How to retrieve a dried tick? - briefly
Grasp the desiccated tick with fine‑point tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady pressure, avoiding twisting to prevent mouthpart loss. Disinfect the area afterward and place the tick in a sealed container if preservation or analysis is required.
How to retrieve a dried tick? - in detail
When a tick has become desiccated, careful removal is essential to prevent breakage and to preserve the specimen for analysis. Follow these steps:
- Wear disposable nitrile gloves to avoid direct contact with potential pathogens.
- Prepare a clean, well‑lit work surface; lay a sterile disposable mat or paper towel underneath the area where the tick is located.
- Use fine‑point tweezers or a pair of sterile forceps with a smooth grip. Position the instrument as close to the skin (or substrate) as possible, grasping the tick’s mouthparts without squeezing the body.
- Apply steady, gentle traction upward, maintaining alignment with the tick’s axis. Avoid twisting or jerking motions that could cause the mouthparts to detach.
- Once the tick separates, place it immediately into a labeled, airtight container containing a small amount of 70 % ethanol for preservation, or, if morphological study is required, transfer it to a dry, sterile vial with a desiccant packet.
After extraction, disinfect the bite site (or the substrate) with an iodine solution or 70 % ethanol, then wash hands thoroughly. Record relevant data: date, location, host (if applicable), and environmental conditions. Store the specimen at 4 °C if ethanol is used, or at room temperature in a sealed container if kept dry, to prevent further degradation.