Buckeye Tick Test: Supporting Tick Awareness and Public Health in Ohio
Buckeye Tick Test is Ohio State’s tick identification and pathogen testing service. It supports individuals, veterinary clinics, and organizations while contributing data that helps track tick species and tick‑borne disease risk across Ohio.
By combining testing with surveillance, Buckeye Tick Test helps bridge the gap between individual exposure and statewide public and animal health awareness.
Why Buckeye Tick Test Matters
Ticks and tick‑borne diseases are increasing across Ohio, affecting people, pets, livestock, and those who work outdoors. Knowing what type of tick was encountered and whether it carries pathogens can provide valuable information after exposure.
Buckeye Tick Test helps:
Identify tick species of medical and veterinary importance
Detect tick‑borne pathogens
Inform follow‑up conversations with healthcare or veterinary professionals
Support broader tick surveillance and research efforts in Ohio
Tick warning sign posted on a tree in a wooded forest.
What Tick Submissions Reveal in Ohio
Ticks submitted to Buckeye Tick Test reflect real‑world exposure across the state.
Submissions occur statewide and follow a seasonal pattern, increasing in late spring and early summer
Commonly submitted species include blacklegged ticks, American dog ticks, and lone star ticks
Most ticks are found on people or pets, often during everyday activities
These patterns reinforce that tick exposure is not limited to rural settings and can occur close to home.
Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged or deer ticks) on a leaf by a hiker's boot.
Pathogen Detection and Risk Awareness
Not all ticks carry disease, but testing shows that a meaningful portion do.
Among tested public samples, some ticks tested positive for one or more pathogens
Positive results were most commonly associated with medically important tick species
This information helps individuals better understand potential risk while contributing to Ohio‑wide knowledge of tick‑borne diseases.
Supporting Ohio’s Tick Surveillance
In addition to providing test results to submitters, Buckeye Tick Test supports Ohio’s public and animal health response by:
Testing thousands of ticks for pathogens
Tracking tick species and disease trends across the state
Sharing data with public health and agricultural partners
This work complements ongoing efforts to understand where ticks are spreading and how tick‑borne disease risk is changing in Ohio.
Learn More About Tick Impact in Ohio
To explore how ticks affect people, companion animals, frontline professionals, and agriculture, visit our Impact of Ticks in Ohio page.
Found a tick or know someone that has?
Get it tested with Buckeye Tick Test
Buckeye Tick Test is available to the public, veterinary clinics, and organizations seeking reliable tick identification and pathogen testing.
