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Tick-Borne Disease (TBD)
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Sensorializations
WORK IN PROGRESS. Tools, products, tests, and information to help navigate tick-borne disease (TBD) prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. These resources are curated to be direct-to-consumer, unless otherwise noted. Lyme disease -- caused by Borrelia...
Sections
7
 
Educational Resources
 
Preventative Tools
 
Tick Repellents
 
Tick Testing
 
TBD Testing: Direct-to-Consumer
 
TBD Testing: Practitioner-Ordered

Educational Resources

Evidence-based information about ticks, tick-borne disease, diagnosis, and treatment.

 
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START HERE. Written article. Short-form.
Global Lyme Alliance: Tips on How to Prevent Lyme Disease
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START HERE. Written article. Short-form.
Gordon Medical: Best Practices if You’re Bitten By a Tick
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START HERE. Written article. Short-form.
LymeDisease.org: About Lyme Disease
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START HERE. Written article. Short-form.
LymeDisease.org: About Co-Infections
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Written article, Long-form.
ILADS: Controversies and Challenges in Treating Lyme and Other Tick-borne Diseases
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Preventative Tools

Non-repellent tools to help prevent and/or mitigate tick bites. It is critical to properly remove embedded ticks to reduce risk of TBD transmission; this includes completely removing the head/mouth and not provoking the tick to regurgitate.

 
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Non-embedded tick removal tool. Ticks may crawl around clothes and skin for a while before embedding; removing them before they attach can help prevent TBD transmission.
TiCK MiTT: The Original
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Embedded tick removal tool. It is critical to properly remove embedded ticks to reduce risk of TBD transmission; this includes completely removing the head/mouth and not provoking the tick to regurgitate.
TiCK MiTT: TiCK SiDEKiCK
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Embedded tick removal tool. It is critical to properly remove embedded ticks to reduce risk of TBD transmission; this includes completely removing the head/mouth and not provoking the tick to regurgitate.
TickCheck: Wallet Sized Tick Removal Card
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Embedded tick removal tool. It is critical to properly remove embedded ticks to reduce risk of TBD transmission; this includes completely removing the head/mouth and not provoking the tick to regurgitate.
TickCheck: Premium Tick Remover Kit
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Tick Repellents

EPA-registered products with EPA-recommended active ingredients to repel ticks (they all also repel mosquitoes). Follow manufacturer instructions for safety and optimal efficacy. These are formulas that tend to ‘stick’ better for better coverage.

 
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Active Ingredient: IR3535 20%.
R&R Lotion: IC Insect Repellent Spray
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Active Ingredient: Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) 30%.
Murphy's Naturals: Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Mosquito & Tick Repellent, Mist
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Active Ingredient: Picaridin 20%.
Zone Protects: Insect Repellent, Picaridin, Mistosol Unscented
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Active Ingredient: DEET 30%.
Ben's: Tick & Insect Repellent, Wilderness Formula Eco Spray
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Tick Testing

Laboratory testing ticks for TBDs is one of the best data points for assessing risk of TBD transmission. These are labs to which you can send ticks after removal.

 
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Tick preparation instructions: Double bag the tick/tick body parts (dead or alive) in clear dry ziplock plastic bags; padded envelope preferred, but can be sent in a regular envelope.
IGeneX: Tick Testing
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Tick preparation instructions: Double bag the tick/tick body parts (dead or alive) in clear dry ziplock plastic bags; padded envelope preferred, but can be sent in a regular envelope.
TickCheck: Tick Testing
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Tick preparation instructions: Double bag the tick/tick body parts (dead or alive) in clear dry ziplock plastic bags; padded envelope preferred, but can be sent in a regular envelope.
Ticknology: Tick Testing
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TBD Testing: Direct-to-Consumer

TBD diagnostic testing can rule in infections, but due to accuracy and sensitivity levels, cannot rule out infections. These direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests can either be self-ordered without healthcare practitioners, or platforms include healthcare p...

 
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Antibody assays. Finger prick blood. Self-collected at home. Multiple species of: Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella.
AcuDart: Tick-Borne Disease Test Panels
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IgM; IgG. Blood draw. Technician-collected in lab. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Ehrlichia chaffeensis; multiple species of: Borrelia, Bartonella.
Function Health: Infections
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PCR; Immunoassay. Blood draw; or finger prick blood. Technician-collected in lab or at home; or self-collected at home. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Coxsackie, Powassan, Tickborne Encephalitis, West Nile; multiple species of: Bor...
Vibrant Wellness: Tickborne Diseases Panel
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IgM; IgG. Blood draw. Technician-collected in lab or at home. Borrelia burgdorferi.
Quest Health: Lyme Disease Test
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TBD Testing: Practitioner-Ordered

TBD diagnostic testing can rule in infections, but due to accuracy and sensitivity levels, cannot rule out infections. These tests require a healthcare practitioner to order them; they may or may not require the practitioner to have an account with t...

 
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Multiple test panels types. Blood draw; or urine. Technician-collected in lab or at home; or self-collected at home. Multiple species of multiple pathogens.
IGeneX: Tick-Borne Disease Test Directory
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Antigen; PCR; IFA. Blood draw; or urine. Technician-collected in lab or at home; or self-collected at home. Multiple species of: Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella.
Galaxy Dx: Diagnostic Tests
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T-cell. Blood draw. Technician-collected in lab or at home. Multiple species of multiple pathogens.
i-Labs: Testing
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Practitioner Directories

Lists of TBD literate healthcare practitioners. These practitioners are trained in appropriate TBD diagnosis and/or treatments that do not follow scientifically outdated protocols proven ineffective. Note that practitioners may or may not accept insu...

 
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May need to email for search assistance.
ILADS: Provider Search
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Address information required.
Global Lyme Alliance: Find a Lyme Disease Specialist Near You
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Free membership login required.
Lymedisease.org: Lyme Disease Physician Referral
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