How to preserve a tick for laboratory submission? - briefly
Place the specimen in a tightly sealed vial containing 70 % ethanol, label with collection data, and store at 4 °C; avoid freezing and prolonged exposure to light. Ensure the container remains airtight until delivery to the laboratory.
How to preserve a tick for laboratory submission? - in detail
Preserving a tick for laboratory analysis requires immediate and consistent handling to maintain morphological integrity and DNA quality. The following procedure outlines each stage from collection to delivery.
The tick should be removed with fine forceps, avoiding crushing the body. Place the specimen on a clean, dry surface and inspect for engorgement, as size influences preservation method.
Preservation steps
- Initial fixation – Transfer the tick into a sealed vial containing 70 % ethanol. Ethanol concentration lower than 70 % may permit bacterial growth; higher concentrations can cause tissue hardening.
- Labeling – Attach a waterproof label with collection date, location (GPS coordinates if possible), host species, and collector’s identifier. Use indelible ink to prevent fading.
- Secondary storage – Keep the vial at 4 °C (refrigerator) if analysis will occur within 48 hours. For longer intervals, store at –20 °C or –80 °C, ensuring ethanol does not evaporate.
- Transport – Pack the sealed vial in a secondary container with absorbent material to contain leaks. Ship with temperature control, preferably with ice packs for short‑term cooling or dry ice for frozen transport.
Alternative media – For molecular studies, replace ethanol with RNAlater or a similar nucleic‑acid preservation solution. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended volume‑to‑specimen ratio, typically 5 ml per tick.
Quality checks – Upon receipt, verify ethanol clarity and label legibility. Record any deviations from the protocol in the laboratory log.
Adhering to these steps ensures that the tick remains suitable for morphological identification, pathogen detection, and genetic sequencing.