Testing the tick tells you which species bit you and whether it carried Lyme or co-infections like Babesia, Anaplasma or Bartonella. Several states test ticks for free, and national labs test them for a fee.
Note the date of the bite, where on your body it was attached, your best guess at how long it was attached, and where you picked it up (town or state). Take a photo too.
Choose a lab below. Most have you fill out an online form, print a voucher or order receipt, and mail the bagged tick in a padded envelope. Results usually take 3 business days to 2 weeks.
Fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint aches, or an expanding rash (not always a bullseye) all need prompt medical attention, whatever the tick test shows.
Don't wait for results to see a doctor. If you have symptoms, get evaluated right away. Early treatment matters most.
means the tick carried the pathogen. It doesn't prove you were infected, but it's important information for your doctor and may support early treatment.
is reassuring but not a guarantee. You may have had other unnoticed bites, and no test catches everything. Keep watching for symptoms.
Tick testing checks the tick, not your blood. Antibody blood tests are often negative in the first weeks after a bite. See human testing labs.
Guidelines differ. IDSA allows a single doxycycline dose within 72 hours of certain bites, while ILADS favours a longer course. Ask your doctor promptly. The r/Lyme "just bitten" guide is also helpful.
Free programs are usually limited to residents of that state. Prices change, so confirm on each lab's website.
Submit online at ticklab.org ("Test my tick"), print the voucher and mail it with your tick in a sealed plastic bag.
State-funded lab that has tested ticks for Connecticut residents at no cost since 1990.
Complete the Texas tick submission form for each tick. Do not use alcohol — mail in a secure container.
Military human tick test kit program run by the Defense Centers for Public Health.
Upload a photo of your tick to find out what species it is and your risk level.
Free tick identification for Illinois residents.
Low-cost tick identification and pathogen testing for Maine residents.
One of the best-known national tick testing services, run by a university lab.
Private lab; several ticks from the same bite event can often be tested together.
Specialty tick-borne disease lab; multiple ticks can be pooled in one test.
Private tick identification and testing service.
University diagnostic lab offering tick testing.
Know a free program in your state that isn't listed? Many state health departments and universities run seasonal tick surveillance. Search "[your state] tick testing".