How should ticks be properly collected? - briefly
Use fine‑pointed tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure, avoiding crushing the body. Place the removed tick in a sealed container with a moist cotton ball and label with date, location, and host.
How should ticks be properly collected? - in detail
Collecting ticks requires systematic preparation, precise technique, and careful handling to preserve specimen integrity and prevent disease transmission.
Begin with personal protection. Wear disposable gloves, long sleeves, and closed shoes. Use a fine‑toothed forceps or a specialized tick‑removal tool; avoid blunt instruments that may crush the arthropod. Disinfect the tool before and after each removal.
Locate the tick on the host or environment. For animal or human hosts, grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible, holding the mouthparts with the forceps. Apply steady, upward pressure without twisting. Release the tick once it detaches, then place it immediately into a labelled container—preferably a 1.5‑ml microcentrifuge tube or a sealed vial containing 70 % ethanol. If live specimens are needed for downstream assays, use a dry, ventilated container with a moist cotton pad and keep at 4 °C.
Label each vial with the following data:
- Date of collection
- Exact location (GPS coordinates or descriptive site)
- Host species and, if applicable, host identification number
- Life stage (larva, nymph, adult) and sex (if discernible)
- Collector’s initials
Store specimens at 4 °C for short‑term preservation or at –20 °C for long‑term archival. If samples are destined for molecular analysis, avoid ethanol and keep ticks alive until freezing, then transfer to a cryovial with dry ice.
Document the collection event in a field log or digital database, noting environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, vegetation type) and any observed host behavior. This information enhances epidemiological interpretation.
Finally, dispose of gloves and any contaminated materials in a biohazard container. Decontaminate work surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant, such as 10 % bleach solution, and wash hands thoroughly after removal of protective gear.