Test of ticks for the presence the virus family Flaviviridae

Laboratory testing of ticks

Sending ticks to the laboratory

Tick removal

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Laboratory testing of ticks

You can have a removed tick/ticks tested in a laboratory. If the test on Borrelia is positive, it is not possible to determine, whether the person has been infected or not. The antibodies are formed no sooner than 3 weeks after the tick bite.  It is recommended immediate preventive treatment by antibiotics, most often by doxycycline.  Early treatment prevents almost certainly the development of the infection.   If the dog has not been treated by antibiotics, it is possible to test the blood for antibodies after 3-6 weeks since the tick bite.

Sending ticks to the laboratory

Remove the tick in a recommended manner. Do not apply a disinfectant to the tick prior to its removal. The tick can be alive or dead for Borrelia testing. Put the tick in a medicine bottle, a test tube or a ziplock bag.

Insert a moist paper sheet to the tick to prevent the tick from getting dry.  Send the tick as soon as possible to the address of the laboratory.

It is possible to test more than one tick in one testing procedure.  In such case, put the ticks from one host together in a suitable jar. From one host, 3 ticks can be analysed as maximum.  All the ticks are analysed together as one sample and the tests are invoiced by the number of dogs tested and not by the number of ticks.

Tick removal

If you find a tick, it is important to remove it as soon as possible. Removing the tick may help you to avoid the infection. To remove the tick, use a special Tick Removal Card that you can buy at any pharmacy. You can also use fine-tipped tweezers - grab the tick as close to its mouth as you can and do not squeeze the swollen belly; otherwise you could push the infected fluid from the tick into your body. It is recommended to pull the tick by "shaking it loose".  After the tick has been removed, wash the tick bite with iodine disinfection.