Ticks may carry diseases that cause illness in humans and animals in Michigan. Therefore, if you find a tick feeding on a person or domestic animal, you may want it identified and possibly screened for the presence of a disease-causing organism. Not all tick species carry disease agents of human public health importance. Any testing performed on a submitted tick will depend on the species of the tick submitted.

The “Tick Identification and Testing Form” is used for tracking ticks that are removed from a host (person/animal/other) and submitted to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) for identification and possible testing. An Ixodes scapularis (Deer Tick/Black-Legged Tick) removed from a human host that is received alive by MDARD will be tested for the Lyme disease organism (Borrelia burgdorferi) by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Laboratory at no cost to the submitter.

Ticks removed from a non-human host will be identified only. If the submitter would like the tick screened for tick-borne disease organisms, then MDARD or MDCH will forward the tick to the Michigan State University, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (MSU-DCPAH) Laboratory to perform the testing. MSU-DCPAH will charge the submitter a $50.00 fee to perform the disease screening services. If the submitter desires MSU-DCPAH to provide disease screening of their tick, they must check the appropriate box on the “Tick Identification and Testing Form”. If the box is not checked, only the tick identification information will be provided to the submitter.

Regardless of the tick species, the MDARD, Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, Insect and Rodent Management Program and the MDCH Laboratory will continue to identify any submitted tick at no cost to the public.

Any questions regarding tick submissions and disease screening of ticks should be directed to the Insect and Rodent Management Program at (517) 241-1169.