Where can a dead tick be submitted?

Where can a dead tick be submitted? - briefly

Submit a dead tick to your local public‑health agency, a university or state health‑department laboratory, or the CDC’s Tick Testing Program.

Where can a dead tick be submitted? - in detail

A deceased tick may be sent to several types of facilities for identification or pathogen testing.

Public‑health agencies commonly receive specimens. State health departments operate vector‑borne disease laboratories that accept dead arthropods for diagnostic analysis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a Tick‑borne Disease Surveillance and Reference Laboratory that processes submissions from across the United States.

Academic institutions with entomology or epidemiology programs also handle samples. University laboratories, such as those at the University of Massachusetts, the University of Texas, and the University of Minnesota, provide identification services and, in many cases, conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for bacterial and viral agents.

Commercial tick‑testing companies offer mail‑in kits. Services such as TickReport, Lone Star Laboratories, and the University of Rhode Island’s Tick Testing Service accept dried specimens, provide species confirmation, and report on the presence of Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia species.

Veterinary clinics and animal‑health laboratories may forward ticks to specialized diagnostic labs, especially when the host is a pet or livestock.

To prepare a sample for submission, follow these steps:

  1. Place the tick in a sterile, sealable container (e.g., a vial or zip‑lock bag).
  2. Preserve in 70 % ethanol or keep dry if the receiving laboratory specifies.
  3. Label with collection date, geographic location, host species, and any relevant exposure information.
  4. Include a completed request form that specifies the desired analysis (identification, pathogen screening, or both).
  5. Ship according to the laboratory’s instructions, using appropriate packaging to prevent leakage and complying with any postal regulations for biological specimens.

Contact the intended facility before mailing to confirm acceptance criteria, shipping requirements, and any fees. By directing the specimen to the appropriate public‑health, academic, or commercial laboratory, researchers and clinicians obtain reliable data for disease surveillance and patient management.