Guidelines for Municipal and Regional Health Departments

Substitute House Bill No. 5872, of April 10, 1992, states that The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station:

“shall not conduct any testing of ticks for Lyme disease except at the request of a state or municipal health official or for scientific research purposes.”

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, CAES has allowed Connecticut residents to submit ticks for identification or testing, either by mail or via in-person drop-off.

We still encourage CT residents to submit their ticks through their local health departments when possible. This collaboration helps health departments monitor tick activity in their towns. Additionally, consolidating the reporting process allows us to send notifications, saving both time and money.

Please include the following information with each tick whenever you can:

• The name of the patient or the health department ID number
• The age and sex of the person who was bitten
• The date the tick was found
• The part of the body where the tick was found
• The town where the tick came from

Tick Submission Form

During less busy months, you can schedule a visit to the Tick Testing Laboratory. There, you can learn how to identify different ticks and estimate how much blood they have taken. To set up a visit, call the tick lab at 203‑974‑8520.