Where should a tick be taken for analysis? - briefly
The optimal sample is the whole tick removed from the host, placed in a sterile, labeled container, and stored at –20 °C or in 70 % ethanol until processing. This approach preserves morphological features and nucleic acids for accurate laboratory analysis.
Where should a tick be taken for analysis? - in detail
The most reliable specimen for laboratory examination is a fully engorged adult collected directly from the host animal or from the environment where it completed feeding.
- Stage selection: Adult females contain the highest pathogen load; males and nymphs may be used only when adults are unavailable.
- Attachment site: Retrieve the tick from the area of the skin where it is firmly attached, typically near the head, neck, ears, or between the legs of mammals. Removing it from these sites minimizes damage to the mouthparts and preserves internal contents.
- Extraction method: Use fine‑point tweezers or a specialized tick removal tool. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, apply steady upward pressure, and avoid crushing the body.
- Preservation: Immediately place the specimen in a sterile, airtight container with a moist cotton pad or in 70 % ethanol for molecular assays. Keep the sample at 4 °C if processing will occur within 24 hours; otherwise, freeze at –20 °C or lower.
- Labeling: Record host species, exact location on the host, date, and GPS coordinates of the collection site. Accurate metadata are essential for epidemiological interpretation.
Following these guidelines ensures that the tick’s internal tissues remain intact, that pathogen DNA or RNA is preserved, and that subsequent diagnostic results are both sensitive and reproducible.