Each time a COVID-19 test is performed, staff will usually use a specialized nasopharyngeal swab to collect nasal fluid from the person being tested. So what is the difference between the COVID-19 sampling stick and the regular sampling stick? In this article, ABT will explain the structural characteristics of nasopharyngeal fluid sampling sticks to help users easily distinguish different types of sampling sticks.
What is a pharyngeal swab sample?
For initial diagnostic testing for cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends collecting and testing upper respiratory tract specimens.
The nasopharyngeal swab is a tool that allows to collect samples of virus-containing fluids in the upper respiratory tract from people suspected of being infected with COVID-19. In the testing process, the correct preparation and sampling is very important because it directly affects the test results as well as the safety of the sampler. Therefore, it is necessary to collect with a dedicated sample collection rod and strictly follow the sample preservation procedure recommended by the CDC.
The difference between the nasopharyngeal swab and the regular one
To reduce the ability to inhibit, the test brings accurate diagnostic results to the patients. Nasopharyngeal smear samples should only be collected with a collection rod with a synthetic fiber tip, an aluminum or plastic rod body. Samples with calcium albitate tips, cotton wool, or wooden sticks are not accepted as they may contain substances that inactivate some viruses and may inhibit molecular tests.
In addition, the nasopharyngeal sampler has a special cotton swab tip structure without an inner core, the sample is stored between the precipitated nylon fibers. The recovery efficiency is more than 90% compared to the traditional sampler. In addition, sample collection and testing operations on samples need to comply with biosafety regulations as recommended by CDC.
How to choose a nasopharyngeal swab – ABT
The use of nasopharyngeal swabs from ABT has many different characteristics compared with conventional conventional sampling sticks.
With a filament nylon head structure, it quickly collects and releases cells into the transport medium. Therefore, the collected sample will not be trapped in the network of the swab tip, resulting in a higher sample volume.
The outstanding advantages of the sample collection rod with nylon fiber tip (ABT distribution) are:
- The tassel design acts as a soft brush thus providing comfort to the patient while performing specimen collection.
- Improved sample collection
- With the open fiber structure immediately release the sample cells into the liquid medium
- Test sensitivity is improved, cotton swabs have been shown to release up to 95% of viral cells in the original sample.
- Certified free of inhibitors. The collected swab tips are certified Dnase-free, Rnase-free and human DNA-free. They also do not contain any PCR inhibitor that affects the test results of the patient sample.
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