Which laboratories accept ticks for analysis? - briefly
Public health agencies such as the «CDC Arbovirus Diagnostic Laboratory», state health department laboratories, and several university veterinary diagnostic centers accept tick specimens for pathogen analysis. Submissions require sealed, chilled vials and a completed request form.
Which laboratories accept ticks for analysis? - in detail
Laboratories capable of processing tick specimens for pathogen detection fall into three main categories: public health agencies, academic research facilities, and commercial diagnostic providers. Each group follows specific submission protocols, offers distinct analytical methods, and serves different geographic regions.
Public‑health laboratories operate under national disease‑surveillance programs. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Arboviral and Tick‑Borne Disease Reference Laboratories accept ticks for testing of Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Powassan virus. Specimens must be submitted frozen at –20 °C, accompanied by a completed request form, and include collection date, location, and host information. In Canada, the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) provides similar services for tick‑borne pathogens, requiring dry ice shipment and a signed consent for data use. European public‑health institutions, such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reference network, coordinate sample acceptance through national laboratories in Germany (Robert Koch Institute), Sweden (Public Health Agency), and the United Kingdom (Public Health England). These agencies typically request ethanol‑preserved ticks (70 % ethanol) and provide results within 2–3 weeks.
Academic and research laboratories conduct specialized analyses, often extending beyond routine diagnostics. Universities with entomology or vector‑biology departments—e.g., University of Rhode Island (USA), University of Oxford (UK), and University of Bonn (Germany)—offer services such as next‑generation sequencing, metagenomic profiling, and experimental infection assays. Submission guidelines vary: most require live or freshly frozen specimens, detailed metadata, and may impose limits on sample quantity. Researchers can contact laboratory directors directly; contact information is listed on institutional websites.
Commercial diagnostic companies deliver rapid testing for clinical and veterinary applications. Companies such as IDEXX Laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific (via its TaqMan® Tick‑Borne Pathogen Panel), and BioMérieux provide PCR‑based panels for a range of bacterial, viral, and protozoan agents. Tick samples should be shipped in a sealed, temperature‑controlled container with a pre‑paid courier label. Turnaround time typically ranges from 24 hours to 5 days, depending on the assay and service level. Pricing structures are published on corporate portals and may require a service agreement.
Key considerations for submitting tick specimens:
- Preservation method: frozen at –20 °C or 70 % ethanol; avoid formalin.
- Packaging: leak‑proof secondary container, ice packs or dry ice as required.
- Metadata: collection date, geographic coordinates, host species, life stage.
- Legal compliance: permits for interstate or international transport, if applicable.
- Result reporting: electronic delivery of raw data (e.g., Ct values) and interpretive summary.
By selecting the appropriate laboratory type and adhering to the specified submission standards, researchers and clinicians can obtain reliable diagnostic outcomes for tick‑borne disease investigations.