may advance to a higher herd status under the HCP after completing successive years 

without CWD being diagnosed in the herd. For a herd that only adds animals from herds with the 

same or greater status, the enrollment and status dates will remain the same. However, for herds 

that add animals from herds with a lesser status the enrollment and status dates for the receiving 

herd will reflect the lowest status date. The enrollment date is a fixed date, while the status date 

may change based on herd additions or status progress. 

B. When initially enrolled in an Approved State CWD HCP or directly enrolled in the national CWD 

HCP, all herds will be placed in First Year status. Each year, on the anniversary of the enrollment 

date or status date (whichever is later) and of meeting the HCP requirements, the herd status is 

upgraded by 1 year; i.e., Second Year status, Third Year status, Fourth Year status, and Fifth 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

17

Year status. One year from the date a herd is placed in Fifth Year status with no findings of CWD

in the herd after 5 continuous years of testing, the herd status is changed to Certified, and the 

herd remains in Certified status as long as continuous enrollment is maintained in the program 

and the herd continues to meet all of the program requirements. Enrolled herds that have 

achieved Certified status are eligible to move interstate in accordance with 9 CFR 81.3.

Herds that are established and sourced solely from other Certified herds will be enrolled as 

Certified herds and must continue to demonstrate compliance with program requirements to 

maintain Certified status. 

Eligibility for advancement from one status to the next is based on compliance with program

requirements, including the submission of samples. Should the herd owner not be in compliance 

with 9 CFR part 55, State officials and APHIS employees will withhold advancement or lower, 

suspend, or revoke the status. 

(2.6) Additions of Animals or Genetic Material (Germplasm) to a Herd: Effects on Status

A herd may add animals from herds with the same or a greater status in the national CWD HCP with no 

negative impact on the status of the receiving herd. 

If animals are acquired from a herd with a lesser status, the receiving herd reverts to the status of that 

source herd. If a herd participating in the program acquires animals from a nonparticipating herd, the 

receiving herd reverts to First Year status with a new status date listed as the date of acquisition of the 

animal. The enrollment date in the national CWD HCP would remain unchanged but the herd status level 

would be modified (and modification date recorded). 

If a herd acquires animals from herds with a lower or nonparticipating status, the owner must notify a 

Federal or State official within 5 business days of such acquisition.

At this time there is no scientific evidence that germplasm (embryos or semen) may transmit CWD.

New herds assembled from multiple sources will be assigned the status of the lowest status source herd 

(i.e., will be given the status date of the lowest status herd). 

Other sources of equivalent or higher status animals may include cervid herds enrolled and at an 

appropriate level in a CWD herd certification program in another country where APHIS recognizes the 

HCP to be at least equivalent to the APHIS national CWD HCP. 

(2.7) Inspections and Inventories

Inspections are conducted annually and physical inventories are conducted at least every 3 years as 

described below. Records are reconciled during inspections and inventories.

An initial complete physical herd inventory in which all animals in the herd are visually inspected and 

individual identification verified and recorded must be performed on a herd in accordance with this 

paragraph at the time a herd is initially enrolled in the CWD HCP. APHIS may accept a complete physical 

herd inventory performed by a State representative, an accredited veterinarian, or an APHIS employee 

not more than 12 months before the herd’s date of enrollment in the CWD HCP as fulfilling the 

requirement for an initial inventory. 

Thereafter, a physical herd inventory must be performed for all herds enrolled in the CWD HCP no more 

than 3 years after the last complete physical herd inventory for the herd. Physical inventories may be 

conducted on unrestrained animals providing that it is possible to visually inspect and verify at least one 

CWD HCP required identification number and device on each animal, and that information is matched to 

herd records. Animals may be temporarily gathered in pens or other means used for viewing. Any animals 

in which ID cannot be visually inspected will need some form of restraint for confirmation. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

18

In addition, herd and premises inspections to include record inventories are conducted and reconciled 

annually. These annual inspections ensure compliance with the provisions of this program. Herds may

not advance in status until the annual inspections have been completed, submitted, reconciled, and 

approved. 

These inspections and inventories will be conducted by State officials, accredited veterinarians, or APHIS 

employees (subject to the availability of Federal funding), and will consist of inspections of the herd and 

facilities as well as inventory verification. Inventory verification conducted during the triennial physical 

inventories includes inspection of the individual animals, verification of identification for each individual, 

and reconciliation of the animal inspection and identification verification findings to the written records.

(2.8) Loss of Certification Status

Failure to Comply with Program Requirements 

Herds may lose national herd certification status if the Administrator or a designee, in consultation with 

the respective Approved State Official, determines that the herd owner failed to comply with the program 

requirements. The Administrator will determine owner compliance failures for herds enrolled directly in the 

national CWD HCP in States without an Approved State CWD HCP.

CWD-Positive or Exposed Herd 

If a herd is designated a CWD-positive herd or a CWD-exposed herd, it immediately loses its program 

status, and may only re-enroll after entering into a herd plan. 

CWD Suspect, Traceback, or Trace-Forward Herd 

If a herd is designated a CWD-suspect herd, a traceback herd, or a trace-forward herd, it will immediately 

be placed in suspended status pending an epidemiological investigation by the State animal health 

agency. A herd may remain in suspended status until the epidemiological investigation ends and 

appropriate actions are taken. 

If the epidemiological investigation determines that the herd was not commingled with a CWD-positive 

animal, the herd is reinstated to its former program status, and the time spent in suspended status counts 

toward its advancement to the next herd status level. 

If the epidemiological investigation determines that the herd was commingled with a CWD-positive 

animal, the herd loses its program status and is designated a CWD-exposed herd. (See definitions of 

“commingled” and “limited contact” in the Definitions Section.) 

Farmed cervids are commingled if they are housed or penned together having direct physical contact with 

each other, have less than 10 feet of physical separation or any activity where uninhibited contact occurs 

such as sharing an enclosure, a section of a transport vehicle, or sharing equipment, pens or stalls, 

pasture, or water sources/watershed (i.e., housed in a pen that receives runoff or shares a natural or 

manmade body of water with another pen), or being grouped together for bottle feeding (such as in fawn 

rearing facilities). Commingling includes contact with bodily fluids (blood, saliva, urine) or excrement from 

other farmed animals. Farmed cervids commingled with other farmed cervids assume the status of the 

lowest program status animal in the group.

If the epidemiological investigation is unable to determine the exposed versus negative status of the herd 

because the animal or animals of interest are no longer available for testing (for example, a trace animal 

from a known positive herd died and was not tested) or for other reasons, the herd status would continue 

to be considered suspended until a herd plan is developed for the herd and implemented by the Approved 

State Official.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

19

If the herd plan is implemented and the requirements of the plan are being met, the herd will be reinstated 

to its former program status, and the time spent in suspended status will count toward its promotion to the 

next herd status level.

However, if the epidemiological investigation finds that the herd owner has not fully complied with 

program requirements for animal identification, animal testing, and recordkeeping, then the herd will be 

reinstated at the First Year status level. The herd owner must comply with all program requirements and 

the herd plan may require movement restrictions for animals in the herd. Testing of all animal mortalities 

for any reason and regardless of age and other requirements may also be required to control the risk of 

spreading CWD. 

Approved States may also consider providing an opportunity for a herd involved in the epidemiological 

investigation that is not already part of the CWD herd certification program to be allowed to immediately 

enroll in the certification program and conduct surveillance on all animals 12 months of age or older that 

die in the herd for any reason. 

(2.9) Relocation of a Herd

If a herd moves either within a State or to another State, it must meet all Approved State intrastate or

Federal interstate movement requirements. In addition, the appropriate State official or APHIS employee 

administering the Federal CWD rule should be notified of the relocation within 30 days. 

(2.10) Cancellation of Participation

Mandatory Cancellation 

The Administrator, in concurrence with the Approved State, may cancel the enrollment of an enrolled herd 

by giving written notice to the herd owner. The Administrator may cancel enrollment after determining that 

the herd owner failed to comply with any HCP requirements. 

Before enrollment is canceled, an Approved State Official or an APHIS employee will inform the herd 

owner of the reasons for the proposed cancellation and inform the producer of the 10-day appeal 

deadline. The herd owner may appeal the proposed cancellation in writing to the Administrator within 10 

business days after being informed of the reasons for the proposed cancellation. A timeline for the appeal 

process will be determined by the Administrator in consultation with the Approved State Official. The

appeal must include all of the facts and reasons on which the herd owner relies to show that the reasons 

for the proposed cancellation are incorrect or do not support the cancellation. The Administrator may

grant or deny the appeal in writing as promptly as circumstances permit, stating the reason for his or her 

decision. If there is a conflict as to any material fact, a hearing will be held to resolve the conflict. The 

Administrator sets the rules of practice concerning the hearing. 

In the event of cancellation, the herd owner may reapply to enroll in the national CWD HCP but will not 

reach Certified status until 5 years after APHIS approves the herd owner’s new application for enrollment 

regardless of the status of the animals in the herd.

Voluntary Cancellation 

An owner may decide to cancel participation in the CWD HCP at any time unless otherwise required by 

State regulations or a signed herd plan. The cancellation should be in writing. Owners who voluntarily 

cancel their participation may re-enroll at any time as a First-Year status herd and will receive a new 

enrollment and status date.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

20

(3) Registration, Identification, and Recordkeeping

The regulatory authority for registration, recordkeeping, and identification for each animal within enrolled 

herds is found in 9 CFR 55.23. 

(3.1) Premises ID

All participating premises must have a unique Premises Identification Number (PIN). 

The PIN is a nationally unique number assigned by a State, Tribal, or Federal animal health authority to a 

premises that is, in the judgment of the State, Tribal, or Federal animal health authority, a geographically 

distinct location from other premises. It is associated with a physical address (not a post office box), 

geospatial coordinates, and/or location descriptors which provide a verifiably unique location.

The PIN may be used in conjunction with a producer’s own livestock production numbering system to 

provide a unique identification number for an animal. It may also be used as a component of a group/lot 

identification number. The premises identification number may consist of:

1. The State’s two-letter postal abbreviation followed by the premises’ assigned number; or

2. A seven-character alphanumeric code, with the rightmost character being a check digit. The 

check digit number is based on the ISO 7064 Mod 36/37 check digit algorithm.

(3.2) Animal Identification

In accordance with 9 CFR 55.25, all animals in the herd must be identified with two animal identifications 

for each individual. One of these animal identifications must be a nationally unique official animal 

identification. 

The official animal identification must be a device using an APHIS-approved animal identification 

numbering system that uniquely identifies individual animals as described in Appendix I. Information on 

official animal identification and devices can be found on the APHIS Traceability Web site: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/downloads/ADT_eartags_criteria.pdf

The official animal identification device must be approved by APHIS, and must be a legible ear tattoo, 

tamper-resistant eartag, electronic implant, legible flank tattoo, or other approved device (see Appendix I). 

The official animal identification must be linked to that animal and herd in the National CWD Database 

(SCS – Core One) or State database recognized by APHIS as equivalent to the National CWD database. 

The second animal identification must be unique for the individual animal within the herd and also must 

be linked to that animal and herd in the National CWD Database (SCS – Core One) or State database 

recognized by APHIS as compatible with the National CWD database. 

Natural additions to the herd must be identified before 12 months of age. However, any animal must be 

properly identified as described in this section and Appendix I to move interstate regardless of age (i.e., 

animals less than 12 months of age that are to be moved interstate must be identified). 

If, at the time of enrollment in the CWD HCP, either through the Approved State CWD HCP or by direct 

enrollment in the national CWD HCP (based on availability of funding), identification of animals in a herd 

does not meet the above criteria, the herd owner must bring the herd and animal identifications into 

compliance as soon as possible and no later than the next inventory on a schedule specified by the State 

official or APHIS employee.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

21

(3.3) Herd Inventory: Records

Each owner must maintain a current complete herd inventory which must include, at a minimum, the 

following records for each animal: 

1. All identification (tags, tattoos, electronic implants, etc.)

2. Age

3. Species

4. Sex

5. The date of acquisition and source of each animal that was not born into the herd (owner name, 

city, State)

6. The date of removal and destination of any animal removed from the herd (owner name, city, 

State)

In addition, the following information should be included:

7. Birth date

8. Date of death (and cause, if known) for animals dying within the herd

9. Date of CWD sample submission, submitter, owner, premises, and animal information, and 

official CWD test results from NVSL or approved laboratory for samples required by the program

(3.4) National Herd Inventory Electronic Recordkeeping

Data will be kept in a CWD National Database (SCS –Core One) or APHIS-approved State database 

compatible with the CWD program. For the purposes of the CWD rule and the Approved State CWD

HCP, the CWD National Database is a CWD HCP database administered by APHIS or a State database 

approved by the Administrator as compatible with a “CWD National Database” for the Approved State 

CWD HCP program.

Data for the following should be entered into the National CWD database or equivalent State database in 

a timely manner:

1. Herds enrolled in the CWD certification program 

2. Herds designated as positive 

3. Herds designated as exposed, suspect, or epidemiologically linked to positive herds 

4. Herds that have achieved certified status 

The information should include all items required by these Program Standards, including but not limited 

to: 

1. Premises and owner information (location, addresses, and contact information) 

2. Program status of enrolled herds 

3. Any restrictions to herds including disease status 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

22

4. All program actions such as changes to status, depopulation, and adoption of herd and premises 

plans 

(3.5) Data Security in the Electronic CWD National Database

Data stored in the CWD National Database is secured to protect data at the State level. Users in a State 

should not be able to review or change data for another State. “Read Only” data viewing privileges 

between State users may be granted by mutual agreement. CWD program staff should have access to 

national data for reporting purposes. 

(4) Fencing Requirements

The regulatory authority for fencing requirements of enrolled herds is found in 9 CFR 55.23.

The herd premises must have perimeter fencing adequate to prevent ingress or egress of cervids. In herd 

premises already existing at the time of the effective date of the CWD rule, fencing must comply with any 

existing State regulations or requirements. For herds established after the effective date of the CWD rule, 

the fence should be a minimum of 2.4 meters (8 feet) high and must comply with any other existing State 

regulations or requirements. In either case, the fence should be structurally sound, maintained in good 

repair, and of sufficient construction to contain the animals. 

The program does not intend to have “double fencing” as a comprehensive program standard for farmed 

cervids. However, the program does recognize the risks of CWD infection to farmed cervids held in 

facilities that operate in areas known to have CWD in free-ranging cervids. Therefore, the risk of CWD

transmission between farmed cervid and free-ranging cervid populations should be assessed by 

individual States and addressed by additional barrier requirements as necessary. Cervid producers also 

may elect to include additional barriers or exclusionary fencing to mitigate such risks while enrolled in the 

HCP.

Approved State officials have the discretion to consider the use of additional barriers or other biosecurity 

measures to mitigate the risks of CWD transmission. Any requirements for additional barriers or 

exclusionary fencing to separate farmed and free-ranging cervid populations to minimize risk of CWD

transmission between these populations will be addressed by the State officials. Reference information 

on these topics is located in Appendix II. 

In areas where CWD is not known to occur in free-ranging cervids, risk for CWD transmission to captive 

cervids is recognized as minimal.

Fencing alone does not delineate individual herds, which must be separated by a distance of 30 feet or 

greater. See “herd” definition in the Definitions section. 

(5) Surveillance and Sampling

The regulatory authority for surveillance and sampling of animals in enrolled herds is found in 9 CFR 

55.23. 

This section outlines surveillance and sampling requirements as well as monitoring principles used with 

CWD in farmed or captive cervids. The procedures listed below are required for all herds participating in 

the certification program. 

Farmed cervid herds cannot achieve certified status without conducting CWD surveillance on all deaths of 

cervids aged 12 months or older, including animals in the enrolled herd that are killed on premises 

maintained for hunting and sent to slaughter for at least 5 consecutive years unless: 

1. The herd owner purchases or assembles a herd of animals from known certified status herds and 

concurrently enrolls in a State HCP. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

23

2. The enrolled herd owner can adequately document that he or she has maintained a closed herd 

of animals for at least 5 years; had no on-farm mortalities; had no “missing” animals; and did not 

move any animals off the premises during that time for any reason without testing them for CWD.

If the enrolled herd owner does not have any on-farm animal deaths meeting surveillance criteria for the 

year and has not moved, transferred ownership, or sold animals as described above, the enrolled owner 

is considered to be in compliance with surveillance requirements for the year. 

(5.1) Reportable Disease

CWD is a reportable disease. The owner must immediately report to a State official, accredited 

veterinarian, or an APHIS employee all suspected cases of CWD. These are to include any animal

exhibiting signs of a neurological or wasting disease as described in Section A 5.2. These animals should 

be monitored, and if they die, the carcasses must be made available for tissue sampling and testing. 

Clinical CWD suspects that die or are euthanized should be tested for CWD regardless of age. 

(5.2) CWD-Suspect Animals

CWD-suspect animals are defined in the Definitions section of these Program Standards. The clinical 

signs associated with CWD are nonspecific and could be caused by other diseases affecting farmed or 

captive elk, deer, and moose; thus, laboratory confirmation is required for CWD diagnosis. Not all animals 

display all clinical signs of disease. Duration of clinical signs varies from a few days in unusual cases to 

as long as a year, but is most often 2 to 3 months. 

Usually, the earliest clinical signs displayed are behavioral changes which may include alterations in 

interaction with humans and members of the herd. These subtle changes are often only recognized by 

caretakers familiar with the individual animal. With disease progression, behavioral changes may include 

periods of stupor and depression. In addition, progressive weight loss is characteristic of CWD and may

occur over a long time. At the terminal stages of disease, animals are emaciated. However, concurrent 

disease, especially aspiration pneumonia, may cause an affected animal to die while still in good to fair 

body condition. In the later stages of disease, clinical signs may include increased drinking and urinating, 

excessive salivation, and lack of coordination and trembling. 

Animals with progressive neurological disease or wasting syndromes that are not responsive to treatment 

may be considered CWD clinical suspects. CWD clinical suspects should be euthanized and tested. If an 

owner of a clinical suspect refuses to allow euthanasia, the animal should be tested after it dies in 

accordance with program requirements. 

(5.3) On-Farm Surveillance

The owner must report in a prompt and timely manner to a State official of the Approved CWD HCP or to 

an APHIS employee (where applicable) all deaths of farmed or captive deer, elk, and moose aged 12 

months or older (including animals killed on premises maintained for hunting and animals sent to 

slaughter), and must make the carcasses of such animals available for tissue sampling and testing in 

accordance with instructions from the State representative (Approved State CWD HCP) or APHIS 

employee (where applicable).

States may routinely allow up to 1 week for reporting mortalities. However, State or APHIS employees 

may approve mortality reporting schedules other than immediate notification when herd conditions 

warrant it in the opinion of both APHIS and the State. Mortalities also should be reported to the States 

through laboratory reports of samples tested by the Approved labs. Herd inventory records should be 

updated and reconciled at least annually for submission to the Approved State Official.

Enrolled herd owners are required by these provisions to conduct CWD testing on all on-farm deaths of 

farmed or captive deer, elk, and moose aged 12 months or older, and those animals under their 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

24

ownership sent to hunting operations and slaughter facilities to achieve herd certification status. See 

additional details in Sections A 5.4 and A 5.5 below.

Once the herd has been certified and to maintain herd certification status, CWD testing of all on-farm 

deaths of farmed or captive deer, elk, and moose aged 12 months or older must continue. Additional 

CWD testing of animals from certified herds that are sent to hunting operations and slaughter facilities will 

be at the discretion of the Approved State officials. However, APHIS intends to evaluate these CWD 

surveillance parameters for the purposes of assessing CWD risk in these certified herds and to address 

national efforts in prevention and control of this disease, and may revise these testing requirements in the 

future. 

Exceptions to the testing requirement may be made by the appropriate Approved State agency having 

CWD HCP oversight for extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the herd owner such as 

extreme weather conditions or mass mortality events not directly related to CWD. (See Section A5.10.)

(5.4) Animal Surveillance on Private Hunt Facilities

All animals on private hunt facilities 12 months or older harvested by hunters as well as natural mortalities 

on hunt facilities must be made available for testing if the hunt facility is enrolled in the Approved State

CWD HCP.

Any cervids 12 months or older that have been sent to hunt facilities from herds enrolled in the Approved 

State CWD HCP that have not yet achieved certified status and have remained on the owner’s enrolled 

herd inventory must be tested for CWD at time of death or harvest in the hunt facility and test results 

reported to the Approved State. Testing of animals from certified herds sent to hunting facilities will be at 

the discretion of the Approved State Officials. APHIS intends to evaluate these CWD surveillance 

parameters for the purposes of assessing CWD risk in these certified herds and to address national 

efforts in prevention and control of this disease, and may revise these testing requirements in the future. 

In such cases where clinically normal animals are harvested over time on hunt facilities, there may be 

allowance for reporting groups of animals that have been killed over a specified time period. The delayed 

notification should include the identification numbers of the animals involved and the actual or estimated 

time and date of death. 

States may consider moving animals from CWD suspect, exposed, or positive herds by permit and under 

seal to a known CWD-positive hunt facility within the same State for purposes of selective culling and 

continuity of business, and all animals harvested to be tested for CWD as described in the Herd Plan 

(See Section B1).

See Section A 8.3 for information on approval by the Administrator for interstate movement of animals 

from CWD suspect, exposed, or positive herds to hunting operations or terminal slaughter facilities, and 

requirements for CWD testing. 

States also may modify a quarantine to permit movement of apparently healthy cervids onto a CWDpositive, quarantined premises – such as a hunt facility – and all cervids harvested must be tested for 

CWD. Other stipulations may apply to the modifications.

All animals from enrolled herds that are sent to hunt facilities must retain official identification.

(5.5) Slaughter Surveillance

Any cervids 12 months or older sent to slaughter facilities from herds enrolled in the Approved State CWD 

HCP that have not yet achieved certified status and have remained on the owner’s enrolled herd 

inventory must be tested for CWD at time of death and test results reported to the Approved State. This 

includes farmed or captive deer, elk, or moose moving interstate for slaughter. Such animals must be 

moved directly to a recognized slaughter establishment, must have two forms of animal identification (one 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

25

of which is official animal identification), and must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection 

(CVI). See Sections A 8.1 and 8.2 for details. 

Testing of animals from certified herds sent to slaughter facilities will be at the discretion of the Approved 

State Official. APHIS intends to evaluate these surveillance parameters to assess risk in these certified 

herds and to address national efforts in prevention and control of this disease, and may revise these 

testing requirements in the future. 

Samples for CWD testing from animals 12 months or older slaughtered on the farm (custom slaughter)

are submitted as part of the on-farm surveillance required for the Approved State CWD HCP. 

APHIS recommends that animals moved by permit and under seal to a slaughter facility from a CWD 

suspect, exposed, or positive herd be tested for CWD as described in the Herd Plan (See Section B1). 

Owners are responsible for making necessary arrangements for CWD sample collection before moving 

animals to slaughter. These arrangements could include coordination with an accredited veterinarian, 

State or Federal animal health official, certified collector, State or Federal meat inspection agency, and 

the slaughter facility. 

(5.6) Sample Collection: Owner Responsibility

Good quality sampling and complete tissue collection of obex and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes 

(MRPLN) from dead animals are essential for successful surveillance. It is the owner’s responsibility to 

ensure good quality tissue samples are collected and all required samples are submitted. 

Failure to comply with the provisions of this section may result in loss of program status or other actions 

applicable under Approved State or Federal regulation and based on review and knowledge of the 

owner’s compliance with CWD HCP requirements. 

Owners may remove and submit the entire head with all attached identification devices to an approved 

CWD laboratory. Proper tissue samples will be collected by laboratory personnel. 

Samples may not be collected by herd owners unless they are approved by their State authority as a 

certified or designated CWD sample collector. Samples may only be collected by State officials, APHIS 

employees, accredited veterinarians, or State-certified or -designated CWD sample collectors. 

(5.7) Sample Collection and Submission Procedures

Approved States and enrolled herd owners should follow 9 CFR 55.23(b)(3), which states that owners 

must make the carcasses of animals that die available for tissue sampling and testing in accordance with 

instructions from APHIS and the Approved State Official, and should follow 9 CFR 55.8, which refers to 

using test protocols (including sample submission procedures) provided by NVSL. 

The NVSL protocol for CWD testing requires the obex and MRPLN to be submitted and tested from all 

CWD-susceptible and test-eligible individuals regardless of species. At least one valid CWD test result is 

necessary on each animal tested to be counted in the required mortality surveillance. Other optional 

lymphoid tissues such as tonsils and rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) also may 

be submitted for additional evaluation and at additional cost but are not required tissues. The obex and 

MRPLN are submitted in 10 percent buffered formalin or as otherwise instructed by an Approved State 

Official or APHIS employee. 

All required tissues should be collected regardless of sample condition (e.g. autolyzed, frozen, etc.) and 

submitted to the approved laboratory. However, there may be circumstances when only one tissue 

sample can be collected from an animal. In those circumstances, the producer should notify the Approved 

State official to explain the reason such as severe tissue autolysis (decomposition), extensive carcass 

decomposition, or destruction of tissues at slaughter. The Approved State Official may determine on a 

case-by-case basis if submission of the one tissue is acceptable. If that single sample submission is 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

26

determined by the laboratory to be unsuitable or untestable, then it will be recorded as a missed sample 

(not tested) and that animal will not be counted in the mortality surveillance for herd certification status.

Laboratory diagnosticians will determine the suitability of the samples for CWD testing with guidance from 

NVSL as necessary. Any concerns for sample quality and suitability, and subsequent interpretation of test 

results, will be discussed on a case-by-case basis with the Approved State CWD HCP Official and APHIS 

(See Section A 5.9). 

Approved State officials should follow NVSL protocols for sample testing but will determine on a case-bycase basis whether consistent patterns of submitting unsuitable samples, submitting only one tissue type, 

or other noncompliant behavior by the enrolled producer warrant action. Actions may include loss or 

suspension of status or delay in advancement in the HCP.

Approved State officials also will provide oversight on sample collection by certified sample collectors and 

address any skill inadequacies which may require additional training or loss of certification as a sample 

collector.

A positive IHC or ELISA test result on any sample submitted to the approved laboratory will be 

considered a suspect positive to be confirmed by NVSL. All samples should be submitted using VS Form 

10-4 or an equivalent State form (see Appendix VII). Samples collected and preserved in 10 percent 

buffered formalin for immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing should be submitted to an approved laboratory 

within 7 days. Samples collected as fresh tissue for ELISA or Western blot testing should be submitted 

within 24 hours. Detailed instructions regarding sample collection and submissions can be found in 

Appendices III and VII. 

(5.8) DNA Comparison for Verification of Animal Identity

Verification of the animal’s identity based on DNA comparison is an option available to enrolled herd 

owners at the owner’s expense. Eartag identification devices that are firmly attached to part of the ear, 

which is kept chilled or frozen, must accompany the formalin-fixed or fresh tissues for CWD testing from 

the same animal. If part of the ear cannot be removed (e.g., for taxidermy purposes), then a new 

identification tag could be affixed to the hide skin and recorded in the animal’s official record, and the 

tagged hide section submitted with the diagnostic specimens. It is critical that the basic principles of chain 

of custody, such as consistent documentation and sample security, be used to ensure that the samples 

remain appropriately linked to the source animal from the time of sample collection to the end of the 

testing process. Chain of custody-type practices must be maintained so that samples submitted can be 

used to verify the identity of the animal in question with certainty. All specimen containers must be clearly 

and permanently marked to include official identification of the animal, name of owner, name of collecting 

official, and date. Laboratory tracking numbers must be included with all corresponding documents. 

All requests for DNA comparison testing should be submitted by the owner, in writing, to the Assistant 

District Director (ADD) in the corresponding District of the State. The ADD will notify NVSL of the request. 

NVSL will extract DNA from the test specimens and associated skin tissue, and forward the extracts to a

laboratory agreeable to NVSL for DNA comparison testing. Results reported by the DNA testing 

laboratory to NVSL will be forwarded to the appropriate APHIS official, who, in turn, will forward a copy of 

the test results to the appropriate Approved State Official and the owner.

(5.9) Quality Control

Approved State Officials or APHIS employees have the authority to adjust herd status if incomplete or 

poor quality samples are repeatedly submitted from an enrolled herd. Poor quality samples include 

samples that are severely autolyzed, from the wrong portion of the brain, the wrong tissue, or not testable 

for other reasons. 

Approved laboratories should closely monitor sample quality. They are responsible for providing feedback 

to the producer, State officials, and APHIS employees regarding the receipt of poor quality samples. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

27

(5.10) Consequences of Poor Quality and Missing Samples

Surveillance of all animal mortalities is the key to ensuring valid herd certification status. Owners must 

report all mortalities to program officials as described in Section A 2.4. Failure to test for CWD of any 

animal 12 months of age or older in an enrolled herd that dies, is slaughtered, escapes, or is lost resulting 

in missing samples, or submission of incomplete or poor quality samples, may be cause for delayed 

advancement, loss of or reduction in status, or cancellation from the program as determined by APHIS or 

the Approved State Official. 

Approved States (in consultation with APHIS) should develop risk-based assessments to address 

consequences for missed samples of test-eligible animals in enrolled herds. This may include penalties in 

time by reducing herd status date (with loss, reduction, or delay in herd certification), or a requirement to 

replace missed animals with an additional percentage of in-kind (test-eligible) animals from the herd such 

as those sent to slaughter or hunt facilities, or a direct suspension of herd status for some period of time. 

Exceptions

Exceptions to the testing requirement and missed samples may be granted by APHIS or the Approved 

State Official having CWD program oversight for extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the 

herd owner as described below.

CWD sample collections may be limited to two animals per occasion when APHIS or the Approved State 

official determines that the animals died from a mass casualty/mortality event (where numerous animals 

die over a short period of time from the same apparent cause) such as during a natural disaster or an 

infectious disease outbreak (such as epizootic hemorrhagic disease), or from a known zoonotic disease 

where sample collection would pose a public health risk. In these cases, the designated sample collector 

will sample the higher-risk animals. Higher-risk animals would include older animals, males preferentially 

over females, or those animals having any known pre-existing health conditions or in poor body condition. 

CWD testing will be at the owner's expense.

(6) Diagnostics

The regulatory authority for official CWD tests and laboratory approval is found in 9 CFR 55.8. 

(6.1) Testing Authority and Approved Laboratory

Laboratories will be approved by NVSL, as designated by the APHIS Administrator, to conduct official 

CWD testing in accordance with 9 CFR 55.8. 

A. General Qualifications 

Only State, Federal, and university laboratories that are members of the National Animal Health 

Laboratory Network (NAHLN) will be approved to conduct official CWD diagnostic testing. 

Only program-approved tests conducted in approved laboratories, at NVSL, or at another 

laboratory to which NVSL has referred a case for confirmatory testing, are considered to be 

official diagnostic tests for CWD. 

All suspect positive results are reported by email to NVSL within 1 business day after testing is 

completed.

The approved laboratory submits all specimens (all remaining fixed or frozen tissues, slides, 

blocks, homogenates, and tags/IDs) from a suspect positive animal to NVSL for confirmation 

within 24 hours.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

28

B. Laboratory Approval 

Requirements for laboratory approval can be found in the “Policy Regarding Evaluation of 

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories for Membership in the National Animal Health Laboratory 

Network,” available at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/Lab%20Evaluation%20Policy.pdf

C. NVSL and National CWD Program Manager Responsibilities 

On receiving a request for laboratory approval, the NAHLN Coordinator, or his or her designee, 

will notify the national CWD program manager. The NAHLN Program office notifies each District 

Office of any changes to the list of NAHLN approved laboratories in their area.

If the application is complete and testing is approved by the CWD program manager, authorized 

NAHLN personnel will schedule and conduct a site visit of the applicant laboratory if the 

laboratory has not been previously inspected by NAHLN or a third party inspector approved by 

NAHLN. The District Office/ADD will be notified before the site visit. During the site visit, 

authorized NAHLN personnel will review the test procedures the laboratory intends to use and 

determine if the applicant laboratory meets the requirements for approval. 

If results of the site visit are found to be unsatisfactory, the laboratory will be notified and will be 

provided the reasons for denying approval. The laboratory can address the deficiencies and 

resubmit the application package. 

D. Recommendation for Approval 

After review of the application and the site visit (if required), if the laboratory meets all 

requirements, the NAHLN Coordinator, or his or her designee, will notify the NAHLN laboratory 

director and the national CWD program manager that the laboratory is or is not approved to 

conduct the specific tests. Approval will be granted if the laboratory: 

1. Completes proficiency testing for the specific test, as directed by NVSL. Satisfactory 

performance requires that the laboratory correctly identify the CWD status of all samples in 

the test panel. If discrepant results are obtained, NVSL, the participating laboratory, and 

others as required will investigate the cause. If the apparent cause of discrepant results is 

determined and rectified to the satisfaction of NVSL, no additional corrective actions may be 

needed. 

At the discretion of NVSL, additional proficiency testing or additional training of personnel 

may be required. A second failure of a proficiency test is grounds to deny the laboratory 

approval for the specific test. 

If the results of a laboratory’s proficiency testing are unsatisfactory, the NVSL Director (or 

designee) will indicate the deficiencies in writing and send this information to the laboratory 

director and the NAHLN program office.

NVSL will forward proficiency test results to the NAHLN program office. 

2. Provides the NAHLN program office with CWD testing numbers and test methods used on a 

quarterly basis. 

E. Changes to Laboratory Approval 

A laboratory must notify the NAHLN Coordinator, or his or her designate, of any changes in the 

information contained in the application package within 30 days of the effective date of the 

change. Changes in procedures or equipment must be approved by NVSL before they are made. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

29

Changes in personnel requiring notification include individuals serving as the responsible 

laboratory official, laboratory director, or the individual responsible for CWD testing technical 

issues; or the contact information for these individuals. 

F. Maintaining Laboratory Approval 

To maintain approval, laboratories must demonstrate satisfactory completion of proficiency tests 

annually or as deemed necessary by NVSL. A final score of 100 percent correctly identified 

samples is considered a satisfactory score. The procedure described in this document will be 

used if discrepant results are obtained. 

G. Removal of Laboratory Approval 

Testing approval may be withdrawn or suspended for the following reasons: 

1. Failure to meet any of the conditions stated in 9 CFR 55.8

2. Failure to meet one or more criteria for obtaining or maintaining approval

3. A request by the approved laboratory to withdraw approval

4. Unsatisfactory performance on regular samples submitted for testing or required proficiency

tests

5. Unsatisfactory conditions or procedures at the laboratory

6. Failure to report results in the manner and within the timeframes specified in these Program 

Standards, in the SOP provided by NVSL, or in a contract, blanket purchase agreement, or 

other binding agreement

The NVSL Director, acting on behalf of the Administrator, may withdraw or suspend a laboratory’s 

approval to conduct a specific test kit or method on any or all tissues approved to be tested using 

the kit or method based on proficiency test failures on any tissue using the kit or method. 

The NVSL Director, acting on behalf of the Administrator, will provide written notice of a proposed 

withdrawal to the laboratory director and will allow the laboratory to respond. Any conflicts 

concerning the reasons for withdrawal will be resolved through discussions that will include the 

NVSL director, the requesting laboratory’s director, the NVSL laboratory subject matter expert, 

the national CWD program manager, and the NAHLN coordinator, or designees of any of these. 

H. List of Approved Laboratories 

The national CWD program manager and the NVSL Director will maintain a list of the types of tests and 

when appropriate the tissues approved for laboratories that conduct official diagnostic tests for CWD. The 

list will be available on request to all interested parties.

A list of laboratories approved to conduct CWD testing is available at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/cwd_scrapie_lab_list.pdf

(6.2) Official CWD Test

An official CWD test is approved by the Administrator in accordance with 9 CFR 55.8 and follows NVSL 

protocols for tests conducted at NVSL, an APHIS-approved laboratory, or another laboratory to which 

NVSL has referred a case for confirmatory testing. Certain CWD test methods, such as enzyme-linked 

immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, also may require Center for Veterinary Biologics licensure to be 

used as official CWD tests.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

30

Currently the official tests for routine CWD HCP surveillance in farmed or captive cervids are the 

immunohistochemistry (IHC) test and the Bio-Rad ELISA when following test protocols provided by NVSL 

at a laboratory approved to conduct official CWD tests. The Western blot is also an official test when 

performed at NVSL. 

All suspect positive ELISA test and suspect positive IHC test results must be confirmed by NVSL.

The Administrator may approve new official tests for the diagnosis of CWD conducted on live or dead 

animals, and will base the approval of a new test on criteria described in 9 CFR 55.8. NVSL will provide 

the protocols including tissues to be tested for all official tests. 

(6.3) Confirmatory Testing

All suspect positive samples (either by IHC or ELISA as defined above) are to be submitted to NVSL 

within 24 hours for confirmatory testing. 

The following materials are required for confirmation testing:

1. All remaining homogenate from grinding tubes and wells (if testing by ELISA)

2. Place 1 cm section of brainstem at the obex into formalin with the remaining cranial and caudal 

ends of the fresh brainstem chilled

3. Place 75 percent of the lymph tissue into formalin and preserve the remaining 25 percent fresh 

chilled

4. All paperwork, identification tags (with tissue attached), and any remaining tissues

Other optional lymphoid tissues such as tonsils and rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 

(RAMALT) also may be submitted to NVSL for IHC testing at NVSL’s discretion, but are not required 

tissues.

All suspect positive diagnostic test results from an approved laboratory must be confirmed by NVSL to 

establish a diagnosis of CWD. 

(6.4) Test Results

As described in Section A 5.7, sections of brainstem/obex and MRPLN are evaluated by an official test in 

an approved laboratory to demonstrate the presence of PrPres. PrPres is a molecular marker for the 

transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). PrPres must be detected in at least one of those 

tissues. Detections of PrPres in samples tested at approved laboratories are considered to be suspect 

positive pending further testing at NVSL. 

A CWD-positive animal is an animal that has had a diagnosis of CWD established by means of official 

confirmatory CWD testing conducted by NVSL. Brainstem or lymph tissues from an animal in which 

PrPres is not detected by an official test does not mean absence of disease, only that the disease was 

not detected in those tissues from that animal at that time. Based on current TSE research and 

pathogenesis studies, it is possible to have PrPres present at levels below the sensitivity of the test. 

PrPres also may be present in tissues other than those that were examined. Hence, “not detected” test 

results may not indicate the true status of the animal if it is in the early stages of the disease. 

Several sample quality control concerns are listed in Section A 5.9. A test result of “unsuitable sample” 

indicates that the submitted sample was not the correct tissue type (e.g., salivary gland collected instead 

of lymph node). A test result with a “location” statement indicates that the submitted sample was taken 

from an incorrect area of the brainstem (other than the obex). 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

31

(6.5) Autolyzed Samples

Autolyzed samples will be considered to be poor quality samples and may not be acceptable for testing. 

The sample must be verified as brainstem/obex or peripheral lymphoid tissue by the testing laboratory. 

Such samples may be tested if in the opinion of the testing laboratory a valid result may still be obtained. 

(6.6) Reporting of Results

Positive test results are to be reported by NVSL to the submitter (if a State or Federal animal health 

official), the Assistant District Director (ADD) in the State where the herd resides, the National CWD 

Program manager, or designees. The District Office will forward the results to the appropriate State 

official.

Negative (“not detected”) results are to be reported by the testing laboratory to the submitter with copies 

provided to the corresponding Approved State Official for farmed cervids in the State where the herd 

resides. 

(7) National Reports

This section outlines the recommendations for data entry in the national CWD database (SCS −Core 

One) or approved State database and the submission of reports. Approved States maintaining data in a 

State-level database should give CWD HCP information and reports to APHIS on request. The 

information ensures that Federal and State personnel responsible for administering the CWD Program

have the necessary data to do so effectively and efficiently. 

(7.1) Data Entry and Purpose

This data will be used to monitor program performance, monitor disease control efforts, and assist States 

in completing epidemiological investigations. See Section A 3.4 for details regarding data required to be 

entered into the CWD National Database or equivalent Approved State database. 

(7.2) Reporting Intervals

Data on positive and exposed herds should be entered within 5 business days after these designations 

are made. 

Data on enrolled herds and premise identification numbers should be entered within 10 business days 

after it is available. 

Comprehensive annual reports of HCP status and activities of enrolled herds as described in Section A 

7.3 are provided to the APHIS Administrator by June 30 each year. Quarterly or midyear status reports 

may be required as appropriate. Reports are submitted to the respective APHIS District Office and routed 

to the CWD program manager. 

(7.3) Components of Report

Reports should include information related to numbers of enrolled herds by State, status summaries, and 

summary of the level of mortality surveillance. As the reports will be used to monitor program 

performance and disease control efforts, the following data will be a component of the reports:

1. CWD samples and tests–number of animals tested during the reporting period, species, herd type 

(breeder, hunting operation, etc.) and test results. 

2. CWD-positive herds–under quarantine, depopulated and released from quarantine, not under 

quarantine, under herd plans, number of animals in each herd. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

32

3. CWD-exposed herds–under quarantine, depopulated and released from quarantine, not under 

quarantine, under herd plans, number of animals in each herd. 

4. Epidemiological information–traceouts initiated, traceouts pending, and traceouts completed. 

5. Enrolled herds–by State and certification status, species, number of animals in each herd, 

number due for inspection during each reporting period, number actually inspected. 

Guidance on annual reporting formats will be provided by the national CWD program. 

(8) Interstate Movement

The requirements for interstate movement of live cervids are described in 9 CFR 81.3. The requirements 

for issuing certificates for interstate movement are in 9 CFR 81.4. Transport of game meat and other 

products derived from farmed cervids for purposes of interstate commerce are regulated by the Food and 

Drug Administration and are not addressed in the APHIS CWD regulation or these Program Standards. 

Similarly, transport of carcasses and other parts derived from hunter-harvested wild cervids, which may 

contribute to the risk of spread of CWD, are regulated by appropriate State agencies and are not 

addressed in the APHIS CWD regulation or these Program Standards. 

(8.1) Requirement for Interstate Movement

No farmed or captive deer, elk, moose, or other Cervus, Odocoileus, and Alces species or their hybrids 

may move interstate unless the animals meet the following requirements: 

For animals in the national CWD HCP: The animal is enrolled in the national CWD HCP and the herd has 

achieved Certified status. The animal must also be accompanied by a certificate issued in accordance 

with 9 CFR 81.4 that identifies its herd of origin and states that the animal has achieved Certified status, 

and that the animal does not show clinical signs associated with CWD. 

For cervids captured from a wild population for interstate movement and release: Each animal must have 

two forms of animal identification, one of which is official animal identification. The certificate issued in 

accordance with 9 CFR 81.4 that accompanies the animal must state that the source population has been 

documented to be low risk for CWD based on a CWD surveillance program in wild cervid populations 

approved by the receiving State and by APHIS. This should include a summary of CWD surveillance 

data for the source population including estimated population size and statistical parameters used to 

assess prevalence, and proximity of the source population to any known CWD positive farmed/captive 

cervid herds or other free-ranging cervid populations. Additional information may include referencing 

recognized published surveillance strategies for detecting and monitoring CWD in free-ranging cervids on 

which the surveillance plan was based and/or a review of the surveillance plan by APHIS Veterinary 

Services.

See Section A 8.3 for exemptions to interstate movement requirements. 

(8.2) Issuance of Certificates (CVI) for Interstate Movement

The certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued for interstate movement must contain the following 

information: 

1. Identification numbers of each animal in the shipment 

2. Total number of animals being moved in the shipment 

3. Purpose of animal movement

4. Consignor and herd of origin with complete address 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

33

5. Consignee and point of destination with complete address 

6. CWD HCP herd program status of the animals in the shipment

7. A statement by the issuing accredited veterinarian or State or Federal veterinarian that the 

animals have achieved Certified status in the CWD HCP and that the animals were not exhibiting 

clinical signs associated with CWD at the time of examination 

The consignor or owner should contact the State official in the State of destination to determine if there 

are any additional requirements. 

(8.3) Exemption for Interstate Movement

Animals Moved Directly to Slaughter 

Farmed or captive deer, elk, moose, or other species of Cervus, Odocoileus, or Alces and their hybrids 

may move interstate directly to a recognized slaughter establishment for slaughter if they meet the import 

requirements of the state of destination.

Specifically, owners should notify their State official having CWD authority and their APHIS District Office 

for approval of their eligibility to transport directly to slaughter (see Section A 5.5 for details). The 

consignor or owner also should contact the State official in the State of destination to determine if they

meet all import requirements. While it is not required, APHIS recommends producers and transporters 

provide courtesy notification to any States through which these animals may transit en route to their 

destination. See Section A 8.4 on transiting.

Research Animals 

A research animal permit is required for interstate movement of cervids for research purposes. The VS 

Form 1-27, “Permit to Move Restricted Animals,” may be used for movements of CWD-exposed, CWDsuspect, and CWD-infected animals. 

Interstate Movements Approved by the Administrator 

Interstate movement of farmed or captive deer, elk, and moose may be allowed on a case-by-case basis 

when the Administrator determines that adequate survey and mitigation procedures are in place to 

prevent the dissemination of CWD and issues a permit for the movement. The animals also must meet 

the import requirements of the State of destination. 

Approved States may request approval by the Administrator on a case-by-case basis for interstate 

movement under seal and by permit (VS Form 1-27) of farmed cervids from CWD-exposed, -suspect, and 

-positive herds to a recognized slaughter facility, to a known CWD-positive hunt facility, or to a hunt 

facility located in a CWD endemic region in another State if the source Approved State has considered 

other intrastate options for disposition and the receiving State officials agree to permit entry of these 

animals. The receiving State officials are to have adequate mitigation measures in place to ensure 

identification and containment of these animals, to limit their time in residence and termination, and to 

prevent dissemination of CWD. These animals are to be accompanied by a certificate issued by an 

APHIS or State representative or accredited veterinarian. The certificate is to state the destination of the 

animals, the purpose for which they are being moved, the number of animals covered by the certificate, 

the point from which the animals are moved interstate, and the name and address of the owner or 

shipper. All animals must retain official identification until death and all should be tested for CWD.

(8.4) Transiting 

Cervids eligible to move interstate in accordance with the CWD rule, and meeting the conditions specified 

in 9 CFR 81.5, can transit States en route to their destination. These conditions are: (a) The farmed or 

captive deer, elk, or moose must be eligible to move interstate under Part 81.3; (b) the farmed or captive 

deer, elk, or moose must meet entry requirements of the destination State listed on the certificate or 

permit accompanying the animal(s); and (c) except in emergencies, the farmed or captive deer, elk, or 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

34

moose must not be unloaded until their arrival at their destination. The rule ensures farmed or captive 

cervids moved interstate are considered low risk for being infected with CWD based on defined farmed 

cervid herd and wild cervid population surveillance. Prior requirements that States may have had for 

transiting are preempted by this rule.

While it is not required, APHIS recommends producers and transporters provide a courtesy notification to 

any State through which they may transit en route to their final destination. This may be a benefit should 

emergencies arise and State assistance is needed. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

35

Part B. Guidance on Responding to CWDAffected Herds

The CWD regulations in 9 CFR part 55 describe minimum requirements in response to the finding of a 

CWD-affected herd in accordance with the national CWD HCP. The Program Standards also provide 

detailed descriptions of optional guidelines for complying with the legal requirements in the regulations in 

9 CFR parts 55 and 81 and have been approved by the APHIS Administrator to meet the Federal rule 

requirements. 

Information in this section further provides suggested best management practices and other mitigation 

methods recognized as effective that may be used by an Approved State and herd owner to investigate 

and manage CWD-affected herds. APHIS will serve in an advisory capacity on details presented in this 

section. Suggested best management procedures include quarantine, depopulation, cleaning and 

decontamination, epidemiology investigations, and development of herd plans.

In accordance with 9 CFR 55.1, only animals present in the original inventory at the time the herd was 

determined to be CWD-positive or exposed may be eligible for Federal indemnity on depopulation should 

Federal funding be available. Signed herd plans are required to receive Federal indemnity, to restore 

status to a herd in suspended status if exposed animals are not available for CWD testing, and to reenroll in the Approved State CWD HCP if designated a CWD-positive or CWD-exposed herd. 

(1) Herd Plan

States are required to develop a written herd plan for any CWD-positive and CWD-exposed herds that 

intend to re-enroll in the Approved State CWD HCP, and for release of quarantine on completion of the 

herd plan requirements. These individual plans are based on a risk evaluation of the affected premises 

and herd by State officials and provided to the owner for agreement. The plans may be reviewed by 

appropriate VS personnel. Herd plans are to be signed by the herd owner and the appropriate State 

officials, and should be adopted within 60 days of a confirmed diagnosis of CWD. 

In general, a herd plan includes: 

1. Specified means of identification for each animal in the herd. 

2. Regular examination (time period as determined by a State official or APHIS employee) of 

animals in the herd by a veterinarian for signs of disease. 

3. Reporting to a State official or APHIS employee of any signs of central nervous system or wasting 

disease in herd animals. 

4. Maintaining records of births and deaths as well as of the acquisition and disposition of all 

animals entering or leaving the herd, including the date of acquisition or removal, name and 

address of the person from whom the animal was acquired or to whom it was disposed, and the 

cause of death, if the animal died while in the herd. 

5. Testing of all mortalities 12 months of age or older. Records should be maintained for all samples 

submitted for CWD testing. 

A herd plan may also contain additional requirements to prevent or control the possible spread of CWD, 

depending on the particular condition of the herd and its premises, including but not limited to: 

1. Depopulation of the herd if funds for indemnity are available. Depopulation also may be 

accomplished by moving animals from CWD-positive, -suspect, and -exposed herds by permit 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

36

and under seal to a slaughter facility or to an appropriate hunt facility either within the State or to 

an appropriate hunt facility in CWD-endemic areas at the discretion of the State officials.

2. Specifying the time for which a premises must not contain cervids after CWD-positive diagnosis. 

3. Removal of exposed or suspect animals from the premises if funds for indemnity are available or 

at the discretion of State officials. 

4. Fencing requirements. 

5. Selective culling of animals. 

6. Restrictions on use and movement of possibly contaminated livestock equipment. 

7. Cleaning and disinfection or other requirements. If a positive or exposed herd is depopulated, the 

written herd plan will consist only of premises cleaning and disinfection and restocking 

requirements. 

A herd plan may be reviewed and changes proposed at any time by any party signatory to it in response 

to changes in the situation of the herd or premises. The plan may also be changed if the understanding of 

the nature of CWD epidemiology, or techniques to prevent its spread, improves. However, any proposed 

changes must be reviewed and approved by all signatories before they are adopted. 

Additional information on CWD environmental contamination and recommended procedures for 

disinfection and decontamination of premises to be included in herd plans is provided in Appendix IV.

(1.1) Herd Plan: CWD-Positive Herds

A. Whole-Herd Depopulation With or Without Repopulation 

1. If funds for indemnity are available, depopulation of the whole herd may be the preferred 

option for response to CWD-positive herds. 

2. CWD-positive and exposed animals that are depopulated must be tested and disposed of 

according to VS guidelines for CWD carcass disposal (Section B.2 and Appendix V of these 

Program Standards) and all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations. 

3. Herd plans are required to receive Federal indemnity for depopulation, disposal, and cleaning 

and disinfection of the premises; and for release of quarantine on completion of the herd plan 

requirements. Herd plans should include the information listed in Section B.1 and may also 

include a premises plan because of possible environmental contamination. Premises plans

may include cleaning and disinfecting actions, future land use in terms of restocking, 

maintenance of perimeter fencing to prevent ingress or egress of cervids, and the time period 

for surveillance before interstate animal movement is allowed if restocking occurs. 

B. Quarantine With or Without Selective Culling of Animals 

If long-term quarantine of the affected herd instead of depopulation is implemented by State 

officials in discussion with the owner, then additional restrictions may be required on the cervids 

remaining on the premises. 

1. After a risk evaluation of the quarantined herd, this plan may include euthanasia of selected 

animals depending on exposure if funds for indemnity are available or at the discretion of 

State officials. This will be followed by testing and disposal of those carcasses. Any CWDpositive animals must be disposed of according to VS guidelines for CWD carcass disposal 

(Section B.2 and Appendix V of these Program Standards) and all applicable Federal, State, 

and local regulations. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

37

2. The herd may remain in quarantine for 60 months (5 years) from the last case or for a period 

of time as determined by the risk evaluation. The owner may be required to remove and 

CWD test any suspect animals at the discretion of the State officials. 

3. The herd will have lost its program status and may only re-enroll in the Approved State CWD 

HCP after entering into a herd plan. Herd plan requirements must be completed for release of 

quarantine, and to regain certified status in accordance with the CWD regulations and 

Section A 2.5 in these Program Standards. 

4. The owner should maintain an inventory complete with the following information for each 

individual animal: 

a. All identification (tags, tattoos, electronic implants, etc.) 

b. Date of birth and age

c. Species

d. Sex 

e. The date of acquisition and source of each animal that was not born into the herd 

f. The date of removal and destination of any animal removed from the herd (animals in 

quarantined positive herds may only be removed for destruction or under permit) 

g. Mortality date for animals dying within the herd and CWD official test results for all 

animals tested 

h. Method and location of carcass disposal 

i. Date of submission, submitter, and official CWD test results for samples required by the 

herd plan

The inventory for a newly identified positive herd should be verified by a State official or 

accredited veterinarian and provided to APHIS within 30 days of the notification of the 

positive diagnosis. The owner will help complete the inventory verification. State or Federal 

personnel will verify this inventory annually. 

5. The herd premises must have perimeter fencing adequate to prevent ingress and egress of 

cervids in accordance with 9 CFR 55.23. This fencing also must comply with any applicable 

State regulations. The fence should be structurally sound, maintained in good repair, and of 

sufficient construction to contain the animals. APHIS recommends the perimeter fencing to 

be a minimum of 2.4 meters (8 feet) high (See Appendix II). 

The program does not intend to have “double fencing” as a comprehensive program standard 

for farmed cervids. However, the risk of CWD transmission between farmed cervid and freeranging cervid populations should be assessed by individual States and addressed by 

additional barrier requirements as necessary. In areas where CWD is not known to be 

present in free-ranging wild cervids, a second barrier is recommended that is adequate to 

prevent fenceline contact of wild cervids with a CWD-exposed farmed cervid herd. Examples 

of barriers are described in Appendix II. 

The effectiveness of these fencing requirements for the species included in the CWD rule is 

being evaluated and requirements may change based on future research findings.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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6. The owner also must immediately report to an Approved State official or an APHIS employee 

(where applicable) any quarantined cervids that have escaped or disappear, or are otherwise 

missing from the premises as well as entry of any wild cervids into the facility. State officials 

may allow time for the herd owner to recapture the animal and work with the Approved State 

for decisions on disposition of the animal(s).

7. Herd surveillance (mandatory mortality reporting and CWD testing of animals of all ages that 

die or are euthanized) is to be conducted during the quarantine period. If the herd has reenrolled in the Approved State CWD HCP, mortality reporting and CWD testing of animals 12 

months of age or older must continue for 5 years to regain certified status. 

8. If CWD continues to be detected and the producer decides that he or she will not be able to 

successfully manage the herd out of the disease, herd depopulation may be considered if 

funds for indemnity are available. 

(1.2) Herd Plan: CWD-Exposed Herds

A trace-forward exposed herd is a herd that has received an animal from a CWD-positive herd within

5 years before the diagnosis of CWD in the positive herd. A traceback exposed herd is a herd in which a 

CWD-positive animal had formerly resided before diagnosis of CWD in the positive herd. If the positive 

animal was a natural addition to the CWD-infected herd being investigated, the origins of all purchased 

animals for the previous 5 years should be evaluated to locate a possible source herd for introduction of 

the CWD infection. 

Trace-forward and traceback herds will immediately be placed in Suspended status pending an 

epidemiological investigation by APHIS or a State official. If the epidemiological investigation determines 

that the herd was not commingled with an animal from the CWD-positive herd, the herd will be reinstated 

to its former program status, and the time spent in Suspended status be counted in its herd status.

If the epidemiological investigation determines that the herd was commingled with an animal from the 

CWD-positive herd, the herd will lose its program status and be designated a CWD-exposed herd.

A. Herd Plans for Trace-Forward Exposed Herds 

1. APHIS recommends that exposed animals traced to a herd be removed and tested:

a. If the animal is CWD-positive, the herd is considered to be positive and handled as in 

Section B 1.1. 

b. If the animal is negative (not detected), no additional actions are required. 

2. If an exposed animal traced forward to the herd is not removed, the herd plan should 

stipulate the following: 

a. The whole herd in which the trace-forward animals reside may remain in quarantine for 

60 months (5 years) from the last case or for a period of time as determined by a risk 

evaluation at the discretion of the State officials. During this time the herd may undergo 

monthly inspections by State or Federal personnel with removal and CWD testing of any 

suspect animals. Exceptions to the inspection schedule may be allowed by the 

designated epidemiologist in consultation with the State or the ADD.

b. If the herd has been participating in surveillance as part of the herd certification program, 

surveillance performed after arrival of the exposed animal may count as time in 

quarantine to establish or re-establish herd certification status at the discretion of the 

State official and APHIS. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

39

c. The owner should maintain an inventory with the following information for each individual 

animal in the exposed herd: 

 All identification (tags, tattoos, electronic implants, etc.) 

 Date of birth and age

 Sex 

 Species 

 The date of acquisition and source of each animal that was not born into the herd

 The date of removal and destination of any animal removed from the herd (animals in 

quarantined exposed herds may be removed only for destruction or under permit) 

 Mortality date for animals dying within the herd and CWD test results for all animals 

tested 

 Method and location of carcass disposal 

 Date of submission, submitter, and results for samples required by the herd plan 

The inventory for a trace-forward exposed herd that chooses quarantine should be 

verified by a State official or accredited veterinarian and provided to APHIS within 30 

days of the notification to the producer of the trace-forward exposed animals. The owner 

will provide the necessary assistance to complete the inventory verification. State or 

Federal personnel will verify this inventory record annually. 

d. Exposed herd premises must have perimeter fencing adequate to prevent ingress or 

egress of cervids in accordance with 9 CFR 55.23. This fencing must comply with any

applicable State regulations. The fence should be structurally sound, maintained in good 

repair, and of sufficient construction to contain the animals. APHIS recommends the 

perimeter fencing to be a minimum of 2.4 meters (8 feet) high. (See Appendix II).

The program does not intend to have “double fencing” as a comprehensive program 

standard for farmed cervids. However, the risk of CWD transmission between farmed 

cervid and free-ranging cervid populations should be assessed by individual States and 

addressed by additional barrier requirements as necessary. In areas where CWD is not 

known to be present in free-ranging wild cervids, a second barrier is recommended that is 

adequate to prevent fenceline contact of wild cervids with a CWD-exposed herd. 

Examples of barriers are described in Appendix II. 

The effectiveness of these fencing requirements for the species included in the CWD rule 

is being evaluated and requirements may change based on future research findings. 

e. Herd surveillance (mandatory mortality reporting and CWD testing of animals 12 months 

of age or older which die or are euthanized) is to be conducted during the quarantine. 

f. If the producer chooses quarantine and CWD is diagnosed during the quarantine period, 

herd depopulation should be considered based on availability of Federal funds. 

3. If an exposed animal traced to a herd has died and was not tested for CWD, was sold or 

moved elsewhere, and no longer resides in that herd, a risk evaluation should be conducted 

to determine the level of CWD risk associated with the length of time the exposed animal was 

in residence. This may include a review of all aspects of the producer’s management, 

compliance, and recordkeeping to determine how best to manage the exposed herd, the 

extent of restrictions to movement of animals in the herd, and release of quarantines. A herd 

plan should be established to describe required surveillance activities and management 

practices to re-establish herd status. State officials and epidemiologists should determine if 

the herd in which the exposed animal currently resides will be subject to any quarantines or 

movement restrictions.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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B. Herd Plans for Traceback Exposed Herds 

1. If funds for indemnity are available, the preferred action in herds identified as traceback 

exposed may be whole-herd depopulation and testing. However, if the epidemiological 

investigation is able to determine the likely point of infection of the positive animal, 

depopulation of herds in which the animal resided before that point may not be necessary. If 

not already participating, these herds should be encouraged to enroll in the Approved State 

CWD HCP. Movement of exposed animals by permit and under seal to a slaughter facility or 

appropriate hunt facility should be considered as options for disposition.

Animals that moved from traceback herds during the time the positive animal was in 

residence also should be traced. 

2. If the herd owner decides against depopulation, the herd will remain under quarantine for

60 months (5 years) from the last case or for a period of time determined by a risk evaluation 

at the discretion of the State officials. The owner should agree to a herd plan which must be 

completed before release of quarantine. During this time, the herd plan will include: 

a. Periodic inspections by State or Federal personnel with removal and CWD testing of any 

suspect animals. Exceptions to the inspection schedule may be allowed by the 

designated epidemiologist in consultation with the State, the ADD, or both. 

b. If the herd has been participating in surveillance as part of the herd certification program, 

time in surveillance following the departure from the herd of the animal which becomes 

CWD-positive may count as time in quarantine to establish or re-establish herd 

certification at the discretion of the designated epidemiologist, APHIS employees, and 

State officials. 

c. The owner should maintain an inventory complete with the following information for each 

individual animal: 

 All identification (tags, tattoos, electronic implants, etc.) 

 Date of birth and age

 Sex 

 Species

 The date of acquisition and source of each animal that was not born into the herd 

 The date of removal and destination of any animal removed from the herd (animals in 

quarantined exposed herds may be removed only for destruction or under permit) 

 Mortality date for animals dying within the herd and CWD test results for all animals 

tested 

 Method and location of carcass disposal 

 Date of submission, submitter, and results for samples required by the herd plan 

The inventory for a traceback exposed herd that chooses quarantine must be verified by 

a State official or accredited veterinarian and provided to APHIS within 30 days of the

notification to the producer of the herd as a traceback exposed herd. The owner will help 

complete the inventory verification. State or Federal personnel will verify this inventory 

annually. 

d. Exposed herd premises must have perimeter fencing adequate to prevent ingress or 

egress of cervids in accordance with 9 CFR 55.23. This fencing must comply with any 

applicable State regulations. The fence should be structurally sound, maintained in good 

repair, and of sufficient construction to contain the animals. APHIS recommends the 

perimeter fencing to be a minimum of 2.4 meters (8 feet) high. (See Appendix II).
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

41

The program does not intend to have “double fencing” as a comprehensive program 

standard for farmed cervids. However, the risk of CWD transmission between farmed 

cervid and free-ranging cervid populations should be assessed by individual States and 

addressed by additional barrier requirements as necessary. In areas where CWD is not 

known to be present in free-ranging wild cervids, a second barrier is recommended that is 

adequate to prevent fenceline contact of wild cervids with a CWD-exposed herd. 

Examples of barriers are described in Appendix II. 

The effectiveness of these fencing requirements for the species included in the CWD rule 

is being evaluated and requirements may change based on future research findings. 

e. Herd surveillance (mandatory death reporting and CWD testing animals 12 months of 

age or older which die or are euthanized) is to be conducted during the quarantine. 

f. If the producer chooses quarantine and CWD is diagnosed during the quarantine period, 

herd depopulation should be considered.

(2) Quarantine

CWD-positive or exposed herds are to be issued quarantine or hold orders by the State official. Exposed 

animals in a positive or trace herd must remain on the premises unless a State or Federal permit for 

movement (such as VS Form 1-27) has been obtained. 

APHIS defines quarantine as an order issued by a State prohibiting movement of animals from or into a 

premises for a given period of time.

If a captive cervid herd in which CWD is confirmed is not depopulated, the herd may remain in quarantine 

for 60 months (5 years) from the last case or for a period of time as determined by a risk evaluation at the 

discretion of the State official. State officials may modify a quarantine to permit cervid movement onto 

CWD-positive quarantined premises, such as a hunting facility, and all cervids harvested must be tested 

for CWD. Other stipulations may apply to the modifications.

 

The herd will have lost its program status and may only re-enroll in the Approved State CWD HCP after 

entering into a herd plan. Herd plan requirements must be completed to regain certified status. 

(2.1) Release from Quarantine

Quarantine may be released only after all herd plan requirements have been met and completed, or as 

determined by the State official. 

(3) Depopulation

If funds for indemnity are available, whole-herd depopulation and testing of all cervids on the premises 

may be the preferred action to be taken in response to a positive herd provided a signed herd plan is in 

place. A signed herd plan is required to receive Federal indemnity for depopulation, disposal, and 

cleaning and disinfection of the premises, and for release of quarantine once the herd and/or premises 

plan requirements are completed.

If funds for indemnity are available, depopulation and testing may be the preferred action for traceforward exposed animals and traceback herds that are epidemiologically implicated as source herds or 

exposed herds. As determined by the State official, quarantined animals may be moved by permit (such 

as VS Form 1-27) under seal to a recognized slaughter establishment for slaughter. Quarantined animals 

may be approved by the APHIS Administrator to move interstate to a slaughter facility or to an 

appropriate hunting facility in a CWD-endemic region with the approval of the receiving State officials. 

These animals must have two forms of identification, one of which must be official, in accordance with 

9 CFR 81.3. Meat and other cervid products derived from commercial slaughter for interstate commerce 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

42

are under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jurisdiction and are not discussed in these Program 

Standards.

(4) Carcass Disposal

This section outlines the guidelines that States and herd owners may use for the disposal of carcasses 

from positive or exposed herds or from trace-exposed animals. 

(4.1) Suitable Disposal Methods

Remains of CWD-positive animals should be disposed of in compliance with all Federal, State, and local 

regulations. Incineration, alkaline digestion, disposal of materials in appropriate landfills, and burial onsite 

are the most suitable options. Detailed disposal guidelines can be found in Appendix V. 

(5) Sanitary Precautions and Biosecurity Practices for Herd Plans and Depopulations

Cleaning, disinfection, and decontamination recommendations for CWD-positive herds are located in the 

Herd Plan guidelines in Appendix IV. The following information on biosecurity should be included as 

general best management practices and is applicable for CWD-infected herds.

Delivery vehicles, such as feed trucks, should always follow good biosecurity and disinfection practices 

between premises. Owners should restrict entry of such vehicles onto infected premises or provide 

disinfection stations on exiting the premises.

Any third-party vehicle used to transport cervids should be cleaned and disinfected before and after 

transporting CWD-susceptible cervids. The owner should require the transporter to provide a statement 

that the truck or trailer was cleaned and disinfected, and should keep a copy of the statement. 

Producer-owned vehicles such as cars, pickup trucks, and tractors only may be shared among herds or 

premises under common ownership. Producer-owned equipment for transport of animals should be 

cleaned and disinfected if it is to be used for multiple herds managed by the same producer. Other farm 

equipment that tends to be heavily contaminated with soil or feces, such as manure spreaders and drags,

should not be shared among herds or premises unless it is cleaned and disinfected with each use. 

Producers should keep records of these activities which involve commingling of animals in those herds. 

Other equipment that should not be shared unless herds are commingled includes, but is not limited to, 

feed bunks, water troughs, chutes, buckets, and multiple-use medical equipment (antler removal 

equipment, bolus guns, multiple-dose syringes, etc.). 

For herds managed by the same owner, personnel working with these herds should wear different 

outerwear (e.g., boots and coveralls) when moving from one herd to another. 

(6) Epidemiology

This section is an outline for States on epidemiological investigation methods and responsibilities for 

determining the source of infection as well as the extent of exposure when an infected animal has been 

identified. 

(6.1) Responsibility 

An epidemiological investigation will be conducted by a State representative once an animal has been 

confirmed to have CWD. When appropriate, and when there are available Federal funds, VS personnel 

will assist with the investigations. The investigation should be started within 7 business days of the 

laboratory confirmation by a State official or designee. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Where possible, VS personnel will work with the State and the District Office to prepare educational 

materials about CWD that can be provided to owners to mitigate future disease transmission. 

(6.2) Investigation

The investigation identifies the source of infection in a herd as well as other animals that may have been 

exposed to CWD. See Appendix VI for an example of an Epidemiology Report template. 

The investigation should identify: 

1. Source of infection in a positive herd when the positive animal was a natural addition (born in the 

infected herd and resided there for its lifetime). The focus should be on how CWD may have been 

introduced into the herd (e.g., movement of other animals into the herd or potential exposure to 

infected wild cervids). The origin of all purchased animals into the herd should be evaluated to 

determine if the source of CWD infection can be identified. 

2. Traceback herds – An exposed herd in which a CWD-positive animal resided in any of the

60 months before the diagnosis. If the positive animal was a natural addition, the origins of all 

purchased animals for the previous 60 months should be evaluated to locate a possible source 

herd for introduction of the CWD infection. 

3. Trace-forward herds – A herd that has received exposed animals from a positive herd within 60 

months before the diagnosis of CWD in the positive herd or from the identified point of entry of 

CWD into the positive herd. 

4. Any other susceptible animals which may have been exposed to CWD from direct or indirect 

contact (e.g., wild cervid exposure).

(6.3) Traceback and Trace-Forward Notifications

Traceback and trace-forward herd owners and their respective State officials should be notified within 15 

business days after their herds are identified as exposed. All notification should be provided in writing to 

the respective State or States and a copy provided to the ADD in the corresponding District Office even if 

the initial contact was verbal. 

If these herds reside in States different than the positive herd, notification will be accomplished through 

the respective Federal or State official. On notification, actions regarding traceback and trace-forward 

herds enrolled in the national CWD HCP should be taken as prescribed in these Program Standards.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Appendix I: Animal Identification

The requirements for Official Animal Identification are described in 9 CFR 55.25. 

Each animal required to be identified must have at least two forms of identification attached to its body. 

One of the animal identifications must be official animal identification with a nationally unique animal 

identification number that is linked to that animal in the CWD National Database (SCS −Core One) or 

equivalent State database. 

The type of official identification device must be approved by APHIS. The devices can be an electronic 

implant (electronic identification device/EID), legible flank tattoo, legible ear tattoo, tamper-resistant 

eartag, or any other device approved by APHIS.

In accordance with 9 CFR 86.4, removal of official identification devices is prohibited except at the time of 

slaughter, at any location on the death of an animal, or as otherwise approved by the State or Tribal 

animal health official or a VS Assistant District Director when a device needs to be replaced.

In accordance with 9 CFR 86.1, an official eartag is defined as an identification tag approved by APHIS 

that bears an official identification number for individual animals. Beginning March 11, 2014, all official 

eartags manufactured must bear an official eartag shield. Beginning March 11, 2015, all official eartags 

applied to animals must bear an official eartag shield. The design, size, shape, color, and other 

characteristics of the official eartag will depend on the needs of the users, subject to the approval of the 

Administrator. The official eartag must be tamper-resistant and have a high retention rate in the animal.

The official identification number must use one of the APHIS-approved numbering systems to provide a 

nationally unique identification number. For the purposes of the CWD rule, and in accordance with 9 CFR 

86.1, the official identification number must be a nationally unique number that is permanently associated 

with an animal and that adheres to one of the following numbering systems:

(1) National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES)

(2) Animal Identification Number (AIN)

(3) Location-based number system 

(4) Any other numbering system approved by the Administrator for the identification of animals in 

commerce

The device should be applied by the owner of the herd or his or her agent and be linked to that herd in the 

National CWD Database (SCS −Core One) or equivalent State database. If a microchip is used and the 

animals are slaughtered under State or Federal meat inspection, it should be used in compliance with 

applicable State or Federal regulations. 

The second animal identification must be unique to the individual animal within the herd and also be 

linked to that animal and herd in the National CWD Database (SCS −Core One) or equivalent State 

database. As an example, the unique Animal Identification Number may be used on two separate 

identification devices on the same animal to fulfill the identification requirements if desired. 

Although not required in the CWD rule, it is recommended that all animal identification devices be visible 

on the animal from an appropriate distance to allow visual verification of the identification number on the 

device without animal restraint. Any animals in which identification cannot be visually inspected will need 

some form of restraint for confirmation during herd inventories.

The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine regulates the marketing of implantable transponder devices 

(electronic identification devices/EID) for use in animals. Please contact the FDA or the manufacturer or

distributor for information on approved EIDs. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) should 

be contacted regarding anatomic placement of the EIDs in animals that may be presented for slaughter in 

official slaughter facilities to determine if these devices pose a potential physical food safety hazard.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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See APHIS Web site link for additional information on animal identification: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/downloads/ADT_eartags_criteria.pdf
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Appendix II: Fencing Requirements and 

References

The herd premises must have perimeter fencing adequate to prevent ingress or egress of cervids. In herd 

premises already existing at the time of the effective date of the CWD rule (August 13, 2012), fencing 

must comply with any existing State regulations or requirements. For herds established after the effective 

date of the CWD rule, the fence should be a minimum of 2.4 meters (8 feet) high and must comply with 

any other existing State requirements. In general, the fence should be structurally sound, maintained in 

good repair, and of sufficient construction to contain the animals. 

Selected Studies on Farmed Cervid Fencing 

VerCauteren, et al. (2010) evaluated the ability of wild-caught white-tailed deer to jump progressively 

taller woven-wire fences. They documented a 100 percent deterrence rate when the test fence was 2.4 m 

tall, suggesting that a 2.4 m fence will contain or exclude most deer under similar conditions. Other 

factors that may reduce a fence’s effective height include topography, snow depth, and the motivation 

level of the cervid to penetrate the fence. 

VerCauteren, et al. (2007a and b) also measured behaviors and contacts through game-farm fences 

between farmed and wild white-tailed deer in Michigan and between farmed elk and wild elk and mule 

deer in Colorado. All sites in Michigan employed a single 3 m high woven-wire fence. Fence types in 

Colorado included a single woven-wire fence (2.4 m high), double woven-wire fences separated by 1 to 4 

m (2.4 m high), and a single woven-wire fence (2.4 m high) plus a 3-strand offset electric fence either 

inside or outside the woven-wire fence. The study recorded only two direct naso-oral contacts between 

wild and farmed deer in Michigan during more than 77,000 hours of camera monitoring. Conversely, 77 

interactions were documented between wild and farmed elk involving naso-oral contact. No direct 

contacts were observed through double woven-wire fences. Risk of direct contact was about 3.5 times 

greater for single woven-wire fences compared to an offset electric fence attached to the single wovenwire fence. 

Expanding on the offset electric fence type, Fischer, et al. (2011) examined the effectiveness of a baited 

electric fence, as an addition to an existing single woven- wire fence (2.4 m high), for reducing fenceline 

contact between captive elk. They reported 426 direct contacts between elk through the existing wovenwire fence during trials without the electric fence; 0 direct contacts occurred between adult elk or the 

woven-wire fence when the baited-electric fence was in place. 

Literature Cited 

Fischer, J.W., G.E. Phillips, D.M. Baasch, M.J. Lavelle, and K.C. VerCauteren, 2011. “Modifying elk 

(Cervus elaphus) behavior with electric fencing at established fencelines to reduce disease transmission 

potential.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 35:9-14. 

VerCauteren, K.C., M.J. Lavelle, N.W. Seward, J.W. Fischer, and G.E. Phillips, 2007a. “Fenceline contact 

between wild and farmed cervids in Colorado: Potential for disease transmission.” Journal of Wildlife 

Management 71:1594-1602. 

VerCauteren, K.C., M.J. Lavelle, N.W. Seward, J.W. Fischer, and G.E. Phillips, 2007b. “Fenceline contact 

between wild and farmed white-tailed deer in Michigan: Potential for disease transmission.” Journal of 

Wildlife Management 71:1603-1606. 

VerCauteren, K.C., T.R. Vandeelen, M.J. Lavelle, W. Hall, 2010. “Assessment of abilities of white-tailed 

deer to jump fences.” Journal of Wildlife Management 74:1378-1381.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Appendix III: Sample Collection

When CWD is suspected in a live or dead animal, or when an animal dies and is 12 months of age or 

older, the owner must immediately report to a State official and ensure samples are submitted for CWD

testing in accordance with APHIS instructions. State officials or APHIS employees may approve reporting 

schedules other than immediate notification when herd conditions or circumstances warrant it in the 

opinion of both the State and APHIS. 

It is the responsibility of the herd owner to have samples collected and preserved properly or to preserve 

the head by refrigeration for sampling. Refrigerated heads may be shipped to an APHIS-approved CWD

laboratory for this purpose. Prior notification and approval is required from the laboratory before shipping 

whole heads. Owners must ensure that fresh samples or heads can be refrigerated over weekends and 

holidays. A link to CWD approved labs is:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/approved_labs.shtml

The obex and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (MRPLNs) are collected on all CWD-susceptible 

species. Scientific evidence shows that although MRPLNs may be early indicators of CWD in deer and 

the obex may be an early indicator of CWD in elk, the sensitivity for early CWD detection is increased in 

both deer and elk when both obex and MRPLNs are tested. The obex and MRPLNs should be fixed in

10 percent neutral buffered formalin for IHC or submitted as fresh tissues for ELISA as described in this 

Appendix and instructed by the CWD approved laboratory.

Animal identification (eartags, tattoos, etc.) is submitted with a portion of the skin (hide) or ear attached 

fresh or frozen, and must be kept linked to the diagnostic specimens. Skin (hide) samples with attached 

identification may be used in lieu of ear sections to avoid any complications in taxidermy procedures. 

Including animal identification provides verification of sample identity. The skin (hide or ear) samples can 

be used for DNA testing if there is some dispute regarding origin of the sample. Chain of custody 

principles should be followed in the field and the laboratory to assure sample integrity. The owner may 

observe the sampling and labeling procedures to assure his or her sample is properly identified. 

A link to VS Form 10-4 can be found in in Appendix VII. 

The collector will include the following with each diagnostic submission: 

1. Completed VS Form 10-4 or an equivalent form with the same information found on the 10-4. 

(Note: Complete VS Form 10-4 with the approval of the State official or accredited veterinarian 

who will in turn obtain the approval of the Assistant District Director).

In the case of whole heads submitted to a laboratory by the owner, the owner’s name, address, 

phone number, herd ID, and the animal’s ID numbers, age or date of birth, breed, sex, and any 

clinical signs observed should be included with the shipment. 

All ID devices, tattoos, and any brands on the animal taking care to avoid complications in 

taxidermy.

2. Age of animal based on owner records. 

3. Herd ID, species, breed, and sex of animal. 

4. Obex/brainstem and MRPLN collected and packaged as described below. 

5. Any additional samples as requested by the State veterinarian or Assistant District Director, 

including samples requested for research. (Any research will be done at no charge to the owner.)
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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A. Safety Precautions 

It is the responsibility of the collector to take appropriate safety precautions. Measures should be 

taken to avoid contact with specimens. To minimize exposure to pathogens, the following 

precautions should be taken: 

1. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times. (See Section B below.)

2. Cover cuts, abrasions, and wounds with waterproof dressing if not covered by PPE. 

3. Wear gloves while handling specimens and formalin. Optionally, use face and respiratory 

protection, including a well-fitted respiratory mask and face shield or goggles to protect from 

infective droplets or tissue particles.

4. Use 10 percent neutral buffered formalin in a well-ventilated area. 

5. Take steps to avoid creating aerosols, splashes, and dusts. 

6. Wash hands and exposed skin following collection procedures. 

7. Wash and disinfect protective clothing and instruments thoroughly after use. Use 50 ounces 

(6 1/4 cups) bleach to enough water (78 ounces or 93⁄4 cups) to make 1 gallon of disinfectant 

solution; this solution will remain effective at room temperature (at least 18.3 °C or 65 °F) for 

1 hour.

8. If rabies is suspected, do not proceed with any tissue collection. Instead, contact the 

approved laboratory for instructions on submission of the entire head to the laboratory for 

rabies testing. After rabies testing is completed, the laboratory will proceed with CWD 

sampling on rabies-negative brains. 

B. Personal Protective Equipment 

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to minimize exposure to pathogens while 

collecting samples. 

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, PPE is defined as “specialized 

clothing or equipment worn by employees for protection against health and safety hazards.” PPE 

is designed to protect many parts of the body (i.e., eyes, head, face, hands, feet, and ears.). 

PPE is selected based on the environment, physical hazards, and ability to complete the task. 

PPE is a balance between protection and comfort. PPE should protect an individual from the 

physical hazards of the collection environment while allowing the individual to comfortably collect 

specimens. Even though the environment where collecting specimens will differ, the following 

PPE should be worn at all times during collection of CWD specimens: 

1. Skin Protection 

Protect your skin from contact with fluids during specimen collection. Wear waterproof 

coveralls, preferably disposable, or coveralls with a waterproof apron and forearm protectors. 

2. Eye and Face Protection 

Protect your eyes and face from any aerosols, splashes, or dusts that may be created while 

collecting specimens. Eye protection includes safety glasses, safety goggles, or a face shield.
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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3. Hand Protection/Gloves 

a. Wear metal or mesh gloves. Always wear the cut-resistant glove (Hantover, Koch, or 

Packer) on the hand that is not holding the knife. Find a cut-resistant glove that fits 

against your skin and then wear a rubber glove on top of it. 

b. Wear latex or nitrile examination gloves or thick rubber gloves that extend halfway up the 

forearm. Many people prefer the long, thick rubber gloves for the added protection. 

4. Foot Protection 

Protect your feet from injuries such as spills or splashes, impact, compression, or exposure. 

Wear steel-toed rubber boots when collecting specimens. If steel-toed boots are not 

available, pullover rubber boots are acceptable. 

5. Respiratory Protection 

Face masks or respirators are recommended if the environment includes aerosols, splashing, 

or flying debris as may be encountered with certain methods of brain removal or tissue 

handling. CWD cannot be transmitted through the air or to humans. However, other zoonotic 

diseases such as rabies may be present during CWD collection. Also, Listeria 

monocytogenes and Arcanobacterium pyogenes are each known to cause brain abscesses 

in cervids; Listeria sp. should be considered a potential zoonotic agent. 

Instructions for Veterinarians and Animal Health Technicians:

1. Collector’s Responsibility 

Specimens submitted to NVSL or the approved laboratories should be traceable to the source 

animal and farm. The sample collector should follow all instructions for sample collection, 

completing VS Form 10-4 or its equivalent and labeling sample containers. The sample collector 

must accurately complete the specimen collection and submission process. When collecting 

specimens: 

a. Properly collect brainstem with obex, and at least one MRPLN. Both left and right MRPLN are 

preferred.

b. Correctly label specimen collection containers. 

c. Correctly package specimens to meet Federal transportation guidelines. For Category B 

(UN3373) packaging and shipping details, contact the receiving laboratory, or NVSL, or visit 

the following Web site: 

www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/packaging_labeling.shtml

d. Properly complete the specimen submission form (VS Form 10-4 or electronic 10-4, or 

equivalent submission form). Be sure to indicate whether the animal was an exposed animal 

or an animal with no known exposure. Also indicate whether the animal was exhibiting clinical 

signs. If the animal exhibited clinical signs, list the signs in the Additional Data Section of the 

VS Form 10-4 or equivalent form. 

e. Make four copies of the completed VS Form 10-4 or equivalent form: 

 One for your files (submitter’s copy) 

 One for the animal owner or collection site 

 One for the VS District Office 

 One to be submitted with the specimen 
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f. Follow the laboratory’s procedure for notifying the laboratory of incoming specimens. 

g. Contact the delivery service. Ensure that the package containing any fresh tissues for CWD

testing will be shipped with ice packs for overnight delivery to the laboratory. 

2. Sample Quality 

A list of laboratories approved to conduct CWD testing is available at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/approved_labs.shtml

All samples should be collected and submitted to the lab irrespective of the state of autolysis. 

Approved labs should evaluate the condition of the autolyzed samples to determine if the 

samples are of sufficient quality to be reliably tested or if the samples should be sent directly to 

NVSL. 

3. Labeling Sample Containers 

Properly label all specimen collection containers. The information on the label provides detailed 

information to the laboratory regarding the specimens. The sample number or sample bar code 

on the container must be the same as on the completed VS Form 10-4 (or equivalent form). 

Clearly label both the top and the sides of the sample container. Identify the sample by typing the 

information, using a permanent marker, or affixing the bar code (if available). Verify that the 

sample number that appears on the top and side of the sample container and the completed VS 

Form 10-4 (or equivalent form) are identical. 

The side label includes: 

a. Date of collection 

b. Producer name 

c. Species 

d. Type of specimen 

e. Official animal ID number 

f. Sample ID number (number assigned to this sample on the VS Form 10-4 or equivalent form) 

4. Samples and Sample Packaging 

Properly preserve CWD specimens to ensure accurate test results. CWD diagnosis may require 

the submission of fresh and fixed specimens. 

Fresh tissue specimens are used for Western blot and ELISA assays. Fresh tissue specimens 

must be kept chilled. While dry ice may be used, it is usually best to ship the chilled tissues 

overnight on ice packs. 

Formalin-fixed specimens are used for IHC testing, histopathology, and may be acceptable for 

DNA comparison (although fresh or frozen tissues are preferred for DNA testing). Submerge the 

specimen in 10 percent neutral buffered formalin (follow the guideline of 10 parts buffered 

formalin per 1 part specimen). Do not freeze the formalin-fixed specimens. 

Use the following table as a guide for proper tissue specimen collection for routine testing, and for 

exposed animals, suspect animals, and animals with specific clinical signs suggestive of CWD. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Animals with "specific clinical signs" include those that are nonambulatory, antemortem 

condemned or die before slaughter, or are ataxic. Suspect animals are highly suspicious for CWD

because they are exhibiting central nervous system (CNS) signs. 

Suspect and presumptive-positive animals should be submitted on separate VS Form 10-4s and 

shipped promptly to allow NVSL to prioritize testing these cases. Note: If rabies testing is 

required, contact the laboratory for instructions on submitting the entire head. After rabies testing 

is completed, the laboratory will proceed with CWD sampling on rabies-negative brains from 

animals presenting with neurologic symptoms, and/or are unthrifty (debilitated), may be salivating, 

or exhibiting nonspecific respiratory signs. 

Ensure the sample container correctly lists all specimens included. 

Tissue specimens for CWD testing – Use single container for each animal

10 percent neutral buffered formalin: 

Histopathology and IHC

Fresh: Western blot and ELISA

Left and Right MRPLNs Left and Right MRPLNs 

Obex with 1-2 cm brain stem (including the 

apex of the “V” in the obex) 

Obex with 1-2 cm brain stem (including the 

apex of the “V” in obex) 

Tonsils (optional) Tonsils (optional) 

Animal ID device(s) Collect all animal ID 

devices with a quarter-sized piece of tissue 

(ear, hide, etc.) attached to each device. 

This will allow DNA verification if necessary. 

This should be kept fresh, but some 

laboratories will accept ID tissue samples in 

formalin. Verify with the receiving 

laboratory. 

Animal ID device(s) Collect all animal ID 

devices with a quarter-sized piece of tissue 

(ear, hide, etc.) attached to each device. 

This will allow DNA verification if necessary. 

This should be kept fresh, but some 

laboratories will accept ID tissue samples in 

formalin. Verify with the receiving 

laboratory.

5. Collection Procedures 

The collection of the obex and MRPLNs can be completed using several methods. However, 

these collection procedures describe the preferred methods to prevent inadvertent damage to the 

tissues during collection. Other methods may be used. Contact an experienced professional for 

more information regarding alternative collection methods. 

The link to the APHIS CWD Web site to find the CWD Program Sample Collection Guidance with 

dissection photos and instructions can be found in Appendix VII.

The following equipment will help ensure proper specimen collection: 

a. Sharp boning knives 

b. Disposable scalpel blades or disposable scalpels (a large scalpel blade is acceptable)

c. Brown-Adson or rat-tooth forceps

d. Meat-cutting bone saw, hacksaw, or electric saw when brain removal is required 

e. Disposable cutting surfaces such as cardboard, plastic, or Styrofoam 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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f. Small hand nippers can be used on the hyoid bones or you may cut through at the soft 

cartilage of the joint using a knife

g. Sharp stainless steel scissors 

h. Brain stem/obex spoon, grapefruit knife, or other brain stem scoop 

6. Obex Collection Procedure (Via Foramen Magnum) 

a. Incise the head of the animal at the atlanto-occipital joint (between skull and first vertebra). 

Cut behind the back of the ears and extend the cut around and through the front of the larynx. 

Sever the brain stem as far to the posterior as possible during the removal process. 

b. Position the head upside down (ventral side up). Locate the occipital condyles and foramen 

magnum (FM). Locate the brain stem inside the FM. Trim the dura mater around the 

brainstem and cut the attached cranial nerve trunks. 

c. Gently lift the brain stem with forceps and insert the spoon into the dorsal aspect of the FM 

between the brainstem and dorsal calvarium. 

d. Advance the spoon 2-3 inches rostrally until it contacts bone to sever the cerebellum. 

e. Reposition the spoon in the ventral aspect of the FM between the brainstem and the ventral 

calvarium. Advance the spoon until it contacts bone and transversely sever the brain stem. 

f. Remove the brain stem using the spoon and forceps. Examine to ensure the proper obex 

sample (bifurcation or “V”) is preserved. 

g. Further trim the brain stem section by making a transverse cut 3/4 inch in front of the “V” 

shape bifurcation and an equal distance behind the bifurcation for good fixation. 

For IHC testing: Place the trimmed obex and brainstem pieces in a jar of 10 percent neutral 

buffered formalin (10:1 ratio of formalin to tissue sample). 

For ELISA testing: Place the fresh obex sample and trimmed pieces in a conical tube (do NOT 

use formalin). 

7. Medial Retropharyngeal Lymph Node (MRPLN) Collection Procedures 

The MRPLNs are medial to the stylohyoid bones on the dorsolateral surface of the pharyngeal 

muscles and dorsal to the carotid artery. 

a. With the head positioned upside down, locate the esophagus and trachea in relation to the 

FM. 

b. Lift the trachea and dissect muscles forward of the FM (rostrally). Locate the left and right 

medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLN) halfway between each corner of the jaw bone 

and the FM, caudal to the nasopharynx, and deep to the salivary gland. Lymph node 

consistency is much firmer and rounder than the surrounding tissue. 

c. Remove each left and right medial RPLN and longitudinally incise each LN to confirm 

lymphoid tissue. 

For IHC testing: Place the medial RPLNs in the same formalin jar with the obex.
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For ELISA testing: Place the fresh medial RPLNs in labeled whirl-pak bags (do NOT use

formalin). 

8. Head Removal and Whole Head Packaging Procedure That May be Used by Owners for 

Submission to Laboratory

It is best to first contact the approved laboratory for instructions on submission of whole heads for 

CWD testing. Some laboratories may not accept whole heads.

Tools:

a. Sharp boning knife 

b. Two heavy duty plastic bags and ties

c. If shipping the head, use shipping container with cooler, large heavy-duty plastic bag, 

absorbent material and four frozen cool packs. Contact your inspector or the VS office

serving your State for shipping containers. A list of State contacts can be found at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/vs_poc.pdf

Procedures 

a. If the carcass is intact, remove the head. This is done at the atlanto-occipital joint, which is 

where the skull meets the first cervical vertebrae. 

b. Position the animal in ventral recumbency (lying on its abdomen). 

c. Remove the head at the hinge joint where the skull meets the first cervical vertebrae (just 

behind the ears) using the following steps: 

 To locate the “hinge” area where the skull meets the first cervical vertebrae, grasp the 

nose and move the head up and down to locate the joint. 

 Insert the knife into the neck between the first cervical vertebrae and the throat. Cut 

downward (ventrally) with blade directed away from you through the throat tissue and 

skin. (Cutting down through the skin readily dulls the blade.) 

 Cut down to the membrane that covers the spinal cord; cut through the membrane 

exposing the spinal cord. Then cut the spinal cord as far from the head (caudally) as 

possible so that it is kept as long as practical. 

 Cut the lateral ligaments connecting the skull to the vertebra in a ventral to dorsal 

direction on both sides. This is usually best accomplished with the tip of the knife directed 

between the skull and vertebra. 

 Once the lateral ligaments have been severed, cut through the remaining tissue to 

remove the head from the carcass. 

Maintain any animal identification attached to the ears (eartags, etc) in place and double bag 

the head. Secure each bag in a manner that will prevent leakage by tying a knot in the bag or 

using twist ties, string, or cord. 

Chill the head before placing in the cool box and refrigerate the head until and during 

shipment to the laboratory in the cool box. 

d. To pack the cool box: Put cool packs in the bottom, insert large plastic bag, insert absorbent 

material, insert double-bagged heads, and seal the outer plastic bag. Place cool packs on top 

of bag and close cooler top. Insert submission form between cooler top and exterior box. Ship 

overnight. Use at least four chill packs per box and an additional chill pack for each additional 

head if more than two heads are shipped in the same cool box. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Appendix IV: Guidelines on Environmental 

Contamination and Recommended Procedures 

for Disinfection and Decontamination of 

Premises

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious disease of cervids. The agent is believed to be 

transmitted laterally. Current models show that environmental contamination may be important in 

transmitting and perpetuating the disease. Once a CWD-positive animal is identified on a premises, the 

premises should be quarantined until cleaning and decontamination procedures have been performed. 

This is recommended to reduce the risk of CWD exposure to and infection in cervids that are restocked 

on that site and as described in the herd plan.

These guidelines base the suggested preferred herd plan on depopulation of the entire herd following 

detection of the index positive animal. If a producer chooses long-term quarantine, additional restrictions 

on the herd may be required and will be specified in the herd plan. The State will give the plan to the 

owner of the premises for agreement. The basic guidelines below provide a framework for developing 

these herd plans. 

None of the following cleaning and inactivation procedures guarantees elimination or inactivation of the 

infectious prion agent; however, the methods listed below are the most effective procedures to reduce 

prion levels and activity based on current information. These recommended procedures may be altered 

as new information becomes available. 

Principles and Approach

The primary methods of CWD transmission and the time from infection to shedding are not known. 

Therefore, it is assumed that animals may shed the CWD prion into the environment before the onset of 

clinical disease. Published scientific studies have reported that the CWD prion may be shed into the 

environment via saliva, urine, and feces. Prions resist breakdown in the environment (i.e. to exposure to 

sunlight, freezing, or desiccation) but may slowly break down with time. 

Decontamination procedures are directed at portions of the facility or items most likely to harbor the 

agent. Areas where animals (particularly CWD-positive animals) have resided will be the most 

contaminated. These areas should be evaluated by: 

1. Assessing the facility in detail to document areas of animal congregation or particular movement 

patterns. 

2. Characterizing the entire facility in terms of concentration of animals over time. This includes 

identification of fence lines (past and present), pens, corrals or handling facilities, watering and 

feeding areas (including natural water sources), points of concentration in a landscape (i.e. sheltered 

areas, woodlots etc.), drainage areas, and calving areas. 

3. Identifying where known positive or suspicious animals resided relative to the areas of animal 

concentration. In the case of clinical animals, identify those areas where they resided during the time 

they were clinical. 

4. Considering the physical nature of surfaces as well as topography and drainage of the area that 

might create concentration of the agent. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Categorization of Premises 

Premises are categorized as premises with “No to Minimal Environmental Contamination” or “Moderate to 

Severe Environmental Contamination”. Where applicable, the State or Federal designated epidemiologist, 

with concurrence of the State or APHIS veterinarians, will assess the premises. 

Factors Used in Decisionmaking 

1. Origin of the positive animals (born to the premises or introduced). 

2. Herd history verified through records to give confidence in the herd CWD status (i.e., degree of 

certainty, or uncertainty, in relation to possible unreported cases). 

3. The number of CWD cases (clinical and preclinical) originating from or occurring over time on a 

premises. 

Basic Definitions for Categories 

1. No to Minimal Environmental Contamination: A premises where there is little evidence that there 

has been transmission on the premises and there is no evidence of longstanding infection of the 

herd. The number of cases is minimal and history and records indicate that the animals likely 

contracted the disease on another premises (i.e., purchased or trace animals). The animals are 

preclinical at the time of CWD diagnosis or are early in the clinical course of the disease. 

2. Moderate to Severe Environmental Contamination: Those premises where there is evidence that 

CWD has been identified in multiple animals; or those premises where a positive animal was 

exposed in another herd and dies of CWD or is euthanized late in the clinical course of the 

disease (i.e., animals are not removed from the herd while they are preclinical or early in the 

clinical course of the disease). 

Recommended Procedures for Disinfection and Decontamination of Premises

None of the following suggested disinfection and inactivation procedures will guarantee elimination or 

inactivation of the infectious prion agent. However, based on current information on the efficiency under 

laboratory conditions of the disinfection methods listed, it is likely that these procedures will reduce the 

amount of infectivity in the environment. Until more specific information becomes available, good sanitary 

practices are recommended for all cervid husbandry activities. The following methods below should be 

applied where infected or exposed animals have been housed or maintained. 

A. No to Minimal Environmental Contamination Premises

Pastures 

Intensive measures are not required. 

Dry Lot Where CWD-Positive Animals Have Been Held in Close Confinement 

Remove organic materials (manure, feed, bedding, and other organic material) and bury the 

removed material in areas not accessed by farmed or wild animals. Composting may be used to 

reduce the volume of organic materials. Composted material should be buried deeply, 

incinerated, or digested by alkaline hydrolysis after composting is complete. Composting alone 

does not inactive prions.

Earth Surfaces Inside Structures or Used for Confinement 

Remove and dispose of the organic material as described for dry lot. Bury the removed material 

in areas not accessed by farmed or wild cervids. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Nonearth Surfaces 

(These include cement, wood, metal, tools, equipment, instruments, and other artificial items) 

Remove all organic material or items (such as wooden feed bunks) and incinerate by high 

temperature incineration methods if possible. 

Clean and wash surfaces and other items using hot water and detergent.

Allow all surfaces, tools, and equipment to dry completely before disinfecting and sanitizing using 

the methods outlined in Section B below.

Restocking 

The premises may be restocked with non-cervid species immediately after decontamination. The 

premises may be restocked with cervids after decontamination but the cervid herd should

immediately enroll in the Approved State CWD HCP. All mortalities 12 months of age or older 

must be reported, investigated, and CWD tested. If the premises are located in a CWD-endemic 

area, or any area where CWD has been found in free-ranging cervids, restocking with cervids is 

not recommended. If restocking with cervids is done, then additional biosecurity practices such as 

additional fencing or other barriers to minimize CWD exposure should be considered.

Fencing Requirements 

Fences should be maintained to prevent ingress and egress of cervids.

B. Moderate to Severe Environmental Contamination Premises

Pastures 

Attempts to inactivate the prion agent on the landscape using caustic chemicals will destroy

vegetation and should only be considered where exclusion of animals from high-use areas is not 

an option. Such decisions should be approached on a case-by-case basis. 

Small pastures where CWD-positive animals have resided or particular areas in a pasture where 

animals are known to have congregated may be treated as follows:

1. If practical, till soil under or do not use area to graze susceptible animals. 

2. If this is not practical, do not use the pasture until the animal waste has decomposed and the 

weather has had an opportunity to dilute any infectivity. 

3. Organic material (hay, accumulations of manure, etc.) in areas of congregation should be 

buried. Congregation areas include animal shelters, feeding grounds, and water sources (if 

applicable). 

Dry Lot Where CWD-Positive Animals Have Been Held in Close Confinement (this includes but is 

not limited to corrals, pens, stalls, and alleyways or pathways) 

Remove organic materials (manure, feed, bedding, and other organic material). This material may 

be buried deeply onsite in areas not accessed by farmed or wild animals, incinerated, or 

chemically digested. Composting may be used to reduce the volume of organic materials. 

Composted material should be buried deeply, incinerated, or digested by alkaline hydrolysis after 

composting is complete. Composting alone does not inactive prions.

In addition, removal of the top 1 to 2 inches of soil may help to reduce surface contamination. The 

soil removed may be buried deeply or incinerated. 

Earth Surfaces Inside Structures or Used for Confinement 

Remove and dispose of the organic material as described for dry lot. When practical, remove the 

top 1 to 2 inches of soil to help reduce surface contamination. Bury the removed material in areas 

not accessed by farmed or wild cervids. 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Nonearth Surfaces 

(These include cement, wood, metal, tools, equipment, instruments, grain feeders, hay feeders, 

panels, chutes, and working facilities). 

1. Remove all organic material and deeply bury the removed material onsite in areas not 

accessed by farmed or wild cervids. 

2. Clean and wash surfaces of items using hot water and detergent. A high-pressure washer 

after initial manual removal of organic debris and cleaning surfaces is recommended for 

thorough cleaning of large equipment items. Allow all surfaces, tools, and equipment to dry 

completely before disinfecting and sanitizing using the following suggested methods: 

a. Autoclave instruments, small tools, and other items at 136° C (277° F) for 1 hour. This 

method is more effective when preceded by the treatment described in b or c, below. 

b. To clean dry surfaces, apply a 2 percent-available chlorine solution (equivalent to about 

20,000 ppm available chlorine at room temperature (at least 18.3° C [65° F]) for 1 hour. 

This can be achieved by mixing 50 ounces [6 1/4 cups] of household bleach (sodium 

hypochlorite) with enough water (78 ounces or 93⁄4 cups) to make 1 gallon of solution. 

Rinse to remove solution after 1 hour of contact time. 

c. For environmental purposes, use this disinfection method when the preceding methods 

are not available: Expose dry surfaces by applying a 1-molar solution of sodium 

hydroxide (an approximately 4 percent solution [5 ounces sodium hydroxide dissolved in 

one gallon of water]) at room temperature (at least 18.3° C [65° F) for at least 1 hour. 

Rinse equipment to remove solution after 1 hour of contact time. 

Precautions: Professional judgment should be exercised in the choice and use of disinfectants. 

All disinfectants are hazardous to humans, animals, and the environment. Label directions should 

be carefully read and followed. If corrosive disinfectants are used directly on metal items, the 

items must be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water to minimize damage. 

Synonyms for sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are caustic soda, soda lye, and sodium hydrate. Sodium

hydroxide is a white, brittle solid that dissolves readily in water to form a strong alkaline and 

caustic solution and is used as an alkalinizing agent. Sodium hydroxide is very caustic and in 

solution is extremely corrosive. For environmental reasons, only use this disinfection method 

when the preceding method is not available. 

Disinfectants, especially in concentrated form, may irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory 

systems. Protective equipment such as coveralls, rubber boots, rubber gloves, masks, or 

respirators as well as eye protection should be worn while mixing and applying some 

disinfectants. If areas of the body are exposed directly to a disinfectant, they should be washed 

thoroughly with water. Any employee should notify his or her supervisor if excessive human or 

animal exposure to disinfectants occurs or if there is an accidental release into the environment.

Restocking 

The premises may be restocked with non-cervid species immediately after decontamination.

If the premises is restocked with cervids after decontamination, the cervid herd should 

immediately enroll in the Approved State CWD HCP. CWD test mortalities aged 12 months or 

older. If the premises are located in an endemic area, or any area where CWD has been found in 

free-ranging cervids, restocking with cervids is not recommended. If restocking with cervids is 

done, then additional biosecurity practices such as additional fencing or other barriers to minimize 

CWD exposure should be considered 
Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards

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Fencing Requirements 

Fences should be maintained to prevent the ingress and egress of cervids.
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Appendix V: Carcass Disposal of CWD-Positive 

Animals or Animals of Unknown Status

Destruction or inactivation of PrPres is difficult and few treatments have been documented as completely 

successful. In addition, there are currently no quality assurance or quality control methods to ensure 

successful prion inactivation. For that reason, we have provided a list of processes reported to reduce the 

amount or activity of the infectious prion material. 

The following is a list of acceptable options for disposal of animals infected with chronic wasting disease 

(CWD) and animals from CWD-positive or exposed herds euthanized as part of a diagnostic or 

depopulation effort. 

Options: 

1. Incineration of carcasses in an Environmental Protection Agency-approved conventional 

incinerator, air curtain incinerator, or cement kiln. After incineration, ashes should be buried in an 

active, licensed landfill at a depth that meets local and State regulations to prevent scavenging or 

contamination of groundwater. Incineration of animals onsite with a mobile incinerator is an option 

as it presents the least risk of spreading contaminated materials by moving animals. However, 

mobile incinerators require large amounts of fuel to maintain an even, high temperature 

appropriate for prions. 

2. High-pressure alkaline hydrolysis of carcasses followed by burial of the treated material in an 

active, licensed landfill at a depth that meets local and State regulations. 

3. Removal of high-risk materials such as heads (with brain), spinal cords, and lymphoid tissues 

(including entire gastrointestinal tract) for incineration or alkaline hydrolysis followed by burial of 

the treated high-risk materials as well as the remainder of the carcass in an active, licensed 

landfill at a depth that meets local and State regulations for animal carcass disposal. Please note 

that CWD prions may be found throughout the body including skeletal muscle; therefore, this 

approach is not the most effective for prion reduction. 

4. Rendering of carcasses. If a rendering facility is used, it must be one that does not provide 

rendered material for use in animal feeds. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary 

Medicine guidance on rendering can be found at: 

www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/GuidanceComplianceEnforcement/GuidanceforIndustr

y/UCM052506.pdf

Burial of carcasses in a licensed, active landfill or burial onsite at a depth that meets local and 

State regulations for animal carcass disposal are options for disposal of CWD-infected carcasses,

but these methods do not inactivate prions. Furthermore, composting does not inactivate prions.

 

With all of the recommended methods, carcasses must be carefully transported between the 

collection location and treatment or burial sites to prevent the spread of potentially contaminated 

and infectious materials. Precautions should be taken to prevent ashes, blood, tissues, or feces 

from leaking from transport vehicles.

APHIS recommends first testing individual animals for prion protein by IHC or other official test 

and delaying disposal until test results are obtained. Subsequently, disposal options involving 

incineration, alkaline hydrolysis, or rendering with burial of the treated materials can be used for 

the positive animals, and simple carcass burial in a landfill or onsite may be used for the negative 

animals. 
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These options provided are based on the available science of CWD inactivation. Changes will be 

made as appropriate as new information on CWD becomes available.
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Appendix VI: CWD Epidemiology Investigation 

and Report Template

A. Outline of Information 

Preliminary Information: The following format is used to generate a summary of pertinent 

premises information. This summary typically precedes each situation report and does not 

change unless new or additional information becomes available. 

(1) Information about Owners: 

(a) Owner name or names. 

(b) Owner physical addresses (if different from facility address) including county. 

(c) Other contact information (i.e. home phone, cell phone, or email address). 

(d) Herd or farm manager names and contact information (if applicable). 

(e) Facility or premises owners and contact information (if applicable). 

(2) Information about the Index Case: 

(a) Index animal: Species, age, gender, breed, color, all forms of identification, other 

information or descriptions if applicable. 

(b) Clinical signs exhibited by index animal? If so, list signs, duration, and whether died or 

euthanized. 

(c) Location of index animal when clinical signs first observed (mortality/slaughter 

surveillance, on-farm, first-point, or other) 

(d) CWD test confirmed positive (date, screening laboratory, other necessary information)? 

(3) Information about the Facility or Premises: 

(a) Physical location of facility (i.e., street address, GPS coordinates). 

(b) Type of facility (i.e. breeding, feeding, exhibition, hunt preserve, other). 

(c) Other facilities associated with index facility or premises? 

(d) When was facility established? 

(e) General description of facility (i.e., total acreage, confinement or modified confinement, 

type and condition of fencing and enclosure, flooring, traffic in and out of facility, other 

necessary information). 

(f) A map or schematic of the facility will help officials understand the situation. 

(g) Biosecurity of facility? Risks? Implementation? 

(h) Handling facilities available on premises? 

(4) Information about other animals in the index facility or adjacent to the facility or premises: 

(a) Number and type of animals housed at facility or premises (physical inventory with 

identification). 

(b) Other susceptible animals or species located on facility. 

(c) Any other animals or species on facility affected? Clinical signs observed? 

(d) Number of other animals on facility affected? 

(e) Transmission believed to have occurred on premises? 

(f) Testing history and level of testing for disease of concern (required monitoring or 

surveillance, etc.) 

(g) Proximity of other susceptible species in adjacent facilities or enclosures or susceptible 

wild species. Potential for exposure to affected animals at facility?

(h) Types of facilities adjacent to the index premises and related information (i.e., distance, 

number of animals, type of facility, nature of exposure). 

(i) Facility quarantined? Conditions of quarantine? Level of biosecurity? 
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(5) Facility Management Information: 

(a) Identification systems used at facility? Any official identification in use? 

(b) Level of management regarding but not limited to recordkeeping and availability of herd 

records. 

(c) Management practices such as vaccination programs, feed sources and storage, sources 

of herd additions, marketing practices, animal movements, level of biosecurity 

maintained, and other areas. 

Follow-up Information to be Included in Situation Reports or Final Narrative: 

(1) Records/Regulatory issues: 

(a) Record review: Herd additions and dispositions in preceding years; confirm existing 

inventory. 

(b) If State requires an annual inventory, are owner’s records consistent with State’s 

records? 

(c) Date of last regulatory inspection and findings. 

(d) Has the owner complied with applicable regulatory requirements? 

(2) Animal Movements (i.e., traces): 

(a) Movements in and out of the facility without change in ownership and reasons for 

movements (such as exhibition, breeding, or seasonal grazing). 

(b) Movements into facility 

i. Purchase of herd additions or trades to acquire new additions. 

(c) Movements out of facility 

i. Sale or marketing of animals (slaughter, exhibition, etc.) and channels (such as 

auction market, private treaty, commercial feeding or slaughter, or hunting). 

ii. Mortalities 

(d) Identification of other facilities that animals may have moved to (trace forwards). 

(e) Identification of source facilities, especially if linked to index cases (tracebacks). 

(f) Dates of movements (acquisitions, dispositions). Investigation should extend back at 

least 5 years for CWD. 

(g) Disease status of other linked facilities? Quarantine status of linked facilities? 

(3) Additional premises information that might affect disease control, depopulation, or 

cleaning and disinfection: 

(a) Pen layouts, pen sizes, structures (types and construction), equipment (types and 

materials), enclosure materials, and cover vegetation. 

(b) Accessibility of animal pens.

(c) Soil types, general terrain. 

(d) Surface and groundwater proximity and vulnerability. 

(e) Proximity to other residences, businesses, and other entities and nature of these entities. 

(f) Presence of other nonsusceptible species (domestic or wild) or human traffic that could 

compromise biosecurity. 

(g) Access by index animals to various areas (such as pens) in facility.

(h) Other activities that may contribute to the risk of disease introduction (such as taxidermy,

offsite hunting, breeding loans, or other hobbies). 

(4) Other facilities: 

(a) If epidemiologically linked to index premises, are these other facilities under State 

quarantine? 

(b) Linked premises’ regulatory compliance, testing history, monitoring, etc. 

(c) Any animals on linked premises exhibiting clinical signs? 
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Herd Summary Information: 

(1) If selected animals or entire herd is depopulated, what is the suspected disease prevalence 

in the herd? 

(2) What is the distribution of disease in the herd (i.e., restricted to certain areas in the facility or 

certain classes of animals)? 

(3) Cleaning and disinfection considerations related to suspected level and distribution of 

environmental contamination in the facility. 

Summary of Various Reports: 

Situation Reports: 

Situation reports (sitreps) are generally reserved for incidents or situations related to identification of 

newly infected herds or changes in State status (i.e., newly documented CWD in captive herds or wildlife). 

Information accrues rapidly early in an incident. The corresponding need for information is critical; a 

situation report may be necessary daily or semiweekly. 

Supplemental Epidemiological Reporting: 

Additional epidemiological information may be requested if not provided in sitreps or other reports from 

the State. This information can be used for planning or additional risk assessment related to herd plan 

development and could include information such as: 

 Map or schematic of facility, pens, structures, etc. 

 Proximity to surface water or groundwater. 

 Availability of handling facilities. 

 Terrain/soil types/surrounding land use. 

 Identification used on susceptible species. 

 Testing history. 

 Any other information including, but not limited to, the information specifically mentioned in pages 

1-3 of this document. 

Final Epidemiological Report Narrative: 

The final epidemiological report should contain sufficient detail to convey the known epidemiology of the 

outbreak or incident to the intended audience. The final report should also comment on elements of the 

herd plan and how these elements correspond to epidemiological findings, or how the herd plan is 

substantiated by epidemiological findings.

B. Situation Report (Sitrep) Format and Content 

Facility/Premises Information: 

A sitrep is always preceded by an initial summary of the farm or facility information. Most of this 

information should not change substantially from one sitrep to the next; however any changes or 

corrections identified should be noted. 

This section briefly provides relevant background information and history related to the facility and index 

animal and may include information such as: 

 Owner name, address, geographic information system/global positioning system (GIS/GPS) 

information, farm name, and other information (depending on level of disclosure). 

 Name of county or State where premises is located. 

 Primary species (susceptible species), index case information (species, breed, age, sex, etc.) 

 Disease identified, date of testing or confirmation, laboratory where testing occurred, and reason 

for testing. 

 Type of facility (such as breeding, hunt preserve, or other) and when established. 

 Type and condition of enclosure. 

 Number of susceptible animals remaining at index premises. 

 Proximity to other susceptible animals. 
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Current Status: 

This section contains relevant information and findings that have developed since the previous sitrep. 

Information in this section includes: 

 New laboratory results of interest from the index herd. 

 Notable activities by producer. 

 Changes in quarantine status of farm or breaks in quarantines. 

 Completion of final depopulation plan or herd plan. 

 Activities being conducted such as appraisal, depopulation, or cleaning and disinfection. 

 Signature of herd plan, VS Form 1-23, and other necessary documents by owner and related

State officials. 

 Additional issues not previously identified. 

Epidemiological Investigation 

This section should relate information such as: 

 Findings of record reviews. 

 Progress of traceouts. 

 Identification of new traces and how they are associated with index premises. 

 Identification of new risk factors (biosecurity risks).

 Closed-out traces. 

Planning: 

This section should provide information related to planned or pending activities such as: 

 Contingency planning for newly identified risks. 

 Plans for additional surveillance (traceout herds). 

 Plans for wildlife surveillance. 

 Plans for depopulation, cleaning and disinfection, and other needed activities. 

Note: In addition to the information specifically mentioned above, preparers should maintain an archive of 

previous sitreps, and attach them to any current sitrep to serve as a historical reference to the reader if 

needed.
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Appendix VII. Links to Forms and Documents

Forms and documents for application to the Approved State CWD Herd Certification Program 

include:

 VS Form 11-2

 MOU Between State and APHIS for CWD HCP

 Guidance to States on Application

These documents can be found on the APHIS CWD Web site at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/apply.shtml

A list of Approved State CWD HCPs can be found at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/downloads/list_approved_st_cwd_herd_c

ert_programs.pdf

VS Form 10-4 laboratory submission forms can be found at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/VS_Form10_4.pdf

VS Form 10-4A laboratory submission forms can be found at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/VS_Form10_4a.pdf

CWD Program – “CWD Sample Collection Guidance” can be found at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/diagnostics.shtml