Where can you donate blood for tick testing?

Where can you donate blood for tick testing? - briefly

Blood for tick‑borne disease screening can be donated at most Red Cross locations and many hospital blood banks that work with public‑health laboratories. Verify with the specific donor center, either online or by phone, that they process samples for tick testing.

Where can you donate blood for tick testing? - in detail

Blood samples for tick‑borne disease testing are accepted by several types of facilities. Hospitals with transfusion services, regional blood centers, and university‑affiliated research laboratories routinely collect specimens for diagnostic and epidemiological studies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operates a network of sentinel sites that process donations specifically for tick‑related pathogens; contact the local CDC office to obtain a list of participating clinics.

Eligibility criteria mirror standard blood‑donation guidelines: age 17‑65, weight ≥ 110 lb, no recent travel to areas with active tick‑borne outbreaks, and no history of infection with Lyme disease, babesiosis, or anaplasmosis within the past six months. Donors must pass a health questionnaire and undergo a brief physical examination.

To locate a collection point:

• Call the nearest American Red Cross blood bank and ask whether they support research studies on tick‑borne infections.
• Search the CDC “Tick‑borne Disease Surveillance” webpage for a directory of partner laboratories.
• Contact university medical schools or veterinary colleges; many run vector‑research programs that require human blood samples.
• Inquire at state health department labs; some state‑run facilities have dedicated tick‑testing initiatives.

When scheduling, confirm the required volume (typically 450 mL), the preferred anticoagulant (e.g., EDTA), and any special handling instructions. After donation, the specimen is processed for PCR, serology, or culture to detect Borrelia, Babesia, Anaplasma, and related organisms. Results are forwarded to the requesting research team or public‑health authority.