Since 2014, TickCheck has tested ticks submitted from across the United States. As our pool of data has grown over the years, one trend has become increasingly clear: a significant percentage of ticks carry disease-causing pathogens.
In fact, our research shows that 42% of the ticks submitted for testing are infected with at least one pathogen. These findings provide valuable insight into the real-world risks associated with tick bites and help improve our understanding of tick-borne disease prevalence.
Co-Infections Are More Common Than Many People Realize
While a single pathogen can pose a serious health risk, our data also reveals that many ticks carry multiple pathogens simultaneously. This means that a single tick bite has the potential to expose a person or animal to more than one disease.
Based on the ticks tested by TickCheck:
- 42% carry at least one pathogen
- 30% are co-infected with two or more pathogens
- 8% carry three or more pathogens
- 3% carry four or more pathogens
All of TickCheck’s testing data is publicly available and updated regularly. In addition to overall infection and co-infection rates, our data includes infection rates by tick species, life stage, and individual pathogen, along with the total number of ticks tested. By making this information accessible, we hope to support research, increase public awareness, and help individuals make informed decisions following a tick bite.
How Can I Protect Myself?
As always, prevention is the best form of protection. The fewer tick bites you receive, the lower your risk of contracting a tick-borne illness. However, complete prevention is rarely possible. If you spend time outdoors in grassy or wooded areas—or regularly interact with pets that do—you may come into contact with ticks.
While vaccines are available for only a limited number of tick-borne diseases (though more are currently in development), there are several practical steps you can take to reduce your risk. Finding and removing attached ticks promptly, making your yard less attractive to ticks, and testing ticks after a bite can all play an important role in protecting yourself and your family.
Quickly Find and Remove Attached Ticks
Tick-borne pathogens are transmitted as a tick feeds. In general, the longer a tick remains attached, the greater the risk of disease transmission. A tick that has only recently attached is less likely to have transmitted pathogens, while a more engorged tick has likely been feeding for a longer period of time and may pose a greater risk.
Research has shown that some common tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, often require hours—or even days—of attachment before transmission occurs. For this reason, promptly finding and removing attached ticks is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk. It’s a good habit to perform a thorough tick check after spending time outdoors, especially if you’ve been in wooded areas, tall grass, brush, or leaf litter.
Just as importantly, make sure you and your family know how to respond when a tick is found. Not all tick removal methods are safe, and some commonly suggested techniques can actually increase the risk of disease transmission. Using a proper tick removal tool and removing the tick promptly and carefully are key steps in protecting yourself after a bite.
Reduce Tick Habitat Around Your Home
One of the best ways to reduce your exposure to ticks is to make your yard less attractive to them. Keep your lawn well maintained by regularly mowing the grass, trimming trees and shrubs, and removing excess brush or leaf litter. Areas where you and your family spend the most time should be kept open, uncluttered, and well lit whenever possible. Because ticks thrive in cool, moist, and shaded environments, keeping frequently used areas of your yard sunny and dry can help discourage them.
Ticks are a common problem in many parts of the country, and the last thing you want is to create an environment where they can thrive. Regular yard maintenance can help reduce tick activity around your home, and there are additional steps you can take to make your property even less inviting to ticks.
Test the Tick for Disease
While tick testing is not a form of prevention, it can be a valuable tool for helping you respond quickly and appropriately after a tick bite. If the tick that bit you carries a disease-causing pathogen, that does not necessarily mean you have contracted the disease, but it does confirm that you were exposed to a potentially infected tick.
Tick testing is a straightforward process: save the tick that bit you and send it to a laboratory for DNA testing. The lab can determine whether the tick carries any of the pathogens known to cause tick-borne diseases. Some states, including Pennsylvania, offer tick testing programs for residents, while private laboratories also provide testing services. TickCheck is one such provider.
A positive tick test result can provide valuable information to share with your healthcare provider and may help guide decisions about testing, or treatment. This can be especially helpful in the case of Lyme disease, where diagnosing an infection is not always straightforward. While no diagnostic method is perfect, testing the tick itself can provide highly accurate information about whether the pathogen was present in the tick that bit you. TickCheck’s testing methods are 99.99% accurate, providing fast and reliable results when you need them most.
Protect Yourself by Knowing the Risks
Remaining informed about ticks and the diseases they carry is key to keeping yourself, your family, and your pets safe during tick season. Know which ticks are active in your region and understand the potential risks. Staying vigilant and prepared is the best way to enjoy the outdoors safely.
Don’t forget—TickCheck can help you identify any tick! If you’ve been bitten and aren’t sure what species it is, simply upload a high-quality, detailed photo and request a free tick identification. We’ll be able to tell you what you’re looking at. We’ll let you know exactly what you’re looking at. Once you receive your results, you can either research the potential risks yourself or call our customer service team at 1-866-713-TICK to get our opinion. We’re always happy to help!
Worried About a Recent Tick Bite?
If you’ve removed a tick and want peace of mind, TickCheck offers fast and reliable tick testing services. Simply send the tick to our lab, and we’ll identify the species and test it for Lyme disease and other common pathogens. Knowing whether a tick was carrying disease can help you and your doctor make informed decisions about next steps.