We test
Your tick!
Why test?
One third of ticks carry pathogens.
Early detection, removal and analysis of the tick leads to clarity and allows for early treatment.
Lyme borreliosis but also early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE) can be transmitted to humans by ticks. You can protect yourself against TBE with a vaccination, which is not the case with Lyme borreliosis.
Bacteria-borne Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease and leads to complex symptoms. In the early stages, wandering reddening of the skin (wandering reddening) can occur with accompanying flu-like symptoms.
What: Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi.
Where: All of Switzerland
How: Transmission through an infected tick
Symptoms: The first symptoms are evident by reddening of the skin at the site of the bite after the first few days or weeks.
In the second stage, serious illnesses that affect the joints, nervous system, skin, or the heart. Symptoms may only occur after weeks, months or even years.
What: TBE (Tick-borne encephalitis)
Where: All of Switzerland (except Geneva and Ticino)
How: Transmission by an infected tick
Symptoms: The first flu-like phase of the disease appears 14 days after the bite. In 5-15% of infected persons, it affects the nervous system after a symptom-free period. In 1% of neurological cases, it can lead to death.
Off to the laboratory!
Analyze
Your tick
Please send us your tick by post in a pressure seal bag incl. order sheet in a normal envelope.
Costs:
Borreliosis analysis: 74.30 CHF*.
TBE analysis: 118.50 CHF *
Both analyses together: 192.80 CHF*
* incl VAT
Do you still have an AntiBrumm® tick test?
Then here is the result:
The best way is to use pressure-seal bags that can be sealed airtight at the top. Place the tick in a pressure seal bag, seal it well, place the bag with the tick in a normal envelope, seal the envelope and send it by post to Biolytix AG.
Laboratory or plastic tubes are less suitable because the post office routes all envelopes through an automatic sorting center, which can damage the tube and cause the tick to be lost.
When going for walks, forest excursions and hikes, the best way to protect yourself from ticks is with:
- Long trousers and closed shoes.
- Put socks over your trousers
- Wear light-colored clothes
- Spray body parts and clothes that come into contact with grass or bushes with anti-tick spray.
- Avoid the undergrowth.
- Check your body for ticks after every outdoor activity
Particularly popular for ticks are damp and undisturbed parts of the body such as: Axel cavities, behind the ears, knee joints, intimate areas, etc.
Since 2005, the number of TBE-infected persons in Switzerland has fluctuated between 100-250 cases per year.
The better climatic conditions for ticks and the fact that more people spend time outside have led to a significant increase in TBE infections in recent years.
The BAG (Bundesamt für Gesundheit; Federal Office of Public Health) has declared Switzerland a TBE risk area, except for the cantons of Geneva and Ticino. The BAG recommends a TBE tick analysis.Various pathogens can be transmitted by ticks. The most widespread and best-known diseases in the northern Hemisphere are borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE).
However, this does not mean that every tick carries and transmits these diseases. In Switzerland, the transmission of borreliosis by ticks is between 20 – 50%. For TBE only 0.5% (in the risk areas).Borreliosis analysis: 74.30 CHF*
TBE analysis: 118.50 CHF*
Both analyses together: 192.80 CHF*
(*incl. VAT)
An infection initially begins harmlessly with reddening at the site of the injection. In the second stage, serious illnesses can occur with possible effects on the joints, nervous system, skin or even the heart.
Insufficient treatment can lead to permanent disabilities!
In 1 % of neurological cases, it can even lead to death.
Lyme borreliosis can be transmitted by infected ticks throughout Switzerland. The FOPH has declared Switzerland as a TBE risk area, except for the cantons of Geneva and Ticino.
For transmission to occur, the tick must bite down and then suck blood. If this has not yet happened, transmission with Lyme disease or TBE is unlikely. Even if the tick has already sucked blood, transmission does not necessarily have to have occurred, as not every tick has to be a carrier of the pathogens.
Contact your family doctor as soon as possible.
Yes, Lyme disease and TBE can be detected in the tick for up to one year.
In a pressure seal bag and if possible cooled (refrigerator or freezer).
No, the laboratory needs the tick’s abdomen for a successful analysis. Whether the tick is still alive or not is irrelevant.
Experience has shown that accident insurance may cover the costs. Provided it can be declared as an accident. To be on the safe side, you should contact your insurance company in advance.