Where should samples be submitted if a tick bite occurs? - briefly
Send the specimen to a clinical laboratory or the local public‑health agency that processes vector‑borne disease tests. Choose a facility accredited for tick‑borne pathogen diagnostics.
Where should samples be submitted if a tick bite occurs? - in detail
When a person is bitten by a tick, any biological material taken from the tick or the bite site should be directed to a laboratory capable of detecting tick‑borne pathogens. The appropriate destinations are:
- Local public‑health laboratory – Most municipalities maintain a health department laboratory that accepts tick specimens for routine testing of common agents such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. Contact the department’s vector‑borne disease unit for submission forms and shipping instructions.
- State health department reference lab – State agencies often operate specialized reference facilities that perform confirmatory testing, serology, and molecular assays for less common pathogens. Submission usually requires a completed case report form, patient identifiers, and a chain‑of‑custody statement.
- Federal reference laboratory (CDC) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepts specimens for advanced diagnostics, including next‑generation sequencing and novel pathogen identification. Requests are made through the CDC’s Division of Vector‑Borne Diseases; the agency provides detailed packaging guidelines, temperature requirements, and a prepaid shipping label upon approval.
- Commercial diagnostic laboratories – Companies such as Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp offer tick‑borne disease panels. Samples must be packaged in compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards, and the ordering physician must provide a requisition specifying the desired tests.
- Veterinary diagnostic services – If the tick bite involves an animal, veterinary reference labs (e.g., the American Animal Health Laboratory) process animal‑origin specimens and report results to both the veterinarian and the owner.
Essential information to accompany each sample
- Identification data – Patient name, date of birth, contact details, and exposure date.
- Tick details – Species (if known), life stage, attachment duration, and location of bite.
- Specimen type – Whole tick, tick legs, saliva swab, skin biopsy, or blood sample.
- Collection method – Sterile technique description, preservation medium (e.g., ethanol for ticks, EDTA for blood), and storage temperature.
- Clinical context – Symptoms, onset date, any prior antimicrobial therapy.
Shipping considerations
- Use leak‑proof secondary containers inside a sturdy outer box.
- Maintain cold chain (2–8 °C) for blood or tissue; frozen ticks may be shipped on dry ice if required.
- Include a completed submission form and a copy of the physician’s order.
- Label the package with “Biological Substance, Category B” and adhere to International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.
By following these procedures, specimens reach the appropriate analytical facility promptly, enabling accurate detection of tick‑borne infections and timely clinical management.