Examination of a tick for encephalitis next to the claw. How to do a tick test correctly? Accurate interpretation of the examinations carried out

An insect must be alive at the time of transmission to obtain accurate test results for infections. Some institutions accept dead individuals and even their fragments, but the accuracy of diagnosis is significantly reduced. Acceptance of ticks for analysis in Moscow is carried out at the following addresses:

What documents are needed

It is the responsibility of the affected individual to ensure that the tick is checked for infectious agents. Before taking an insect to a laboratory or a medical center, it is necessary to check with the employees of the institution over the phone whether they accept individuals for research. When passing an instance medical staff you will need to provide information about the place, approximate time of the bite, and present the following documents:

• medical insurance policy;
• passport;
• insurance contract - if there is insurance, all the costs of extracting, examining the tick, as well as the responsibility for delivering the insect for analysis, are borne by the insurance company.

Duration of the study

The results of the analysis of the tick are handed out after the period provided for conducting research in a particular laboratory (set based on technical capabilities). The average duration of microbiological diagnostics is:

The cost of tick analysis in Moscow and the Moscow region

If you have insurance, you can do a tick analysis for free, for this you need to contact the institutions specified in the contract. In other cases, the service is provided on a paid basis. The average prices for certain types of research are:

Video

If a tick has appeared on your body that has not yet fallen off and continues to drink blood, be sure to read the rules of conduct and find out. Do not crush him, do not try to poison him, set him on fire, or douse him with oil so that he suffocates. By doing this, you will harm yourself: the tick, starting to choke, will secrete more large quantity saliva with infection (if any).

Where to take the tick for analysis in Moscow?

Below is a list of Moscow clinics that provide tick analysis services for the presence of dangerous diseases. As a rule, in the same medical institutions you can get an immunoglobulin vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis, but we do not give a guarantee, find out individually by calling each clinic. Specify the cost of the service individually. If any data in the list is out of date, leave a comment with the correction at the bottom of the page, we will appreciate it!

The average cost of PCR analysis for 4 infections - EC, BL, MEC, GAC is 1700 rubles.

Laboratory at the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow

Krasnogvardeisky boulevard, 17, building 1

Head Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology

1st Infantry Lane, 6

Federal Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology, Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare

Warsaw highway, 19a

Disinfection company EcoBarrier

BC West-Alpha, Pryanishnikova, 19a, building 13

Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Expertise and Certification

Goncharnaya, 11, building 2

Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of Moscow, CJSC

Bolshaya Filevskaya, 33

Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of Moscow, SAO

st. Admiral Makarov, 10

Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of Moscow, Central Administrative District

st. Alexandra Solzhenitsyna, 12, building 5

Not at all harmless to humans. The fact is that these arachnids are carriers of many dangerous infectious diseases. Among them are tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis and many others. etc. Therefore, after a tick attack, it is imperative to understand whether the parasite is infected with any virus? How to know about it? An excellent option is to take a blood test. It would also be useful to take the tick itself to a specialist for examination. This is the only way to determine whether infection occurred after contact with a bloodsucker.

What tests to take if bitten by a tick?

After a tick bite, you can not hesitate. Of course, the account does not go by minutes or hours. But it’s also not worth delaying contacting a medical institution (especially since many hospitals conduct round-the-clock reception of those people who could potentially be infected with borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, etc.). The fact is that within the first five days, symptoms of the disease may appear, and after 7-10 days (if the body is weakened), complications may begin.

It is important to remember that immediately after an arthropod bite, it does not make sense to take a blood test. This is explained by the fact that the result of such a study will be unreliable. After all, in human body as a response to the virus, specific antibodies (antiviral proteins-immunoglobulins) should be formed, which the analysis reveals. And this takes time - up to 10 days, or even more. Therefore, many doctors recommend doing a blood test for tick-borne infections only 11-14 days after the bite.

In this situation, it is much more effective to bring and hand over the tick itself for examination. In this case, literally on the first day it will be possible to determine whether he was infected with some kind of dangerous infection and whether there is a risk to human life and health.

As for the analyzes themselves, a wide range of laboratory tests are used to determine the hidden ones. The specific method of diagnosis is chosen by the doctor himself, taking into account:

• patient's age;
• his condition immune system;
• whether vaccination has been carried out;
• the time that has passed since the bite;
• whether the subject was taking antibiotics and other drugs.

The result of diagnosis for most infectious diseases transmitted to humans through a tick bite is usually issued 3-5 days after blood sampling. If it is positive, then after 2-4 weeks the analysis is repeated.

In some cities that do not have frequent cases of infection with borreliosis or tick-borne encephalitis, it is impossible to donate blood after a tick bite for these infections. In this case, you may need to travel to a neighboring village or contact private clinic. Sometimes specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological station (SES) can also come to the rescue.

How much does a tick-borne infection test cost?

What is the average cost of blood tests for tick-borne infections? Approximately 400-600 rubles per commercial organizations. At the same time, for this amount, you will be tested for the presence of one type of virus pathogens - for example, for encephalitis or borreliosis. Accordingly, the cost of a comprehensive study can cost 1000-2000 rubles. In public institutions, tariffs are usually lower by about 30-40%.

Where can you donate a tick?

Usually, specialized private and government agencies. They exist in most settlements - cities, villages, urban-type settlements, etc. But in some territories there may not be such laboratories. So we recommend that you find out in advance in which organization in your place of residence it is possible to surrender a bitten insect for further research.

Basically, the number of such institutions (where it makes sense to carry a tick) includes:

1. Private clinics;
2. State medical institutions- an emergency room, hospital, clinic, etc. Usually, such institutions have a laboratory room that allows you to examine the tick to identify infectious agents that it can transmit to humans.

At the same time, when you decide to take a tick for research, do not forget to take money with you. The fact is that this service is mainly provided for a fee. How much is taken to determine whether an arthropod is infected or not?

The cost of analyzing a tick for the presence of a causative agent of a particular disease in state medical institutions of the Russian Federation is approximately the same. As a rule, it is enough to pay 500-600 rubles to conduct an arthropod test for borreliosis or encephalitis. In private medical centers and laboratories, testing a tick for viruses in it will cost about twice as much. For example, the Hemotest laboratory network, which is popular today in Russia, estimates a comprehensive study of a tick at 2050 rubles, and it takes 2 days. At the same time, in such institutions, you can also order an express analysis, which will be ready in a few hours.

How to save and properly transport a tick for analysis?

Many important points we have already clarified. Although some questions still remain. They concern how to “treat” with a tick - how to properly save it and what is the best way to move it?

It is very important when bitten by a tick, even if you live in an area that is not dangerous for borreliosis or encephalitis, take it to a specialist for examination and conduct an analysis of your own blood.

It is simply necessary to do this, because if the tick was infected with encephalitis or borreliosis, the bitten one can get sick and die.

As soon as possible after the bite, you need to visit the hospital (polyclinic) and be sure to take the bitten tick with you (it is ideal to take it alive, but the dead one is also suitable). In a medical facility, a blood test will be performed to check for the presence of an infection in the body.

It is important to take into account that often in cities that do not have frequent cases of borreliosis or tick-borne encephalitis, it is impossible to donate blood for these infections, since laboratories do not have the reagents and equipment necessary for research. In such cases, a trip to the SES (sanitary and epidemiological station) or to private clinics can be a way out.

It turns out that tests after a tick bite should ideally be taken within 24 days after the incident. In this case, it is most important to take the tick for analysis, since on the first day after the bite, a blood test can give a false negative result.

But after passing the tick for analysis, you can find out with maximum accuracy whether it was infected with any infections (tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis and a dozen other diseases dangerous to humans). In this case, you can immediately place the bitten person in the hospital under observation.

A mandatory blood test after a tick bite and the delivery of the insect itself for further research can be carried out in various public and private institutions. But let us recall that not all cities have specialists and equipment capable of such research.

You can take blood and tick tests for analysis at the following institutions:

1. SES (sanitary and epidemiological station).
2. State medical institutions (trauma center, polyclinic, hospital).
3. Private medical institutions.

The step-by-step sequence of actions after a tick bite should be as follows:

After that, it is necessary to carry the tick for analysis for a maximum of two days, while after a longer period of time the risk of false test results increases significantly.

As mentioned earlier, you can donate blood for research after a tick bite in any suitable (having specialists, equipment, reagents) private or public clinic.

In this case, a blood test can be carried out immediately when contacting a doctor. However, in the case of borreliosis ( Lyme disease) such diagnosis may be ineffective, since the infectious agents that cause this disease are detected only 2-4 weeks after infection.

The same is true for many other diseases that are transmitted through the bites of blood-sucking insects (in particular ticks).

What should I do if bitten by a tick? (video)

Timing and interpretation of results

Since with an early visit to the doctor with high accuracy it is possible to determine the presence of only encephalitis in the body of the bitten, it makes sense to talk about the interpretation of the results of blood diagnostics for this particular disease.

In total, there can be three results of such an examination:

1. A positive result for IgM to tick-borne encephalitis - a recent infection, the disease is active.
2. A positive result for IgG to tick-borne encephalitis is observed, as a rule, in people who have been vaccinated against encephalitis or in people who have been infected with it for a relatively long time ( late deadline disease).
3. The absence of antibodies to encephalitis is an absolute norm.

The result of diagnosis for most infectious diseases transmitted through a tick bite can be obtained 3-5 days after blood sampling.

Often there are questions about how to interpret the results of a blood test for tick-borne encephalitis, we offer you the following description of the interpretation.

What is IgM?

Antibodies of the IgM class to the tick-borne encephalitis virus are specific antiviral immunoglobulin proteins produced by the immune system in response to infection with the tick-borne encephalitis virus and indicate a current infection.

Russian synonyms

Antibodies of the IgM class to the tick-borne encephalitis virus (Encephalitis virus), class M immunoglobulins to the tick-borne encephalitis virus.

SynonymsEnglish

Anti-arboviral Encephalitis IgM, Encephalitis Virus Antibodies, IgM, Tick-borne encephalitis virus IgM (TBE virus IgM).

How is the research done?

Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

What biomaterial can be used for research?

Venous blood.

How to properly prepare for research?

Do not smoke for 30 minutes before donating blood.

General information about the study

Tick-borne encephalitis is seasonal (spring-summer) viral disease, transmitted mainly with the bite of ticks; predominantly affects the central nervous system.

The causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis belongs to the arboviruses, the flavivirus family, and is divided into three subspecies: Far Eastern, Central European and Siberian. The main carrier of encephalitis is the ixodid tick. In addition, it is transmitted through birds, rodents and predators. Incubation period averages 3-7 days.
Clinical manifestations diseases are varied. There are febrile, meningeal, meningoencephalitic, poliomyelitis and polyradiculoneuritic forms of the disease. It is possible to carry a virus for a long time in the form of a latent, persistent or chronic infection.

In response to infection with the tick-borne encephalitis virus or vaccination against this virus, the immune system produces specific antiviral antibodies - immunoglobulin proteins. Already at the first symptoms of the disease, class M immunoglobulins appear in the blood. Their level reaches a maximum after 3.5-4.5 weeks from the moment of infection and then gradually decreases over several months.

What is research used for?

• To confirm the diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis (both current and recent illnesses).
• As part differential diagnosis with damage to the central nervous system(infectious meningitis and encephalitis of other origin, epilepsy, aseptic meningitis, thrombosis of arteries or veins of the brain, stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, febrile convulsions, HIV infection, cysticercosis, sarcoidosis, syphilis, carcinomatosis meninges, paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis, etc.).

When is the study scheduled?

If you suspect current or past tick-borne encephalitis.

What do the results mean?

Meaning that a person is healthy:

Result: negative.

CP (Positivity Coefficient): 0 - 0.99.

Reasons for a different (positive) result

• Early stages of tick-borne encephalitis (in this case, IgG to the tick-borne encephalitis virus is not detected). In this case, it is recommended to repeat the study after 7-10 days.
• Current or recent tick-borne encephalitis (in combination with positive test for IgG to tick-borne encephalitis virus) provided that vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis has not been carried out.
• Recent vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis.

Nuances of a negative result

• The absence of a recent infection and, accordingly, an immune response to the tick-borne encephalitis virus (if IgG is also not detected).
• The presence of active immunity due to a recent infection or successful vaccination (if the test for IgG to the tick-borne encephalitis virus is positive).
• Weak immune response (or lack of it) to tick-borne encephalitis due to disorders of the immune system (if IgG to the tick-borne encephalitis virus is not detected).

What can influence the result?

The presence of cross-reactive antibodies to other pathogens of the flavivirus genus (West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, etc.).

Important Notes

• Prevention of tick-borne encephalitis is carried out in two ways. Firstly, this is vaccination, which is carried out at the risk of infection with tick-borne encephalitis, and secondly, revaccination according to epidemic indications before the season of tick-borne encephalitis.
• Those who were treated with gamma globulin in the first days of the disease, after 2-3 months, an additional serological study is necessary due to the fact that such therapy temporarily inhibits the formation of immunity.

What is a titer?

Titer - a unit of measurement of the concentration of antibodies to the virus under study, another classification is also used - units / ml

Approximate correspondence of units / ml and titers when using reagent kits "VektoVKE IgG" (Vector Best company):

• 10 units/ml - titer 1:100
• 20 units/ml - titer 1:200
• 40 units/ml - titer 1:400
• 80 units/ml - titer 1:800
• 160 units/ml - titer 1:1600

Result interpretation:

A result above 1:100 (100 units/ml) indicates the presence of an immune response (corresponds to an anti-TBEV IgG titer above 1:100) and is observed in the following situations:

• current or past infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus;
• vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis virus;
• injection of specific gamma globulin against tick-borne encephalitis virus (up to 3 weeks after injection);
• false positive results due to cross-reactivity due to infection or vaccination with other flaviviruses (rare).

The result is less than 1:100 (10 U / ml) - no immune response:

• no infection;
• early period of infection (it is recommended to repeat after 7-10 days);
• undetectable level of antibodies.

A healthy person who is immune to the virus will have a titer fluctuation of 1:200 to 1:400, results below or above these values ​​indicate the presence of an infection that the immune system cannot cope with.