Tickpedia
Removal · field guidance

Saving a removed tick for testing

Live ticks test best — seal the tick in a zip bag with a damp paper towel, label it, and refrigerate until you decide on testing.

Steps

schema.org/HowTo
  1. 01
    Place the tick in a small zip-top bag or screw-cap vial.
  2. 02
    Add a small strip of paper towel barely moistened with tap water — enough humidity to keep the tick alive, not enough to drown it.
  3. 03
    Label the bag with the date of removal, the host (which person or pet), bite location, and probable exposure region.
  4. 04
    Refrigerate (do not freeze) until you decide whether to submit for ID or pathogen testing.
  5. 05
    If sending dead, dry tape-mounting on a white card also works for visual ID.
  6. 06
    Note: testing the tick is not a substitute for monitoring the person — symptoms drive medical decisions.

Wild facts

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