MIT-founded biotech startup and TIME Best Inventions of 2026 winner prepares for national rollout as new partnership extends telehealth access to pediatric and adult patients in all 50 states
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- LymeAlert, a female-founded biotech startup developed by three MIT scholars, is advancing its mission to improve healthcare access through new home testing tools and platforms, earning recognition on TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 list and preparing for expanded nationwide availability of its rapid, at-home tick-testing technology.
Designed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease, directly in a removed tick, LymeAlert's patent-pending technology delivers results in minutes, offering an alternative to traditional laboratory-based tick testing that can take days or weeks. The company is also expanding its connected telehealth offering through a new provider partner, My Pediatric Doctor and My Adult Doctor, extending access to pediatric and adult patients in all 50 states and helping users better understand potential exposure and navigate appropriate next steps.
The milestones come amid a growing need for accessible tools to address tick-borne disease risk. Over one million people and pets are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease annually. As tick exposure remains a concern for families, pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts, LymeAlert is working to make timely information and healthcare guidance more accessible when a tick bite occurs.
"People shouldn't have to navigate the uncertainty of a tick bite," said Erin Dawicki, PA-C, co-founder and CEO of LymeAlert. "Being recognized by TIME is an exciting milestone for our team and validates the importance of rethinking how we approach Lyme disease prevention. By combining rapid at-home tick testing with expanded telehealth access, we're building a more connected platform that helps people move from uncertainty toward informed conversations with healthcare providers."
At the center of the platform is the Tick Crusher™, a portable testing tool highly engineered to grind the tick's hard exterior to expose the bacteria within the tick. The accompanying digital platform provides guided testing instructions, result verification, hotspot mapping and access to telehealth support. Importantly, the test analyzes the tick itself; it does not diagnose Lyme disease in the person or animal bitten.
Following initial demand for the product, LymeAlert is preparing for a phased expansion of fulfillment, with its second production batch expected to begin shipping in late 2026 and full, ongoing shipment and delivery anticipated to begin in January 2027. The company is currently accepting preorders through its website as it prepares to scale availability.
"Our vision extends beyond a single test," Dawicki added. "We want to make early detection and appropriate healthcare guidance easier to access—whether someone is at home with their family or spending time outdoors. These milestones bring us closer to making that vision a reality."
For more information or to preorder the LymeAlert at-home tick-testing kit, visit lymealert.com.
About LymeAlert
LymeAlert is a biotech company advancing a unified "One Health" approach to vector-borne disease prevention and early awareness. Founded by MIT scholars, the company developed a patent-pending at-home tick-testing kit designed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease, directly in a removed tick. Its connected digital platform offers guided testing, educational resources, hotspot mapping and telehealth support to help individuals make more informed decisions following potential tick exposure. LymeAlert is committed to improving access to actionable information and healthcare resources while advancing a more proactive approach to tick-borne disease awareness. For more information, visit www.lymealert.com.
Media Contact
Kristen Michelle Mondshein, LymeAlert, 1 3058773293, [email protected]
SOURCE LymeAlert
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