Buckeye Tick Test Reaches 10,000-Tick Milestone

September 30, 2026

Since launching in 2023, the IDI Buckeye Tick Test service has grown into one of the region's leading tick surveillance and outreach programs. In September 2026, Buckeye Tick Test reached a major milestone by testing its 10,000th tick. What began as a service to help Ohioans identify ticks and assess tick-borne disease risk has evolved into a resource that supports surveillance, research, and public education efforts across Ohio and beyond.

Much of Buckeye Tick Test's growth has been driven by partnerships with the Ohio Department of Health, Columbus Public Health, the CDC-funded VectorNet Network, the Spectrum of Care Clinic (SOCC) in Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, researchers across the university, and industry partners, as well as effective marketing and community outreach by the IDI. Alongside public submissions, large-scale surveillance testing has helped track tick distribution and emerging disease threats throughout Ohio and neighboring states. These collaborations have enabled the service to become an important resource for public health agencies, veterinarians, researchers, and community members alike.

The program's reach continues to expand. To date, Buckeye Tick Test has received ticks from 86 of Ohio's 88 counties and more than 100 submissions from 26 states outside Ohio, including Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Lab analyst Diana Wendelin identifies a tick for Buckeye Tick Test at The Ohio State University's Goss Laboratory. — Credit: Allie Vugrincic / WOSU

Buckeye Tick Test's impact extends beyond surveillance. Most recently, Cece Bryant, lead lab specialist with the IDI Genomics and Microbiology Solutions (IDI-GEMS) Laboratory, co-authored a publication in the CDC's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal with Dr. Risa Pesapane, associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, faculty director of Buckeye Tick Test, and co-director of the IDI Ecology, Epidemiology, and Population Health Thematic Program, and colleagues. The study documented established populations of Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) and the pathogen Rickettsia parkeri in Ohio, highlighting the importance of continued tick surveillance and the role programs such as Buckeye Tick Test play in identifying emerging public health risks.

The program is also expanding its educational impact. Through a recently funded Engaged Scholarship Seed Grant, Dr. Pesapane and collaborators are partnering with educators and students in Appalachian Ohio on a tick-borne disease surveillance project. As part of the initiative, Buckeye Tick Test will perform pathogen testing on tick DNA samples collected through participating schools, helping connect classroom science with real-world public health research and community engagement.

Buckeye Tick Test has also received significant media attention, helping raise awareness of tick-borne diseases and prevention strategies across Ohio. In 2026 alone, the program was featured by The Columbus Dispatch, WOSU Public Media, WBNS 10TV, Ohio State Health & Discovery, and other outlets, highlighting the growing importance of tick surveillance and public education efforts throughout the state.

As Buckeye Tick Test continues to grow, it remains a valuable resource for Ohioans, public health agencies, veterinarians, educators, and researchers working to better understand and prevent tick-borne diseases through surveillance, research, education, and community engagement.