Tick TestingPLEASE NOTE, TICKS WILL NOT BE ANALYZED UNTIL THE WEEK OF MAY 1 Introduction Ticks are parasites that are dependent on the blood of humans and animals. There are more than 850 species of ticks, many of which have been shown to carry disease. If bitten by an infected deer tick, humans and animals can be infected with the Lyme Disease spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks in the young or nymph stage are tiny, about the size of a poppy seed. These juvenile ticks are most likely to bite humans and are the main source of transmitting Lyme Disease. The primary season for nymphal tick activity is mid-May to August. Typically, the likelihood of transmission increases the longer the tick is attached. Because these ticks are small and their bite is usually painless, they can go unnoticed. Larger deer ticks can also transmit the disease, but are usually noticed due to their size. Not all ticks carry the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease, and others like the dog tick, can carry the organism, but have not been shown to transfer the disease to humans or animals. It is estimated that twenty-five percent (25%) of ticks in the nymphal stage and fifty-percent (50%) of adult deer ticks are infected with the Lyme Disease bacterium. In addition to the usual precautions to avoid tick contact (avoidance, protective clothing, inspection, insect repellent, etc.) the most important preventive measure to reduce the risk of Lyme Disease, or other potential diseases spread by ticks, is to remove the tick as soon as it is discovered. Tick Removal Ticks feed on blood by inserting their mouth parts into the skin. Their body remains outside the skin. Remember, your chances of acquiring Lyme Disease are low if the tick is removed within the first 48 hours that the tick is attached to the skin. Don't panic. Tick removal can be performed safely and effectively by following these steps:
Precautions
Tick Testing Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi. Analytical Services, Inc. will identify the tick and use a highly sensitive genetic screen using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to determine if a suspect tick is carrying this bacterium. The identification of the tick and the test results will be important information for you and your physician. Other important information you and your doctor will need to determine the risk of Lyme Disease exposure include:
Please note that tick testing for the bacterium responsible for Lyme Disease is a screen and will not definitively rule out or confirm the presence of B. burgdorferi. It is intended to provide important information for you and your physician to determine, when combined with other information, the risk of exposure to Lyme Disease and any subsequent clinical follow-up and treatment. ASI does not perform clinical (blood or tissue) testing for the presence of Lyme Disease in humans or animals. Sending The Tick for Testing
Results Allow two weeks or ten business days for results. You will be called with positive screen results within 4 - 5 days so that you can call your physician. All written results will be mailed. For More Information There are numerous sources available to gain additional information on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, clinical testing and treatment. In addition to your local regional or state extension service, State Public Health Department and local hospitals, you might wish to investigate the following:
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