Where can a tick be taken for testing? - briefly
Ticks may be submitted to local public‑health laboratories, university veterinary or entomology departments, or commercial diagnostic services. Contact your state disease‑surveillance program for exact submission procedures.
Where can a tick be taken for testing? - in detail
Ticks can be submitted for laboratory analysis in several established venues. Public health agencies operate regional laboratories that accept arthropod specimens; contact the state or county health department for submission guidelines. Veterinary practices frequently forward ticks to diagnostic labs, especially those serving animal clinics; veterinarians can provide the necessary forms and shipping containers. University entomology or microbiology departments often run specialized tick‑testing programs; check the institution’s website for specimen‑submission protocols. Commercial diagnostic companies offer mail‑in services, providing kits that include vials with ethanol or RNAlater for preservation; orders are placed online and results are returned electronically. Some nonprofit organizations run community tick‑testing initiatives, typically coordinating drop‑off points at parks or community centers during peak season.
When preparing a specimen, follow these steps:
- Place the tick in a sealed container with a preservative (70 % ethanol is standard) or keep it dry if the laboratory requests live specimens.
- Include a label with collection date, location (GPS coordinates if possible), host species, and any observed symptoms.
- Complete the laboratory’s submission form, providing contact information for result delivery.
- Ship the package using a trackable courier service, adhering to any regulatory requirements for biological samples.
Turnaround times vary: public health labs often report within 7–14 days, university facilities may need 10–21 days, and commercial services typically return results in 5–10 days. Selecting the appropriate venue depends on the desired test panel (e.g., Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia) and the urgency of the information.