pennsylvania chester county lab tick testing

#Pennsylvania chester county lab tick testing free

For example, a false-positive pregnancy test result would appear to detect the substance that confirms pregnancy, when in reality the woman is not pregnant.Ī false-negative test result is one that does not detect what is being tested for even though it is present. A false-positive test result may suggest that a person has the disease or condition when he or she does not have it. What are false-positive and false-negative test results?Ī false-positive test result is one that shows a disease or condition is present when it is not present. It is not always clear if the level of antibodies is high enough to indicate an infection. For example, some tests measure the level of antibodies to some bacteria or viruses in blood or other bodily fluid to look for an infection.

Inconclusive test results are those that are not clearly positive or negative.

Negative results can also mean that the substance being tested for was present in a normal amount.

A negative test result means that the substance or condition being tested for was not found.

Positive test results also can mean that the amount of a substance being tested for is higher or lower than normal.

A positive test result means that the substance or condition being tested for was found.

Your doctor will discuss what your test results mean for you and your health. Lab test results may be positive, negative, or inconclusive. Understanding your results will help you and your doctor discuss the next step in your diagnosis or treatment. Sometimes test results can be affected by when you last ate or exercised, your age, and medicines or herbal supplements you're taking.Īlthough lab test results may not provide all of the information that your doctor needs, the tests help him or her make a diagnosis. It is also important to understand what the results mean and what factors can affect results. Making sense of your lab test involves more than just knowing why the test is done. Instead, he or she will use the results of your tests along with information about your health, gender, age, and other factors. Unless the test results are clear-either you are pregnant or you're not-your doctor will rarely make a decision or diagnosis based only on the results of a lab test. But while it is an important role, in most cases lab tests don't provide all the information your doctor needs to make a diagnosis or treatment decisions. The lab will also be able to track what types of ticks are in the state and where they are being found.Lab tests play one role in your health care. The results will tell if the tick that bit you was infected. You will have results within three business days. View your test results: You can get status updates online. After you complete the order process, you'll receive instructions for mailing your tick to the lab.Ĥ. Simply place your tick in a sealed plastic bag and mail it, along with your order receipt (from online application), to the laboratory. Send in your tick: No kit is needed for collecting and sending a tick specimen. Remove the tick: Carefully pull the tick straight out with tweezers and place it in a plastic bag.ģ. 'I think that's excellent because a lot of people seem to not know that they have a tick on them and they get bit and end up getting Lyme disease,' said Steve Landucci, a local runner.ġ.

The Tick Research Lab can analyze your tick, testing for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

#Pennsylvania chester county lab tick testing free

The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab is now offering free basic testing to all residents.

More than 10,000 Lyme disease cases have been reported. Pennsylvania tops the list as the worst state in the nation when it comes to tick borne illnesses.