Research shows that more than 31 million Americans — or nearly 1 in 10 people — experience a tick bite every year. While some tick bites can be harmless, these parasitic arachnids that feed on both animals and people can transmit dozens of diseases, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease, in as little as 36 to 48 hours. This spring, the CDC reported a spike in emergency room visits for tick-borne illnesses, with Lyme disease being the most common diagnosis. Lyme disease is easiest to treat during its early, or acute, stage, which makes quick tick identification critical for treatment. Most experience a “bull’s-eye” rash at the site of the bite, along with other symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, and neck stiffness. Now there’s good news — the first at-home screening tool to determine whether the tick that bit you carries Lyme disease will hit the market this month, selling for about $50. The test kit, which remains effective for up to 12 months, is simple to use. After carefully removing the tick with either tweezers or a tick-removal tool, you place it into the kit’s “Tick Crusher.” A test strip is then inserted into a slot in the grinder. Similar to a pregnancy test or COVID test, it takes about 15 minutes. Two lines indicates a positive result; one line is negative.
