What should I do if a tick has bitten and a test is needed? - briefly
Immediately remove the tick with fine tweezers, disinfect the bite site, and contact a healthcare professional to arrange appropriate testing for tick‑borne illnesses. Follow any prescribed treatment promptly and keep the area under observation for symptoms.
What should I do if a tick has bitten and a test is needed? - in detail
If a tick attaches to your skin and a laboratory evaluation is indicated, follow these steps promptly.
First, extract the arthropod with fine‑pointed tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull upward with steady pressure, and avoid squeezing the body. After removal, place the specimen in a sealed container (e.g., a Ziploc bag) with a damp tissue to keep it alive, or, if immediate testing is not possible, preserve it in 70 % alcohol. Record the date of the bite, the location on the body, and, if known, the environment where the tick was encountered.
Second, cleanse the bite site using soap and water or an antiseptic solution. Apply a sterile dressing if the skin is broken.
Third, assess risk factors that influence testing decisions:
- Tick species (e.g., Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes ricinus are primary vectors of Borrelia spp.).
- Duration of attachment (≥ 24 hours markedly increases infection probability).
- Geographic prevalence of tick‑borne diseases.
- Presence of symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, erythema migrans, arthralgia, or neurologic signs.
Fourth, contact a healthcare professional without delay. Provide the documented information and the preserved tick, if available. The clinician may order one or more of the following investigations, depending on the suspected pathogen:
- Serologic assays (ELISA followed by confirmatory Western blot) for Lyme disease antibodies.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on blood or tissue samples for Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, or Babesia DNA.
- Complete blood count and liver function tests to detect hematologic or hepatic involvement.
- Skin biopsy of the rash, if present, for histopathology and PCR.
Fifth, discuss prophylactic treatment options. Current guidelines recommend a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg) for adults when a tick is identified as Ixodes and has been attached for ≥ 36 hours in an area with high Lyme disease incidence, provided no contraindications exist.
Sixth, monitor the bite site and overall health for at least 30 days. Document any new rash, joint swelling, neurological changes, or persistent fever, and report these promptly to your provider.
Finally, retain the tick specimen for at least several weeks, as laboratories may request it for species confirmation or additional testing. Proper storage and documentation improve diagnostic accuracy and contribute to public health surveillance.