Found a Tick? Don’t Panic. Do These 5 Things First.
Whether you found a tick on yourself, your child, your dog or your clothing, what you do next matters. Here is the updated, science-based guide to removing a tick, identifying it, deciding whether to test it and knowing when to call a healthcare professional.
Quick Answer: What Should You Do If You Find a Tick?
Remove an attached tick immediately, clean the area, take a clear photo, save the tick if you may want identification or testing, and note when and where the exposure happened.
Do not wait for an appointment. Prompt removal matters.
Use soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
Photograph the top of the tick in good light before disposing of it.
Record the date, location and where the tick was attached.
Seek medical advice if concerning symptoms develop or your exposure warrants it.
One Important Update: Tick Testing Is Not a Medical Diagnosis
Older tick-bite advice often says that if you find a tick, you should automatically have it tested. That is too simplistic.
A laboratory can sometimes determine whether a particular tick contains certain pathogens. But a positive result does not prove that the tick transmitted anything to you, and a negative result does not rule out exposure from another tick you never noticed.
The CDC has specifically cautioned against using a tick’s laboratory result by itself to decide whether antibiotics are needed after a bite. Medical decisions should be based on the full situation — including the species of tick, where the bite happened, estimated attachment time, symptoms and your healthcare provider’s judgment.
How to Remove an Attached Tick Correctly
The first priority is simple: get the tick off as soon as possible. Do not spend an hour searching for the perfect removal trick and do not wait for a doctor’s appointment just to remove it.
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers if available.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
- Do not twist, jerk, crush or aggressively squeeze the tick’s body.
- After removal, clean your hands and the bite area thoroughly.
- Remove the tick immediately.
- Use tweezers close to the skin.
- Pull steadily away from the skin.
- Take a clear photo of the tick.
- Check the rest of your body for additional ticks.
- Do not burn the tick off.
- Do not coat it with petroleum jelly.
- Do not use nail polish to make it detach.
- Do not delay removal while searching for special tools.
- Do not assume one tick means there cannot be another.
Before You Throw It Away: Take a Good Photo
A photograph can be surprisingly useful because tick species matter. Different ticks live in different parts of the country and are associated with different health concerns.
Place the tick on a plain, light-colored surface and photograph the top side in bright light. Get as close as your camera will focus. If the tick is engorged, make sure the head and shield area are visible.
Even if you do not plan to pay for pathogen testing, a reliable identification may help you understand what kind of tick you encountered and what questions to ask next.
Should You Have the Tick Tested?
The answer is: sometimes people choose to — but understand exactly what the result means.
A qualified laboratory may identify the tick species and test that specimen for selected bacteria, parasites or viruses included in its panel.
It cannot determine whether you became infected, whether the pathogen was transmitted, or whether you need treatment.
Means the laboratory detected a target in the tick. It does not mean the person or pet is infected.
Does not guarantee that you were not exposed to a tickborne pathogen from another tick or from something outside the laboratory’s test panel.
If you decide to test a tick, treat the result as additional information to discuss with a healthcare professional — not as a home diagnosis.
Free Tick Identification: A Great First Step Anywhere in the U.S.
Before paying to test a tick, consider finding out what kind of tick it is.
The University of Rhode Island’s TickSpotters program allows people to submit a clear tick photo for free identification and science-based guidance. The program receives submissions from across the United States and typically responds quickly.
Submit a tick photo to URI TickSpotters
The Tick You Find in Maine May Not Be the Tick You Find in Texas
This is one reason we wanted this guide to be useful nationally. Tick risk is regional, and the same species can have very different abundance from one county to another.
Tick presence alone does not mean a particular disease is being transmitted in your exact area. Local abundance, pathogen prevalence, season and other factors matter.
Tick Testing Laboratories Serving the Public
If you choose to have a tick tested, use the laboratory’s current website to confirm what species it accepts, what pathogens are included, cost, turnaround time and mailing instructions. Services and panels can change.
Mail-in tick identification and pathogen testing with multiple panel levels. Current published turnaround is generally 2–5 business days after check-in.
tickcheck.com
Mail-in testing that includes tick species/life-stage identification and multiple DNA/RNA panel options. Current published turnaround is generally within three business days after receipt.
tickreport.com
Offers mail-in testing from all U.S. states, free tick identification with testing, and multiple pathogen targets. Current pricing and turnaround vary by service level.
ticknology.org
Offers tick identification and laboratory testing for selected tickborne pathogens with online ordering and mailed specimens.
ticklab.org
When Should You Call a Doctor After a Tick Bite?
If you develop a rash, fever or other concerning symptoms in the days or weeks after a tick bite, contact a healthcare professional and tell them when and where the tick exposure occurred.
Do not wait for a tick-testing result if you are becoming ill.
For Lyme disease specifically, the CDC notes that in certain circumstances a healthcare provider may consider a single dose of doxycycline after a tick bite in an area where Lyme disease is common. Whether that is appropriate depends on the details of the exposure and the individual patient.
Do You Need to Save the Tick?
You do not have to keep every tick forever. But if you want help identifying it or may choose laboratory testing, save it temporarily in a sealed container or bag after taking photos.
Follow the receiving laboratory’s instructions before mailing it. Different laboratories give different guidance on storage, moisture and shipping.
If you do not want identification or testing, the CDC lists several ways to dispose of a live tick, including placing it in a sealed container, wrapping it tightly in tape, flushing it down the toilet or putting it in alcohol.
What If You Find a Tick on Your Dog or Cat?
Remove an attached tick promptly and perform a complete tick check. Pets can carry ticks into the home, and another tick may be hiding under the collar, around the ears, between the toes, under the tail or in other protected areas.
If your pet becomes ill or you are concerned about a tick exposure, contact your veterinarian. Preventive products should be selected with veterinary guidance, especially for cats, which can be extremely sensitive to some products.
The Best Tick Test Is the Bite You Never Get
Tick identification and testing get attention because they happen after a frightening moment. But the most important strategy is still reducing the chance of being bitten in the first place.
For a deeper property checklist, read our guide: Yard Maintenance: Your First Line of Defense Against Ticks & Mosquitoes.
Special Resource for New Jersey Residents: Free Rutgers Tick Testing
New Jersey residents currently have a unique option through Rutgers NJ Ticks 4 Science, a citizen-science program run by the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology.
Rutgers currently provides free identification and pathogen testing for certain priority tick species collected in New Jersey. At the time of this update, blacklegged ticks are tested for several pathogens including the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, and Gulf Coast ticks are tested for Rickettsia parkeri. The program does not currently provide individual pathogen testing for every tick species.
Because this is a research program and its testing priorities depend partly on funding, always check the current eligibility details before mailing a specimen.
Visit Rutgers NJ Ticks 4 Science
From Laurie at Bite Back
“Finding a tick is scary. The best thing you can do is stay calm, remove it correctly, save the facts and make your next decision based on good information — not panic.”
We built Bite Back around prevention. A treated yard is one layer, but tick checks, good yard maintenance and knowing what to do after an exposure are just as important.
Protecting a New Jersey Yard? Bite Back Can Help.
Bite Back Tick & Mosquito Control is a New Jersey family-owned company focused on all-natural tick and mosquito control using plant-based, minimum-risk solutions. We do not use toxic synthetic pesticides in our yard program.
Our technicians target the places ticks are most likely to live and re-enter the property — including wooded edges, fence and brush lines, shaded landscaping, groundcover, under decks and common pet routes.
No yard service can eliminate every tick or replace personal prevention, but a professional control program can be an important layer of protection around the place your family uses most: home.
Get My Free Bite Back QuoteFrequently Asked Questions About Finding and Testing Ticks
What should I do immediately after finding an attached tick?
Remove it as soon as possible using tweezers close to the skin, pull steadily upward, clean the bite area and your hands, take a photo if you want identification, and note when and where the exposure occurred.
Should I automatically send every tick for laboratory testing?
No. Some people choose pathogen testing, but it is not a medical diagnosis. Tick identification may be a useful first step. Do not use a tick-test result by itself to decide whether medical treatment is needed.
Can a positive tick test tell me that I have Lyme disease?
No. A positive result means a target pathogen was detected in that tick. It does not prove that transmission occurred or that the person bitten became infected.
Does a negative tick test mean I am completely safe?
No. The tick may have been tested only for selected pathogens, and another unnoticed tick exposure is also possible. Continue to pay attention to symptoms and seek medical advice when appropriate.
Where can I identify a tick for free?
The University of Rhode Island TickSpotters program accepts tick photos from across the United States and provides free tick identification and science-based risk guidance.
Can New Jersey residents get a tick tested for free?
Rutgers NJ Ticks 4 Science currently offers free identification and pathogen testing for certain priority tick species collected in New Jersey. The program does not test every species for pathogens, so check its current rules before submitting.
What symptoms should I watch for after a tick bite?
CDC advises seeking medical care if you develop a rash or fever within days to weeks after removing a tick. Other concerning symptoms should also be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Should I wait for tick-test results before calling a doctor?
No. If you are developing concerning symptoms or have another reason to seek medical care, do not delay while waiting for the tick to be tested.
Can I remove a tick with petroleum jelly, heat or nail polish?
Those methods are not recommended. Remove an attached tick promptly by grasping it near the skin and pulling away with steady, even pressure.
What is the best way to photograph a tick for identification?
Place the tick on a plain light background, photograph the top side in bright light and move close enough to capture clear details without losing focus.
Are ticks only a problem in the Northeast?
No. Different medically important tick species occur throughout much of the United States. The species and diseases of concern vary by region.
Can professional yard treatments guarantee that I will never find a tick?
No outdoor service can guarantee a tick-free property. Wildlife, neighboring habitat, pets and outdoor activities can all reintroduce ticks. Professional treatment works best as one layer alongside yard maintenance, tick checks and personal prevention.
Trusted Resources
A tick encounter is a lot easier to handle when you already know what to do.