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Photo: from left to right: State Senator and member of ESU’s Council of Trustees, Mario Scavello; Forensic Scientist at the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory at ESU, Nicole Chinnici; ESU President, Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D.; President and CEO of EPA Enterprises, Inc. and member of ESU’s Council of Trustees, Edward P. Abraham

In the Pocono Mountains the importance of checking for ticks after spending time outdoors is critical. Pennsylvania leads the nation in Lyme disease cases and Lyme disease is the most common vector borne infection in the United States. Ticks, however, do not just seek out people and pets in Pennsylvania. In fact, sciencemag.org has found Lyme disease-carrying ticks are found in half of all U.S. counties. But today, with the support of EPA Enterprises, East Stroudsburg University will make the detection of Lyme disease easier – and faster – for people and their pets everywhere.

On Thursday, July 20, 2017, East Stroudsburg University and EPA Enterprises, Inc. announced the launch of the Cutter^TM Lyme Disease Tick Test – the first nationally-recognized brand-name product developed at ESU. This new, affordable and convenient test kit provides individuals who find a tick on themselves, their children, or their pets with fast, 99.9% accurate DNA test results determining if the submitted tick is a carrier of Lyme disease.

“We have received ticks from 22 states, Canada and Central America,” said Nicole Chinnici, forensic scientist at the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory at ESU. “I expect those numbers to increase as people begin to realize how accessible these kits have become.” The kits may be purchased online at www.cutterticktest.com for $24.99, and will be available in stores in the near future. This cost includes all Laboratory testing fees.

“The Cutter^TM Lyme Disease Tick Test kit,” explained Chinnici. “has everything you need – an easy to use tick remover, an alcohol wipe, a specimen bag, labels, a test submission form and a pre-addressed mailing label. Its simplicity makes the kit a great tool to keep in your medicine cabinet, backpack or car.”

The tick, once removed from the bite victim, whether human or pet, is mailed to ESU’s Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory where it is tested for Lyme disease. Results are delivered within three business days via email, phone or mail.

Because early detection of Lyme disease is paramount to a good recovery, this product offers a critical advantage by offering speedy and 99.9% accuracy of the DNA test results.

The original tick test kit concept was developed by an ESU student and professor in 2010 as a submission to ESU’s Student Business Plan Competition. At that time, ESU student Melissa Shaw and Dr. Jane Huffman, distinguished professor of biology, were researching ticks and their relationship to Lyme disease in northeastern Pennsylvania. Together, they developed a business plan for Lyme-Aid, an earlier version of the tick test and Melissa won first place. Winnings from the competition were invested in the prototype of Lyme-Aid. A year later, Melissa and Dr. Huffman received an additional grant to support the commercialization of Lyme-Aid.

In 2012, ESU commercialized Lyme-Aid with the signing of a non-exclusive license agreement with Garrett Hewitt International — the very first commercialization of a student/faculty initiative at ESU and within the State System of Higher Education.

In 2014, EPA Enterprises, Inc. assumed the responsibility of manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of the kit. This included a licensing agreement with United Industries Corporation enabling the use of the Cutter^TM brand name.

For more information about the East Stroudsburg University Wildlife DNA Laboratory visit www.esu.edu/dnalab or call 570-422-7892. To learn more about Cutter^TM Lyme Disease Tick Test or to purchase a kit visit www.cutterticktest.com.