How to preserve a tick for analysis? - briefly
Place the tick in a labeled, airtight container with 70 % ethanol or freeze it at –20 °C until examination. Store the specimen promptly to prevent degradation and maintain DNA integrity.
How to preserve a tick for analysis? - in detail
Preserving a tick for laboratory examination requires immediate and consistent handling to maintain morphological integrity and DNA quality.
After removal, place the specimen in a sterile, airtight container such as a 1.5‑ml microcentrifuge tube or a sealed plastic vial. Add 70 % ethanol in sufficient volume to submerge the tick completely; ethanol penetrates the cuticle and prevents decomposition while preserving nucleic acids. If ethanol is unavailable, 95 % isopropanol can be used, but ethanol is preferred for long‑term storage.
Label the container with collection date, location, host species, and any relevant environmental data. Record the identifier on a separate data sheet to avoid loss of information. Store the sealed tube at 4 °C for short‑term (up to 2 weeks) or at –20 °C for extended periods. Avoid repeated freeze‑thaw cycles, which can damage DNA.
When the specimen is needed for morphological study, remove it from ethanol, rinse briefly in sterile distilled water, and air‑dry on a clean surface. Mount on a microscope slide using a suitable medium (e.g., Hoyer’s or lactophenol) and cover with a coverslip. For molecular analysis, retain the tick in ethanol, then extract DNA using a protocol that includes a lysis step with proteinase K and a silica‑based purification kit. Verify DNA integrity by agarose‑gel electrophoresis before downstream applications.
Key points for successful preservation:
- Immediate immersion in 70 % ethanol
- Airtight, clearly labeled container
- Refrigerated storage (4 °C) for short term, –20 °C for long term
- Minimal handling to prevent physical damage
- Separate procedures for morphological versus molecular purposes
Following these steps ensures that the tick remains suitable for accurate identification, pathogen detection, and genetic studies.