Ticked Off? Get It Tested!

Free lab in PA helps you outsmart tick-borne disease

It’s finally nice out—sun’s shining, flowers are blooming, and everyone’s enjoying the great outdoors. But May and June also marks the most active season for one of our region’s most dangerous pests: ticks.

While mosquitoes often get the headlines for West Nile virus, tick-borne illnesses—especially Lyme disease—are a much bigger concern here in Pennsylvania. In fact, our state consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for Lyme cases. That’s thanks largely to the blacklegged tick (aka the deer tick), which thrives in wooded, grassy, and brushy areas.

Lyme is highly treatable—but only if caught early. The trouble is, symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and joint pain are easy to overlook. When left unchecked, the infection can spread to the heart, joints, and nervous system, leading to serious complications.

And Lyme isn’t the only thing ticks can carry. Other diseases like anaplasmosis and babesiosis that cause similar symptoms and are also on the rise across the Northeast. Quick action after a bite is so important! The good news? There’s a free service right here in PA that makes it easy to ID these bloodthirsty freeloaders and show them who’s boss!

Urban Crawl

Ticks don’t need a forest to find a host. They can hitch a ride on your pant leg during a quick shortcut through overgrown weeds. They hang out in flower beds, dog parks, and grassy lots. Your pup might pick one up during a backyard romp and pass it along with a cuddle.

That’s why tick awareness matters no matter where you live. And one of the smartest things to remember, if bitten, is to save that tick.

Bag It and Tag It

East Stroudsburg University runs Tick Lab, a program that offers free tick testing to Pennsylvania residents ($50 out of state). You fill out a short form online, drop your tick in the mail, and within a week you’ll get a full report on its age, sex, species, “engorgement” (🤢) and a list of any pathogens detected.  It’s an amazing resource that turns a creepy crisis into meaningful action.

At The Local, we’ve already sent in two ticks this year. One tested positive for Lyme disease—but reassuringly, the report said it had “likely not attached for more than 7 hours.” Since it takes 36 to 48 hours for Lyme to transmit, we’re probably in the clear (although we followed up with a blood test just to be sure).

Tick Lab also offers additional testing panels for a fee, which may be useful for folks with unexplained symptoms or high-risk exposure. But for most cases, the free panel is plenty.

Tick Skills 101

Whether you’re walking the dog or weeding the garden, it’s smart to do a quick tick check when you come inside. Focus especially on warm, hidden areas—armpits, hairline, behind knees, waistband. And if you do find a tick:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers
• Grasp as close to the skin as possible
• Pull straight up—no twisting or yanking
• Don’t try to smother it with Vaseline or nail polish (doesn’t work)
• Wash the bite with soap and water (rubbing alcohol if you’re feeling fancy)

Don’t panic if the mouthparts stay behind—your body will likely push them out naturally. (🤢) While a leftover tick head can’t transmit disease, it can irritate the skin and invite infection. If signs of pain, swelling or discharge appear, be sure to see your doctor!

Every Tick Tells a Story

Preserve your tick for testing in a baggie or in a piece of tape (if it’s alive, throw it in the freezer overnight). Pop it into an envelope with your Tick Lab order form and drop it in the mail. And thank you for being a good citizen!

When you submit a tick for study, you’re not just protecting yourself—you’re helping scientists track how these parasites are spreading and evolving as our climate and land use change. It’s a small act that contributes to a larger effort to monitor and fight vector-borne disease in our region.

Stay safe out there. And remember: the quicker you act, the better your odds. Let’s outwit the little suckers with science, and stop their toxic drama in its tracks.

What do you think? Click the links for more info, and please leave your questions and comments below.