Where can a tick be tested for encephalitis? - briefly
Testing can be performed at state health department laboratories, the CDC’s Arbovirus Diagnostic Laboratory, and many veterinary or university research labs that offer PCR analysis for tick‑borne encephalitis virus. Contact your local public‑health office for specimen submission guidelines.
Where can a tick be tested for encephalitis? - in detail
Ticks that may carry the virus responsible for encephalitis can be examined at several types of facilities.
Public health laboratories run by national or regional disease‑control agencies regularly accept tick specimens for virus detection. Examples include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Arbovirus Diagnostic Laboratory, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reference labs, and comparable institutions in Canada, Australia, and Asia.
Hospital‑based microbiology or infectious‑disease departments often provide testing for patients’ ticks when a clinician suspects exposure. Major academic medical centers usually have the necessary polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological assays.
University veterinary schools maintain diagnostic services for animal‑derived ticks. These units typically collaborate with government agencies and can process samples from both domestic pets and wildlife.
Commercial diagnostic companies offer tick‑testing kits and mail‑in services. Companies such as Eurofins, IDEXX, and Bio‑Rad provide PCR or ELISA analysis for the encephalitis virus and ship specimens to accredited laboratories.
For field researchers and hunters, specialized entomology labs accept mailed samples. Institutions like the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare have established protocols for receiving and testing collected ticks.
To arrange testing, contact the chosen laboratory directly, confirm specimen‑submission requirements (e.g., storage temperature, packaging, accompanying data), and obtain any necessary permits for transporting potentially infectious material.