In summer 2007 Iowa State University Extension united several, separate plant health-related activities into a single multidisciplinary service called the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. The new, interdepartmental Clinic integrates services formerly provided by the departments of Plant Pathology, Entomology, Horticulture and Agronomy into a multi-specialty, one-stop-shop for county extension offices, growers and homeowners.

Diagnosticians within the clinic, in collaboration with faculty and staff in the supporting departments work with plant and insect samples, print and digital images, email messages, letters and phone calls to diagnose plant health problems and recommend management alternatives. The number of physical samples, phone calls and email messages totals approximately 8,500 per year.

A major part of the clinic merger has been to create a web-based process for directing samples and requests for information to the new clinic. A new web site allows county extension staff or the public to submit questions or digital images. There are also unique, audience-specific, web-based forms that are filled out on line and printed prior to sending physical samples to campus.

Contact information and details from the web-based forms are automatically extracted from the inquiries to generate replies to clients and county extension offices. Date, location, host, and pest diagnosis data are saved from the web site in a searchable database, and required information is extracted and sent to the National Plant Diagnostic Network.