How do you submit a tick for examination? - briefly
To have a tick examined, place the specimen in a sealed container with moist cotton, complete the laboratory’s submission form, and send it to a certified entomology or public‑health laboratory together with any required fee. Include precise collection details—location, date, and host—to enable accurate identification.
How do you submit a tick for examination? - in detail
Submitting a tick specimen for laboratory analysis involves a series of precise actions that ensure the sample remains viable and the accompanying data are complete.
The first step is to collect the arthropod using proper tools such as fine‑point tweezers or a tick‑removal device. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, pulling straight upward to avoid mouthpart rupture. Place the intact specimen immediately into a sterile, sealable container.
Preservation requires maintaining the tick’s integrity. If the laboratory recommends immediate processing, keep the sample at ambient temperature and avoid desiccation. For delayed examination, store the container at 4 °C in a refrigerated environment. Label the container with a unique identifier that matches the documentation.
Accurate documentation is essential. The submission form should contain:
- Unique specimen identifier
- Date and time of collection
- Geographic location (latitude/longitude or nearest landmark)
- Host species (human, animal, or environmental source)
- Tick life stage (larva, nymph, adult) and sex if discernible
- Any observable symptoms or clinical signs associated with the host
Packaging for transport must comply with biosafety regulations. Use a secondary sealed bag within a rigid outer box, include absorbent material to mitigate leakage, and affix a biohazard label if required. Ship the package via a courier that offers temperature‑controlled services and provides a tracking number.
After dispatch, confirm receipt with the receiving laboratory. Most facilities issue an acknowledgment within 24 hours and provide an estimated timeline for results, typically ranging from a few days to two weeks depending on the tests requested.
Adhering to these procedures maximizes the likelihood of accurate pathogen detection and reliable reporting.