Where can blood be submitted for analysis after a tick bite? - briefly
Blood samples may be sent to hospital pathology departments, private diagnostic laboratories, or public health labs that perform serologic testing for tick‑borne diseases. Select a facility that offers assays for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and related infections.
Where can blood be submitted for analysis after a tick bite? - in detail
After a tick bite, blood specimens can be processed at several types of facilities that offer reliable testing for tick‑borne pathogens.
Medical laboratories that operate under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards are the primary option. These labs accept physician‑ordered specimens for serologic and molecular assays such as ELISA, immunofluorescence, and PCR. They are typically located within hospitals, independent diagnostic centers, or large health‑system networks.
Primary‑care offices and urgent‑care clinics often have standing agreements with CLIA‑certified labs. When a clinician orders a test, the sample is usually collected on site and forwarded to the partner laboratory. This route provides rapid turnaround and integrates results into the patient’s electronic health record.
State or county health departments maintain reference laboratories for surveillance of vector‑borne diseases. Specimens submitted here support public‑health reporting and may be required for certain notifiable conditions. Contact information for the local department is usually available on its website.
Specialized infectious‑disease centers and academic medical centers operate research‑focused labs that perform advanced testing, including multiplex PCR panels and next‑generation sequencing. Referral to these centers is appropriate when standard assays are inconclusive or when a rare pathogen is suspected.
Retail clinics and pharmacy‑based health services sometimes offer point‑of‑care testing for common tick‑borne illnesses such as Lyme disease. These tests are generally limited to antibody detection and should be confirmed by a reference laboratory.
Key steps to obtain testing
- Seek medical evaluation promptly after the bite.
- Request a specific order for tick‑borne disease testing.
- Confirm that the ordering provider has a contract with a CLIA‑certified lab.
- Provide a recent blood draw at the chosen facility or arrange courier transport if the sample is collected elsewhere.
- Follow up on results through the ordering clinician or the laboratory’s patient portal.
Choosing a CLIA‑certified laboratory, whether affiliated with a hospital, health department, or academic center, ensures that the analysis meets regulatory standards and that results are accurate and actionable.