Tick Removal & Testing Procedures:

Proper Tick Removal

• With a fine point tweezer, grasp tick at place of attachment, as close to skin as possible
• Pull tick straight out - try not to squeeze the body
• If submitting for testing, place in plastic bag or small container - it does not need to be alive.
• Wash your hands, disinfect the tweezer, and the bite site - use rubbing alcohol
• Call your doctor for advice on treatment - about 25% of ticks are infected with Lyme Disease.

Submitting Ticks to the Ridgefield Health Department for Testing:
(This is a service for Ridgefield residents only)

• Tick should have been attached to the body for at least 24 hours
• Place tick in airtight plastic bag
• DO NOT immerse in alcohol or water
• DO NOT tape tick to paper
• Label bag with victim’s name, address and date
• Click here to print form
• Complete form
• Staple form to tick bag
• Drop off at Ridgefield Health Department (Monday.– Friday 8AM to 4PM)
• We will call with positive results only (Allow 4 – 6 weeks)

Effective January 1, 2006, we will accept all ticks for identification
but test only those Ixodes scapularis ticks that have ingested human
blood (engorged). We will examine all ticks for degree of engorgement.
Laboratory personnel will test engorged black-legged ("deer") ticks
(Ixodes scapularis) and, upon special request, certain other species
of ticks for the presence of spirochetes that cause Lyme disease.
We will not test the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis),
larval ticks of all species, or unengorged ticks.