How to check a tick at home?

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How to check a tick at home? - briefly
Examine the skin using a magnifier or good lighting, looking for a tiny, dark, oval organism firmly attached to the surface; grasp it with fine‑tipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out without squeezing the body.

How to check a tick at home? - in detail
Checking a tick that has been removed from a person or pet can be done safely with a few simple tools and careful observation. The process involves confirming that the specimen is indeed a tick, determining its life stage, and assessing whether it poses a health risk.
First, gather a magnifying lens (10‑20×), a pair of fine‑tipped tweezers, a white surface (paper or a dish), and a disposable container with a sealable lid. Clean the work area with alcohol to prevent contamination.

Identify the organism

Place the specimen on the white surface.
Use the magnifier to examine the body shape: ticks have a rounded, oval body (the idiosoma) and eight legs in the adult stage; larvae have six legs.
Look for the characteristic scutum (a hard shield) on the dorsal side of adult females and males.

Determine the stage

Larva: six legs, very small (≈1 mm).
Nymph: eight legs, translucent, 1.5‑3 mm.
Adult: eight legs, visible scutum, 3‑5 mm (female) or 2‑4 mm (male).

Assess engorgement

Measure the body length with a ruler or calibrated grid.
An engorged tick (expanded abdomen) indicates recent feeding and a higher probability of pathogen transmission.

Record findings

Note the species if identifiable (e.g., Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis) based on coloration and pattern.
Document date, location of bite, and any symptoms experienced.

Preserve the specimen (optional)

Place the tick in a sealed container with a damp cotton ball to keep it alive for laboratory testing, or store it in 70 % ethanol for later identification.

Seek medical advice when necessary

Contact a healthcare professional if the tick was attached for more than 24 hours, appears engorged, or if the bite area develops rash, fever, or joint pain.

By following these steps, a layperson can reliably confirm the presence of a tick, identify its developmental stage, and make an informed decision about further medical evaluation.