Lyme disease testing?

Does anyone know where on LI someone can send a tick for testing Lyme disease?

my brother found a tick on his daughter after our wedding. they live in CA, and they aren't very confident that they will do a good enough job testing there.
And since the tick came from good old Suffolk, Lyme central, he figured he'd send the tick here to be tested.

So does anyone know a website or phone number to call? I feel terrible this happened when they came out to our wedding especially!

Thank you!

Re: Lyme disease testing?

Why not just go to a doctor to get the daughter tested? I think it is a blood test. That might be easier than shipping the tick across the country.

The other thing is, how long was the tick on his daughter? They generally have to feed for 48-72 hours before they will transmit the bacteria that cause disease.

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Message edited 12/15/2005 7:16:06 PM.

Re: Lyme disease testing?

basically, the little girl (about 4) has been really tired and run down lately. which is kind of odd for a toddler :)

I think she was ok when they first got home (a month ago, when they pulled the tick off her), but lately she's been a little under the weather.

I think my brother just wants to cover his bases. The pediatrician there says that testing the person isn't as good as testing the tick itself. I really have no idea.

I'm sure they'll test the little girl, but i was hoping for any more info you may know of?

Hence my question to you all?

Thanks!

Re: Lyme disease testing?

I know when I had Lyme, I was very tired, my joints were swollen and achy, and I had a rash on my upper body and arms. It wasn't until I had a blood test that it came back positive for Lyme. My MIL was recently bitten by a tick and is being treated with antibiotics. She had brought the tick that bit her to her doctor. I never found a tick on myself and had no idea I had been bitten by one till I tested positive.

Re: Lyme disease testing?

my friend got it twice actually... you just need to get a blood test for it,

Re: Lyme disease testing?

Thank you so much!
I'll tell him to get her butt to the dr, and to go from there. Great!

Re: Lyme disease testing?

Onc you have lyme, you actually have it forever, you just get relapses of symptoms.

And yes, I agree, get her tested! But it's weird. I've had tests that say I have lyme and tests that say I don't, so don't 100% believe the tests!

Re: Lyme disease testing?

Feeling fatigued is a symptom of Lyme Disease as well as achey joints and muscles. Does the little girl have a rash on her at all? She should definitely go for a blood test if she got bitten a month ago her blood work should show if she has Lyme now. It is just very important to catch Lyme early! If Lyme is found early enough it can be treated and the infected person will be fine! If it goes too long untreated more symptoms develop and you can never get rid of the Lyme it just lingers in your body and can "pop-out" at any time. If you have more questions feel free to FM me.

Re: Lyme disease testing?

i would take her to dr. ASAP...
with ticks..sad to say but they advise to leave it off and have them remove cause parts can be left inside the skin.. Make sure you remember where it is. Ticks (how small they are) are not to be messed with. I would just see your PCP and go from there. Good luck

Re: Lyme disease testing?

Thanks!
They are worried b/c Lyme isn't exactuly huge in CA, like it is here, and the mom read a book about someone in CA who had it for a long time and the dr missed the diagnosis there.

My brother says they are bringing his little girl in later this week (he's such a dork for not taking her in right away!) and he'll see what happens :(

Thanks again!

Re: Lyme disease testing?

You might want to make sure she sees a specialist. The only reason, and I men the ONLY reason I didn't get really sick from undiagnosed lyme is because I was on so many different antibiotics because my doctor thought it wa mono (ok, either way, that's stupid) and he didn't test me for lyme..I was tested for lyme later...So, I'd really make sure she gets accurate testing. it's rally not pleasant and it stays with you forever