Where to bring a tick for analysis? - briefly
Submit the tick to a veterinary diagnostic service, a municipal health laboratory, or a university entomology department. Store it in a sealed vial with a damp cotton pad and ship it promptly under temperature‑controlled conditions.
Where to bring a tick for analysis? - in detail
Submitting a detached tick for laboratory examination requires choosing an institution equipped to identify species, detect pathogens, and provide reliable results. Veterinary diagnostic centers, public‑health laboratories, university research facilities, and specialized tick‑testing services all accept specimens, but each offers distinct capabilities.
Veterinary diagnostic laboratories
- Accept ticks from domestic animals and pets.
- Perform morphological identification and PCR testing for common canine‑borne agents such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia spp.
- Provide results within 7–10 days, often with veterinary consultation.
Public‑health (state or regional) laboratories
- Process ticks collected from humans, wildlife, or the environment.
- Conduct comprehensive pathogen panels, including viruses (e.g., tick‑borne encephalitis), bacteria, and protozoa.
- Report findings to health authorities and may issue public‑health advisories.
University or research institute facilities
- Offer advanced molecular analyses, whole‑genome sequencing, and experimental infection studies.
- Suitable for academic projects, detailed epidemiological surveys, or novel pathogen discovery.
- Typically require prior arrangement and may have longer turnaround times.
Commercial tick‑testing services
- Provide mail‑in kits with pre‑paid envelopes.
- Allow submission of individual ticks or small batches.
- Deliver species identification and targeted pathogen screening, often with online result portals.
When preparing a specimen, follow these steps:
- Place the tick in a sealed container (e.g., a small vial) with a damp cotton ball to maintain humidity.
- Label the container with collection date, location (GPS coordinates if possible), host species, and any observed symptoms.
- Ship the sample promptly, using a reputable courier that accepts biological specimens, or deliver it directly to the laboratory during business hours.
- Include a completed request form specifying desired tests (species identification, pathogen panel, quantitative PCR, etc.).
Choosing the appropriate laboratory depends on the intended use of the data: clinical diagnosis for pets, public‑health monitoring, or scientific research. Each facility listed above meets the essential criteria for accurate tick analysis and can provide actionable information for disease prevention and management.