Where to take a tick for examination? - briefly
Extract the attached arthropod with fine‑point tweezers and store it in a sealed vial containing 70 % ethanol or a moist cotton pad. Submit the vial to a certified diagnostic laboratory or the local public‑health agency for species identification and pathogen testing.
Where to take a tick for examination? - in detail
Ticks collected for laboratory analysis can be submitted to several types of facilities. Each option provides a specific pathway for accurate identification and pathogen testing.
Medical centers that diagnose tick‑borne diseases accept specimens directly from patients. Dermatology and infectious‑disease clinics routinely receive ticks removed from skin lesions. Routine procedure includes placing the tick in a sealed container and forwarding it to the attached laboratory.
Public‑health laboratories operate at county, state, or national levels. These agencies perform species identification and screen for common pathogens such as Borrelia, Anaplasma, and Rickettsia. Submission forms are usually available on the health department website.
Veterinary practices and animal‑health laboratories process ticks removed from pets or livestock. These facilities often collaborate with academic researchers to monitor zoonotic risk in animal populations.
University research laboratories and commercial tick‑testing companies specialize in advanced molecular diagnostics. Services include PCR testing for a broad panel of bacterial, viral, and protozoan agents. Contact information is listed on institutional portals.
Guidelines for specimen handling:
- Use fine‑point tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin surface; avoid crushing the body.
- Place the tick in a sterile, sealable tube containing 70 % ethanol or a dry container if DNA preservation is required.
- Label the tube with collection date, location (geographic coordinates if possible), host species, and collector name.
- Store the specimen at 4 °C if processing occurs within 24 hours; otherwise keep frozen at ‑20 °C.
Shipping considerations:
- Pack the labeled tube in a secondary container with absorbent material to contain leaks.
- Include a cold pack for samples requiring refrigeration.
- Declare the package as a biological specimen according to postal regulations.
- Use a courier service that tracks delivery and provides a receipt of receipt.
Contact details for major providers are typically listed on official websites; phone numbers and email addresses are provided for appointment scheduling and specimen submission instructions.