About PA Tick Research Lab
PA Tick Research Lab is a university-affiliated lab based in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania that is dedicated to providing fast, highly rated, laboratory-quality tick testing to people in high-risk areas for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases nationwide.
We offer qPCR-based tick testing that is 99.9% accurate and can detect the presence of 18 pathogens that cause diseases such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, B. miyamotoi, Mycoplasmosis, Southern Tick-Associated Rash illness, and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.
Unlike traditional laboratories’ complicated test requisition forms, PA Tick Research Lab has a simple, easy to use interface for ordering tick tests. Just order your tests, mail your tick to our East Stroudsburg laboratory, and your results will be ready within 24-72 hours of lab receipt - guaranteed. Got a tick? Get started now!
Learn more about East Stroudsburg University
Swipe to browse team members
Nicole Chinnici
Laboratory Director
Nicole Chinnici is the laboratory director of the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory, home of the PA Tick Research Lab. Nicole is a certified wildlife forensic scientist with six years of research experience overseeing and conducting tick testing and analyses.
Nicole first became involved in tickborne disease research while working as a graduate student at ESU. Since, Nicole has used her knowledge of genetics and qPCR to explore and identify pathogens within ticks. With this application and technology, one can utilize tick testing as a means for early detection to the exposure of diseases by a tick bite.
Samantha Marin
Laboratory Technician
Samantha Marin is a laboratory technician at the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania. She will be conducting the tick testing process, from tick identification, through testing. Additionally, she manages the laboratory equipment and inventory logistics.
Samantha graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences and a minor in chemistry. She has been employed at the Dr. Jane Huffman Wildlife Genetics Institute for two years and has years of research experience performing tick testing, as well as tick-borne diseases and wildlife population genetics.
Destiny Sample
Laboratory Technician
Destiny Sample is a laboratory technician at the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania. She will be conducting the tick testing process, from tick identification, through testing. She became involved in the tick testing process while interning as an undergraduate student at East Stroudsburg University.
Destiny graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 2019 with her Bachelors of Science in Biology and has since be been employed at PA Tick Research Laboratory. She has two years of research experience performing tick testing. Destiny researches data on tick species as well as developing and updating information for tick identifications to accurately identify your ticks.
Jamie Lee DelCane
Clerical Assistant
Jamie Lee DelCane is the administrative assistant here at the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania. She provides a full range of support to our customers via phone, e-mail and text. She also assists in the tick identification process and checking-in the ticks we receive on a daily basis.
Jamie Lee graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in public health and a concentration in health administration. She has an extensive background working in medical facilities like infectious disease, hematology/oncology and the emergency department before becoming employed here at the lab. Jamie currently serves as our public health outreach specialist to educate the community on tick prevention and spread awareness of tick-borne diseases.
Sarah Schwartz
Laboratory Technician
Sarah Schwartz is a laboratory technician at the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania. She will be conducting the tick testing process, from disease testing, through data analysis and recording your results. She also takes her expertise to the field and conducts tick drags to test, analyze and report on tick ecology and entomology.
Sarah graduated from Gannon University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and currently pursuing a master’s in Biology here at East Stroudsburg University. She has two years of research experience performing tick testing, as well as tick-borne disease and wildlife research. Sarah is currently conducting studies on tick borne diseases to develop up to date educational literature.
Elizabeth Calvente
Research Assistant
Elizabeth Calvente is the research assistant at the PA Tick Research Laboratory. She will be conducting the tick testing process, from tick identification, through testing, and reporting your results. Additionally, she will be overseeing and managing the tick testing website for data collection, analysis, and publication of diseases in Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth graduated from East Stroudsburg University with her Masters in Biology and has since been employed at the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory. She has three years of research experience performing tick testing, as well as tick-borne disease and wildlife research with five years of scientific research experience. Elizabeth works directly with the Laboratory Director to update and develop tick-testing protocols and applications such as qPCR assays to provide you with the most up-to-date tick testing applications.