Tick Testing Laboratory

General Information

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Tick Testing Program at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station was founded in 1990, following years of pioneering Lyme disease research. In 2015, the program was expanded to include testing for two emerging tick-associated pathogens for the first time: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, and Babesia microti, the causative agent of Babesiosis, in addition to Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Ticks are accepted only from residents of CT, and must be submitted through their local health departments. Substitute House Bill No. 5872, of April 10, 1992, states that the CAES “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.”

The CAES Tick Testing Laboratory is located in the Jenkins-Waggoner Laboratories, Room 214 and 218, and is part of the Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases.

Inquiries regarding the CAES Tick Testing Program and policies may be directed to Dr. Goudarz Molaei who oversees the program:

Dr. Goudarz Molaei
Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington St.
New Haven, CT 06511
Phone: (203) 974-8487
Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail:  Goudarz.Molaei@ct.gov

Guidelines for Municipal and Regional Health Departments

Information on Submitting Ticks