Introducing Squish-a-Tick
A low-cost, at-home Tick Test for rapid detection
Squish-A-Tick is a tool designed for collecting ticks and testing them directly for the presence of disease causing bacteria. This patent-pending device gives results in just 15 minutes, and is cheaper than going to a doctor or clinic and getting tested after a tick bite – which takes 24 hours or longer for results.
The Problem We Are Solving
There are nearly 500,000 cases of Lyme Disease diagnosed annually in the U.S. alone. Current prevention methods are ineffective. Avoidance behavior and tick repellents, such as DEET or permethrin are just not enough. Additionally, people don’t know what to do when they get bit. Many opt for the “wait and see” option, resulting in anxiety and the potential for serious consequences. With diagnosis for Lyme Disease as difficult as it is, it is time for a reliable, affordable, and rapid tick tester kit.
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Additional Concerns:
- Many people who encounter an infected tick won’t know until they are already infected and showing symptoms and/or get tested by medical professionals.
- Tick testing services, such as those run by state facilities, and diagnostic labs, are the only current available option for knowing whether the tick that was encountered was a disease carrier, and risk for human exposure.
- There are limited options available for tick testing services, many of which are: expensive, inaccessible, inconvenient, and time consuming.
24-48 Hours
How long it takes to contract Lyme Disease. By the time you receive lab results, it’s too late. Disease has spread!
1000000
Number of pets that test positive for Lyme each year. 90% won’t display symptoms, and can get very sick later in life.
95%
Amount of vector-borne disease cases that ticks are responsible for in the U.S.
Why Test Ticks?
Nearly 40% of ticks in endemic regions are infected. Tick tests allow users to determine if a tick could have transmitted the infection and assess the risk of contracting Lyme Disease.
Ticks carry dangerous pathogens transmissible to humans.
Ticks are a major cause of illness in New England and the surrounding states. There are 20 known conditions and 13 illnesses in humans caused by ticks.
Climate change is causing tick borne illness to spread across the US, Canada, and Europe. Numbers have almost doubled since 1996.
Many outdoor enthusiasts located in high risk states are prone to encountering several, if not dozens, of ticks each season.
So what can be done to assist in detection and prevention?
Our Solution:
The “Squish-A-Tick”
At-Home Tick Test for Rapid Lyme Detection
The tick bacteria detection kit is composed of the tick grinder and bacteria test strip. The tick grinder is used to squish the tick and to place 2-3 drops onto the test strip. Results are available in only 15 minutes – compared to results from lab testing that take at least 24 hours. This allows users to receive detection results quickly and inexpensively.
Step 1
Insert tick into the collection tube.
Step 2
Squish the tick into small pieces with the pestle.
Step 3
Slide strip into the tube until it reaches the liquid.
Step 4
Analyze reults and make an informed decision.
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After a tick bite, information and time are valuable.
Test the Tick
Much like you can test your soil’s nutrients, Squish -A-Tick will allow the user to detect the presence of pathogens in ticks, directly and instantly – within 15 minutes.
Be Informed
Although Squish-A-Tick is not designed to detect the presence of illness in humans, the test will provide users with peace of mind and the power of information.
Take Matters Into Your Own Hands
By knowing whether a tick was a disease-causing bacteria carrier, users can make better, more informed decisions.
Meet the Scientists
Dr. Larry Silbart & Lori Burdick
“We have both felt the impact of Lyme Disease and tick borne illness. Our goal with this technology is to provide people like us… people who enjoy the sweet parts of life and are constantly at risk for contracting tick borne illness… a way of knowing.
Living in a high risk state, we were motivated to develop a product that met our needs and the needs of countless others who regularly encounter ticks carried indoors by our furry friends, or from outdoors on our walks with them. We realized we needed a cheaper, faster alternative to the mail-in services that were available.”