Tick testing is a laboratory process in which a tick is tested for the presence of pathogens that cause tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. Using a high-tech method called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), we can determine the presence of any pathogen with an accuracy level of over 99.9%.
Tick-borne diseases are a growing problem nationwide, and in many cases victims have no idea they have been infected until symptoms begin to develop days or even weeks after the bite. By having the tick that bit you tested for tick-borne diseases, you can better determine your risk for contracting various diseases and make treatment decisions with your doctor.
In many states, probable cause is required for a doctor to proactively treat …show more content…
Then, lab technicians analyse the DNA and look for sequences that match the DNA of pathogens which cause diseases like Lyme. If these special DNA signatures are found, we can confirm that the tick carries that particular disease. For a detailed walkthrough of our process, see "How does tick testing work?".
How accurate is your tick testing process?
TickChek uses Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), an extremely accurate method of DNA testing, to determine the presence of the bacteria in your tick which cause Lyme and other diseases. Using our modern methods, our test results are over 99.9% accurate.
If my tick test returns positive, does that mean I have the disease?
Tick testing can conform with very high accuracy which diseases are carried by the tick that bit you. However, just because an infected tick bit you does not necessarily mean that you will contract the disease. In general, the longer the tick was attached to you the larger your chances of contraction. With this in mind, a positive tick test result implies that there is a very strong probability that you contracted the