How is a tick scraping taken? - briefly
The clinician gently scrapes the tick’s dorsal surface with a sterile blade or swab, transfers the collected material onto a microscope slide, and adds appropriate mounting medium. The slide is then examined under high magnification for diagnostic structures.
How is a tick scraping taken? - in detail
A tick scraping, also known as a skin scraping for acarology, is performed to collect attached ticks for diagnostic or research purposes. The procedure requires sterile technique, proper tools, and careful handling to avoid damage to the specimen.
First, prepare the work area. Disinfect the surface with an appropriate antiseptic, arrange a clean tray, and gather the following instruments: fine-tipped forceps, sterile scalpel blade (No. 11), magnifying loupes or a dissecting microscope, adhesive tape, and a labeled container with 70 % ethanol or a suitable preservation medium.
Second, locate the tick on the host or specimen. Use magnification to confirm attachment point and assess the stage (larva, nymph, adult). If the tick is on a living host, immobilize the area with a gentle pressure pad to minimize movement.
Third, detach the tick without crushing it. Grip the tick’s mouthparts with the forceps, applying steady, gentle traction parallel to the skin surface. If resistance occurs, insert the scalpel blade at the base of the mouthparts and cut the attachment point, then lift the tick away. Avoid pulling directly on the body, which can rupture the gut and contaminate the sample.
Fourth, transfer the tick to the preservation medium. Place the specimen on adhesive tape to hold it in place, then submerge it in the ethanol-filled container. Label the vial with date, location, host species, and collector’s name.
Fifth, document the procedure. Record the tick’s developmental stage, engorgement level, and any visible abnormalities. Take photographs through the microscope if required for later analysis.
Finally, clean and disinfect all instruments. Autoclave reusable tools, discard single-use items, and dispose of waste according to biosafety guidelines.
Following these steps yields an intact tick sample suitable for morphological identification, molecular testing, or pathogen screening.