Tick Lyme Testing: Is It Worth It?

As someone who has been bitten by ticks numerous times, I know how anxiety-inducing it can be to wait and see if you develop any symptoms of Lyme disease. Because of this, a lot of people consider tick lyme testing. The idea is that, if the tick tests positive, you can get started on antibiotic treatment faster.

I Don’t Test Ticks for Lyme

I personally have never sent a tick for Lyme testing. Tick testing typically costs $50 to $75 per tick, and the tests aren’t covered by insurance, so I’d end up spending a small fortune on lab tests if I tested each tick that bit me. But the cost isn’t the reason I don’t test ticks.

A bit must be attached 24 to 72 hours to transmit the Lyme bacteria. I am very diligent about checking my body for ticks after being outdoors, and do a morning and evening check when on camping trips. I also keep tick removal tweezers in my wallet and outdoor first aid kit so I can remove any ticks immediately and properly.

Because of this, even if a tick which bit me was carrying Lyme, the chances of it giving me the disease are very low.

I keep these pointy tick tweezers in my hiking first aid kit.

Tick Testing Makes Sense If…

There are some situations where it makes absolute sense to have a tick tested. These include:

1. The Tick Was Improperly Removed

The 24-hour rule for Lyme disease transmission only applies if you remove the tick properly. If you do anything to irritate the tick while it is attached—such as using a hot match to remove it or squeezing its body during removal—the tick could puke its stomach contents into your skin, transmitting Lyme disease.

Read: How to Properly Remove a Tick (with Video)

Improper removal: Do NOT squeeze a tick’s body when removing it! You must grasp close to its mouthparts.

2. The Tick Is Fully Engorged

Nymph ticks typically become fully engorged within 2-3 days and adult ticks within 4-5 days. If you find a fully-engorged tick on you, it has probably been there for a while—which means there is a good chance it transmitted Lyme disease if it is a carrier.

A tick before feeding (left) and an engorged tick (right)

3. The Tick Bit Your Infant or Young Child

The symptoms of Lyme disease are similar in children as in adults, but infants and young children might not be able to tell you that they are having symptoms. If your child doesn’t have the characteristic bull’s eye Lyme rash, you might just think they are being fussy or their fever is from yet another virus from daycare, when Lyme is actually the culprit. The symptoms could go undetected and the Lyme disease could progress into late-stage Lyme, which is much harder to treat and has a worse prognosis.

4. You Have Dark Skin

Black people and other people of color are more likely to get diagnosed in the later stages of Lyme disease. One main reason for this is because the Lyme rash—which is typically the first symptom of Lyme–is very difficult to notice on dark skin. As a result, many BIPOC people don’t realize they have Lyme until other symptoms become severe.

See: Pictures of Lyme disease rashes

5. You Want Peace of Mind

It takes anywhere from 3 to 30 days for the Lyme disease rash to show up if you are infected (if a rash shows up at all). Waiting to see if you get the rash can be incredibly stressful. It may be well worth the $50+ for tick testing to get peace of mind.

How to Send a Tick for Testing

Each lab has its own protocols for tick testing, but you generally must:

Put the tick in a zip baggie and seal it closed.
If the tick is still alive:
1. Put a small piece (1″x1″) of damp paper towel in the baggie.
2. Place the first baggie in a second baggie and seal it closed.
If the tick is engorged: Wrap the baggie with bubble wrap. Alternatively, use a cushioned envelope. This is to prevent the tick’s body from getting crushed during transport.
Put the tick in an envelope.
Label the envelope, or include the lab submission form, and send the tick for testing.