Support

The Center for Human Identification at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Ft. Worth has been directed by the Senate Committee on Administration to develop uniform testing of tick-borne illness. It is currently involved in a clinical genetics initiative to expand diagnostic services to UNTHSC clinical patients and advancements in the medical education program.

Educational outreach concerning tick-borne vectors to Texas residents has been initiated to develop a source of clinical samples through collaborative efforts with the UNTHSC School of Public Health, Texas Department of Health and medical practitioners treating patients suspected of having Lyme or STARI.

The UNT Center for Human Identification is currently participating in studies with the Department of Defense Center of Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine (CHPPM), the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), and researchers in endemic areas for Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in both North and South America.

Beginning October 1, 2004 the Tick-Borne Disease Research Laboratory became the testing laboratory for all tick submissions to the Texas Department of State Health Services.