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Tick Results

The HNHU is no longer accepting ticks

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit has changed its tick surveillance strategy and is now sending staff out in the field to identify areas where deer ticks may live. For more about active tick surveillance, visit here 

People concerned about tick exposure should consult a healthcare provider and bring the tick with them to their appointment. Diagnosis and treatment are based on:

  • Your symptoms,
  • Exposure details (e.g. type of tick, if the tick is engorged) and;
  • It may be supplemented by a blood test

If you have removed the tick in the last 72 hours and it was attached to you for more than 24 hours, consult a healthcare provider immediately as you may be eligible for a preventative dose of antibiotics.

This site is remaining active for those still awaiting results from their tick submissions provided to the HNHU prior to the discontinuation of this service. For those still seeking the results of their tick submission, please read below:

  • Individuals who submit a tick to the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit for testing will NOT be provided with a medical diagnosis. The Health Unit only used tick submissions as a means of collecting surveillance data on local tick populations. Individuals seeking a medical diagnosis should contact their healthcare professionals.
  • Ticks submitted to the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit are first sent to the provincial lab to be identified in order to determine the species. If it is found to be a Deer Tick (blacklegged tick) it will then be sent to a second lab to test whether or not the tick carried the Lyme disease bacteria.  It can take over 3 months to get these Lyme disease bacteria results back from the lab.  You will be informed of the results via this website when the Health Unit receives them.  If a Deer Tick tests positive for carrying the Lyme disease bacteria, the person who submitted the tick will be called by the Health Unit when the results are received.
  • Individuals bitten by a tick and/or experiencing symptoms related to tick exposure should consult their healthcare provider and not wait for the results of this test.  Also, if the tick has been removed in the last 72 hours and it appears to be a Deer Tick that was attached to you for 24 hours or more, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately to discuss if a preventative dose of antibiotics is recommended.

Tick Avoidance Tips