Testing Ticks for disease

Testing for Lyme disease in Vermont is done in the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Laboratories in Waterbury for research purposes, using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing.  This assay multiplies a small distinctive piece of the Lyme bacterium so that it can be measured.  Ticks preserved in 95% ethyl alcohol can be tested up to 2 years after collection, if carefully stored.   The agency does not test ticks for the general public.