3/6/2024 0 Comments Tick identificationThe University of Massachusetts Laboratory Of Medical Zoology makes their test results available to the public, free of charge, through the Tick-Borne Disease Network Passive Surveillance Database. Tick testing does provide general information about risk to individuals and populations exposed to ticks in particular geographic areas.Other factors relative to your particular situation.The presence or absence of signs or symptoms.Your likelihood of an exposure to a tick-borne disease.Any positive test results should be discussed with your health care provider who will work with you to determine the best course of action based on: A positive test indicates that the tick was infected but not that the tick was successful in spreading the infection to the person bitten. A positive test on a tick is not an automatic indication that treatment is needed or that you will get sick.You should not wait for tick testing results before seeking medical advice if you feel sick. If someone has been infected by a tick bite, signs and symptoms may occur even before the results of tick testing are available.Therefore, even if you receive a negative result, you should still monitor yourself for the appearance of rash, fever or other signs and symptoms and immediately seek the advice of a health care provider if they occur. Although probably uncommon, laboratory tests performed on the ticks may produce either false positive or false negative results, and depending on the laboratory and service you request, may not be tested for all infections ticks can carry.If you choose to have a tick tested, it is important to keep in mind the following: It is possible to be bitten by a tick carrying a disease and not be infected with that disease, depending on many factors, including how long the tick was attached to you.Most people diagnosed with a tick-borne disease are not aware that they have been bitten by a tick and the tick you do find may not be the only tick that bit you.Positive or negative results from a tick or ticks attached to a person do not provide definitive evidence that that you were exposed or not exposed.While testing ticks can provide useful information, there are some notable issues: MDPH does not offer tick identification or tick testing.
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