Where can I submit a tick for analysis? - briefly
Send the specimen to a recognized public‑health or veterinary laboratory, such as the CDC’s Division of Vector‑Borne Diseases, a state health department’s vector‑surveillance program, or a university diagnostic service. These agencies provide standardized testing and reporting for tick analysis.
Where can I submit a tick for analysis? - in detail
Submitting a tick specimen for laboratory analysis requires selecting a facility equipped to identify species, detect pathogens, and provide a formal report. The following options are widely recognized in the United States and Canada.
- Federal public‑health laboratories – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accepts tick samples through its Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. State health departments often operate regional labs that forward specimens to the CDC or conduct independent testing.
- University entomology or vector‑biology programs – Institutions such as the University of Rhode Island, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Toronto maintain diagnostic services for ticks. Contact the department’s vector‑biology coordinator for submission instructions.
- Commercial diagnostic companies – Firms including IDEXX Laboratories, Viracor‑Biotech, and Quest Diagnostics provide tick‑analysis services for clinicians and private individuals. Submissions are handled via online portals or dedicated shipping addresses.
- Veterinary clinics with diagnostic partnerships – Many veterinary practices collaborate with specialized labs and can forward ticks on behalf of pet owners.
When preparing a specimen, follow these standards:
- Place the tick in a sealable tube containing 70 % ethanol for preserved specimens or in a ventilated container with a moist cotton ball for live ticks intended for pathogen culture.
- Label the container with collection date, geographic coordinates or nearest landmark, host species, and any observable symptoms.
- Include a brief request form specifying desired analyses (e.g., species identification, PCR for Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp.).
- Ship the package using a reputable courier that complies with hazardous‑material regulations if live organisms are included.
Contact information for each facility is typically listed on its website; common channels are dedicated email addresses, online submission forms, and toll‑free phone numbers. Expect turnaround times ranging from 5 days for basic identification to 2–3 weeks for comprehensive pathogen panels. Fees vary by service level; most public‑health labs provide testing at no cost for clinicians, while commercial labs charge per test.
By selecting an appropriate laboratory, adhering to packaging protocols, and providing complete metadata, the tick can be analyzed efficiently, yielding accurate species determination and pathogen detection.