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While Lyme disease once was thought to be as reliably of New England as lockjaw and lobster rolls, the tick-borne ailment that hits both young children and older adults especially hard is now officially everywhere, at least according to a new study from lab giant Quest Diagnostics.

Participants in the BFOR study sign up for genetic testing at no cost by logging on to the website (www.BFORStudy.com) and answering a series of questions to determine eligibility. Educational videos explain the specifics of the test, the purpose of genetic testing and its importance. In all, the registration process takes no more than an hour. The site also allows patients to schedule genetic-testing appointments at the offices of Quest Diagnostics, which has several locations in each of the four cities. They can opt to have results sent to a personal physician or a health-care provider on the BFOR study team.

A new study by Quest Diagnostics has ranked Georgia third in the nation for the most increases in Lyme disease between 2015 and 2017.

here's been a sharp spike in Lyme disease cases in the United States, and the tick-borne illness has now spread to all 50 states, a new report shows. "Lyme disease is a bigger risk to more people in the United States than ever before," said Dr. Harvey Kaufman, senior medical director for Quest Diagnostics, which conducted the study.