New at-home kit lets users test ticks for Lyme bacteria in minutes

LymeAlert unveiled TickCrusher, the first rapid at-home test that pulverizes a detached tick and screens it for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease in under half an hour. Creator Erin Dawicki, a physician assistant and MIT Sloan Fellow, designed the palm-sized tool to be usable with a single finger, addressing concerns from patients who lack time or insurance coverage to see a clinician. After crushing the tick in a sealed base, users add a processing solution and a test strip, which can reveal a positive result in as little as 15 minutes; a negative result does not guarantee safety.

The single-use kit, priced at $50, can handle up to five ticks per run and will be supported by a companion app that logs bites, connects users with virtual health providers, and generates secure PDFs for primary doctors. While the CDC advises against tick testing because it does not prove transmission, Dawicki hopes the device will give clinicians an extra data point and curb unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. The product is currently available for pre-order, with deliveries expected later this month.