What if my tick test returns positive?

My tick test returned positive for Lyme disease, Babesia, or another tick-borne disease. What do I do now?

Tick testing can provide an important early warning that you have been exposed to a tick-borne disease. If your tick submission comes back positive, there are steps you can take to help protect the health of yourself or your loved one.

1. Contact your health care provider immediately. Provide them with a copy of your TickCheck tick test report, and tell them when and where you were exposed to the infected tick.
2. In some states, doctors can prescribe a regimen of antibiotics as a preventative measure without blood test results, or before blood test results are complete. In other states, your doctor may need to confirm infection with a blood test. Ask your doctor whether tests for each disease found in your tick are appropriate.
3. Monitor yourself closely for symptoms of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, including fever, aches and pains, and the characteristic Lyme disease rash. If you notice symptoms, notify your healthcare provider immediately.
4. Follow your doctor's instructions for treatment. With prompt antibiotic treatment, many tick-borne diseases can be treated, sometimes even before symptoms appear.