What is Geneticks?
Geneticks is the first private lab in Canada dedicated to providing an accessible and reliable service for testing ticks for tick-borne diseases. We offer a rapid-return service, returning information about the presence of tick-borne pathogens in submitted ticks within 2-5 business days of arriving at our laboratory. This allows customers to make time-sensitive, informed decisions about their potential exposure to Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases*.
* All health-oriented decisions must be made with the assistance of a trained and certified health-care practitioner.
How does it work?
Geneticks accepts ticks from anywhere in Canada. Ticks that have been removed from people, pets or animals are placed in a sealable plastic bag or container and mailed to our headquarters. Upon arrival, ticks are processed, and analyzed using highly sensitive genetic techniques designed to specifically detect the most relevant tick-borne pathogens in Canada. Upon completion, a report detailing the findings is delivered to you by email*.
To submit a tick for testing, see our Submit a Tick section.
* Important Note: These findings give an indication of the pathogens present within the tick ONLY. They DO NOT provide information on the transmission of pathogens to humans or potential infection. Any personal health-care decisions made about your personal exposure to tick-borne illnesses should be done ONLY with the assistance of a trained and certified health-care professional.
What testing do we offer?
We offer three options for having your ticks tested. For each of these options, we will first identify the submitted tick, and ensure the testing is appropriate for that species. The three options are:
- Lyme Disease
- Cost: $50.00 CAD (+$30.00 CAD for expedited testing**)
- Description: Ticks will be tested for the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and tick-borne relapsing fever. These bacteria include:
- General Borrelia
- Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Lyme disease) or Borrelia lonestari (STARI)
- Borrelia miyamotoi (tick-borne relapsing fever).
- Common Infections
- Cost: $150.00 CAD (+$50.00 CAD for expedited testing**)
- Description: Ticks will be tested for the seven most common tick-borne pathogens found in their species.
- For black-legged ticks, these pathogens include:
- General Borrelia
- Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Lyme disease)
- Borrelia miyamotoi (tick-borne relapsing fever)
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum (human granulocytic anaplasmosis)
- Babesia microti (babesiosis)
- Babesia duncani (babesiosis)
- Babesia odocoilei (babesiosis)
- Bartonella spp. (bartonellosis)
- For all other tick species, these pathogens include:
- General Borrelia
- Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Lyme disease) or Borrelia lonestari (STARI)
- Ehrlichia chaffeensis (ehrlichiosis)
- Ehrlichia ewingii (ehrlichiosis)
- Coxiella burnetti (Q-fever)
- Francisella tularensis (tularemia)
- Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
- For black-legged ticks, these pathogens include:
- Comprehensive
- Cost: $300.00 CAD (+$75.00 CAD for expedited testing**)
- Description: Ticks will be tested for all the currently detectable pathogens at Geneticks. These pathogens include:
- General Borrelia
- Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Lyme disease) or Borrelia lonestari (STARI)
- Borrelia miyamotoi (tick-borne relapsing fever)
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum (human granulocytic anaplasmosis)
- Babesia microti (babesiosis)
- Babesia duncani (babesiosis)
- Babesia odocoilei (babesiosis)
- Bartonella spp. (bartonellosis)
- Ehrlichia chaffeensis (ehrlichiosis)
- Ehrlichia ewingii (ehrlichiosis)
- Ehrlichia canis (ehrlichiosis)
- Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis (ehrlichiosis)
- Coxiella burnetti (Q-fever)
- Francisella tularensis (tularemia)
- Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
**Expedited testing ensures that your tick testing results are returned to you within 48 hours of receiving your tick at our laboratory. This 48 hour period applies to business days (Mon-Fri) only.
Who is behind Geneticks?
Geneticks was founded by Justin Wood, who was diagnosed with late disseminated Lyme disease in 2015. Justin has an extensive background in genetics, having graduated with biology degrees from Queen’s University (B.Sc.H) and the University of Calgary (M.Sc.) with specializations in genetics.
Prior to contracting Lyme disease, Justin was an avid outdoorsman and athlete – playing varsity soccer at both schools and enjoying all manners of outdoors activities, from mountain biking to snowboarding in his spare time. Justin is a passionate advocate for Lyme disease awareness, and a dedicated professional committed to minimizing the spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases in Canada.
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