It has been reported that ticks usually feed for 48 hours before transmitting the bacteria to the victim. Improper removal of the tick may increase the chances of infection. Using irritants or squeezing the tick during removal may lead to increased chances of infection by the tick.
If a tick is captured and frozen for a week, is the test still valid?
Yes. Bacterial DNA is stable even at room temperature and once the tick dies, the contents of the digestive tract tend to dry up and the test would still be valid.
While removing the tick, it was broken into tiny pieces and all I have left is the legs. Would the legs be enough to run the PCR assay?
No. You will need an intact tick with the digestive tract where the bacteria live. Try not to damage the tick during removal from the skin.
Do I need to send the tick on ice?
No. Shipping at room temperature is good enough. Please include padding to protect the tick during transit from being crushed by other packages.
I found a very tiny tick on my son's neck. It is a nymph. Do I need to test this tick given its very young age?
Yes. Nymph ticks have been reported to transmit disease although they naturally have a lower infection rate since they would not have been exposed to as many infected animals as older/larger ticks.
I was bitten by a tick. Do I need to start taking antibiotics?
You should schedule a doctor’s visit and let your family physician decide based on the clinical signs and on the lab test results of the tick.
I have been bitten by a tick two days ago. How soon should I consider running a Western Blot?
It is recommended that you wait three weeks before getting your blood drawn and tested for IgM and IgG. This decision is usually made by your physician.
How long does the tick need to be on the skin in order to transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)?
It has been reported that ticks usually feed for 48 hours before transmitting the bacteria to the victim. Improper removal of the tick may increase the chances of infection. Using irritants or squeezing the tick during removal may lead to increased chances of infection by the tick.