Tick Test Now Available in Canada
It's not often that we have two Lyme Disease related articles in a week, but with the Federal Framework on Lyme Disease Act starting to show some fruition, and the recent national conference in Ottawa... Lyme Disease is finally getting some well deserved attention in Canada.
More than 700 cases of Lyme Disease were reported in Canada in 2015 and it is now being detected in southern British Columbia, southeastern and south-central Manitoba, southern, eastern and northwestern Ontario, southern Quebec, southern New Brunswick and Grand Manan Island, and parts of Nova Scotia. The main cause of Lyme Disease is the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by the Black-Legged tick family. While this new test doesn't prevent it, the company Tropicare says that this test is "more than 95.8% accurate in detecting three types of Borrelia bacteria" within 20-30 minutes. While this is handy to tell if the Tick has the bacteria, it doesn't determine if you have been infected.
“In addition to preventative measures, including a DEET or Icaridin repellent, this test represents an important step forward supporting efforts to help address the increase in the incidence of Lyme disease in Canada”
- Step 1. Place the removed tick inside the tube and add 4-5 drops of liquid. If you remove multiple ticks from one person, you can examine them simultaneously in a single test.
- Step 2. Crush the tick (or ticks) with the wooden stick. Crush the tick carefully, as the Borrelia bacteria is found in the tick's intestines.
- Step 3. Close the tube and shake it vigorously.
- Step 4. Use the pipette to add 3-4 drops on the cassette’s test opening. The fluid will then flow towards the test lines. Note: do not transfer any parts of the tick itself, as these can block the test field.
- Step 5. The test result will be visible between 20 and 30 minutes later. The maximum readout time is 30 minutes. All results hereafter are invalid.
Learn more about Ticks and Lyme Disease through The Government of Canada's website and Tropicare's StopTheTick.ca. You can purchase the test kit online for $19.99 or at a local pharmacy or outdoor retailer near you. Stay up to date with news of this test by following Stop The Tick on Facebook and Twitter.
