What Ticknology does

Ticknology is a privately-held, direct-to-consumer mail-in tick-testing laboratory headquartered at 425 John Deere Dr. STE 5, Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded in 2018 by Dr. H. Szerlong (CEO, ASCP-certified Molecular Technologist with 20+ years in academic research) and Marc Dolan, MSc. (Medical Entomologist with 20+ years of experience), the company operates as a Colorado LLC serving customers across 47 US states. Its flagship service, the Universal Tick Test, uses PCR-based DNA amplification with parallel positive and negative controls and multiple independent Borrelia analyses to detect 14+ tick-borne pathogens — including Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonella, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia mayonii, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Tularemia — from a single customer-submitted tick specimen. The company claims 99.9% accuracy and detection sensitivity down to approximately 20-50 bacteria, with specimens stored for one year to enable re-testing.

Name

Ticknology

Legal name

Ticknology, LLC

Website

https://ticknology.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ticknology is a private, mail-in PCR laboratory that tests customer-submitted tick specimens for 14+ tick-borne pathogens including Lyme disease, serving individual consumers and physician-referred patients across the United States from its Fort Collins, Colorado facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diagnostic Laboratory Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Tick-Borne & Vector-Borne Diseases (HLAKAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mosquito & Tick Control (IMAIAHAI)

Keywords

• Tick testing services
• Lyme disease testing
• PCR pathogen detection
• Mail-in laboratory testing
• Tick-borne diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Universal Tick Test: One-time laboratory testing fee for tick specimen analysis. Customers order online, mail their tick to the Fort Collins lab, and receive results via email. Pricing tiers: Standard ($40, 3-5 business days) and Priority ($60, 24-72 hours). Bartonella testing is included at no extra charge. Additional rare pathogen tests available as add-ons ($30-$50 each).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ticknology operates a national mail-in laboratory tick testing service through which customers save a tick specimen at home in a Ziploc bag, order a test online (Standard $40 or Priority $60), and mail the specimen to the company's Fort Collins, Colorado lab for PCR-based DNA testing. The Universal Tick Test detects 14+ tick-borne pathogens across all US tick species, with optional rare-pathogen add-on tests, free tick species identification and imaging by a Medical Entomologist, results within 24-72 hours (Priority) or 3-5 business days (Standard) reviewed by Ph.D.-level scientists, and a 1-year specimen retention policy for retesting.

Product overview

Ticknology offers a single primary product—the Universal Tick Test—augmented by optional Rare Pathogen Panel add-ons. All tick testing includes free tick identification and species imaging as a bundled feature. The company provides regional testing services for Wisconsin, California, and New York with state-specific surveillance data. A national tick surveillance program aggregates submission data for awareness and prevention initiatives partnered with non-profit and academic organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Universal Tick Test Mail-in laboratory PCR-based DNA test that screens a customer-saved tick specimen for 14+ tick-borne pathogens (including Borrelia burgdorferi / Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonella, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia mayonii, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Tularemia) across all US tick species, with free tick identification and imaging and 99.9% accuracy; results reviewed by Ph.D.-level scientists.
• Rare Pathogen Panels Optional add-on PCR tests covering rare or uncharacterized tick-borne pathogens, offered as extensions to the Universal Tick Test when rarer pathogens are suspected: Powassan virus ($50), Colorado Tick Fever virus ($50), Heartland virus ($50), and combined Ehrlichia/Rickettsia species testing including uncharacterized organisms ($30).
• Tick Surveillance Services National tick surveillance program aggregating tick submission data to track tick migration, seasonal tick activity, and tick-borne disease prevalence across the US, coordinated with Lyme disease awareness, prevention, and education partners such as MLDSE, LivLyme Foundation, Lyme Connection, COTBDAA, and Lyme WNY.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.9% accuracy for tick DNA testing
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lyme WNYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Ticknology awarded the Lyme Disease Awareness and Prevention Sponsorship Award to Lyme WNY in 2018. 5% of all 2018 tick testing purchases donated to Lyme WNY 501(c)(3) for their contribution to the fight against Lyme disease.
• Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association (COTBDAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Ticknology awarded the Lyme Disease Awareness and Prevention Sponsorship Award to COTBDAA in 2017. 5% of all 2017 tick testing purchases donated to the organization. COTBDAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established August 2016 to elevate awareness of tick-borne diseases for Coloradans and throughout the Rocky Mountains. Monica White is President/Co-Founder.
• TickWarriorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTickWarriors creates tick and insect repellents from all-natural ingredients safe for people, animals, and the environment. Partnership focused on Lyme disease awareness and prevention.
• Midcoast Lyme Disease Support & Education Group (MLDSE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLDSE was created to raise awareness, foster education, advocate for change and provide support for those affected by Lyme Disease and other tick-borne associated diseases.
• Lyme ConnectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyme Connection connects patients with compassionate care, helpful services and fellow patients. Offers encouragement and validation for those dealing with Lyme disease challenges.
• LimitingLyme.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on raising awareness of Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses through prevention education.
• Southern Tier LYME SupportminorStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) volunteer organization providing education and awareness about Lyme and tick-borne diseases through yearly conferences featuring peer-reviewed Lyme-literate medical doctors.
• LivLyme FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting researchers and scientists dedicated to finding effective treatment for Lyme disease and ultimately a cure. Also provides assistance to children and families struggling with Lyme Disease through education and funding. Created the TickTracker App.
• Dr. Richard HorowitzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard-certified internist and Lyme-literate medical doctor with 30 years of experience treating over 12,000 Chronic Lyme disease patients. Former Assistant Director of Medicine at Vassar Brothers Hospital. Founding member and past president of ILADS. Ticknology network member for awareness and education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Quest Diagnostics: National clinical reference lab offering a broad menu of tick-borne disease serology and PCR tests through physician ordering and insurance reimbursement. Could enter or expand mail-in tick PCR testing, posing a major competitive threat.
• LabCorp: Large national clinical laboratory providing Lyme and tick-borne disease serology tests via physician orders. Significant overlap in diagnostic category with much broader scale, payor relationships, and physician channel access than Ticknology.

Emerging players

• Vibrant Wellness: Direct-to-consumer lab offering PCR and serology panels including tick-borne disease testing through mail-in kits. Comparable mail-in DTC lab model with a broader wellness test menu, indicating category overlap and competitive pressure on Ticknology's positioning.
• Clongen Laboratories: CLIA-certified specialty PCR laboratory offering tick-borne pathogen testing (Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, etc.) to physicians and consumers. Overlaps with Ticknology on molecular methodology and mail-in DTC service.

Regional players

• University of Connecticut Tick Testing Laboratory: State-supported tick testing service offering free tick identification and pathogen testing for Connecticut residents. Competes with Ticknology's regional/state services (CT-adjacent to NY coverage) on price (free) and convenience, though limited to a single state.

Direct peers

• IGeneX: Specialty reference laboratory focused on tick-borne disease testing (Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, etc.) using PCR, immunoblot, and FISH methods. Most direct competitor to Ticknology, serving Lyme-literate physicians and DTC customers with mail-in testing.
• Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (MDL): Reference laboratory offering PCR-based tick-borne disease panels (Lyme, Babesia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia) to physicians. Overlaps with Ticknology on test menu and PCR methodology, with a stronger physician-channel orientation.
• Galaxy Diagnostics: Specialty lab offering PCR and enrichment culture testing for Bartonella and other vector-borne pathogens. Competes with Ticknology on the high-sensitivity PCR pathogen panel niche and targets similar Lyme-literate physician and DTC markets.
• TickReport (University of Massachusetts): University-affiliated mail-in tick PCR testing service offering species ID and pathogen screening for a similar DTC audience. Closest direct competitor in service model, with university credibility versus Ticknology's lower-cost private structure.

Others

• Bay Area Lyme Foundation (research/awareness nonprofit): Lyme disease research and awareness funder that supports tick surveillance and testing initiatives. Operates in adjacent Lyme-awareness ecosystem alongside Ticknology's nonprofit partnerships (e.g., LivLyme, Lyme Connection) rather than as a commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ticknologylab
• Xx.com/ticknologylab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ticknology-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ticknology