We should all know whether to confirm the infection of the new coronavirus, in addition to nucleic acid, can also use antigen self-testing, testing the sampling swab used for swab is a common medical device.
Nucleic acid test antigen detection swab sampling swab introduction
Sampling swabs can be used to collect oral epidermal cells or nasal virus samples, and then save the cells or samples in the collection tube, transferred to the laboratory for testing, to achieve the detection of oral or nasal diseases in humans. Different from the swabs used in daily life, the sampling swab should ensure the sampling volume and release volume, and the selected material should not affect the subsequent testing. The swab is mainly composed of a sampling head and a medical ABS plastic rod, of which the material of the sampling head is closely related to the subsequent detection.
Flocked swabs made of nylon fiber by spray technology.
Sampling swab head should use Polyester (PE) synthetic fiber or Rayon (artificial fiber), can not use calcium alginate sponge or wooden stick swab (including bamboo swabs), the material of the swab head can not be cotton products, because the fiber of cotton is stronger adsorption of protein, not easy to elute to the subsequent preservation solution; and containing calcium alginate and wooden components of the wooden stick or bamboo swab broken and soaked in the preservation solution will also adsorb proteins and even have an inhibitory effect on the subsequent PCR reaction.
A brief introduction to the sterilization of swabs for nucleic acid testing antigen detection
Sampling swabs are often sterilized by EO (ethylene oxide) or irradiation, but EO, as a carcinogen, is extremely hazardous to human health.
For EO sterilized swabs, some people may worry about whether EO will remain on the swab and enter the body during testing. However, there is no need to worry, EO-sterilized swabs will go through 14 days of analysis, the EO residue test qualified before leaving the factory, and in the process of circulation will also be naturally resolved, to reach our hands of the sampling swab its EO residue does not have an impact on human health.
How to choose the correct single-use virus sampling tube? To pay attention to the following aspects:
1, swab
Flocked swab as a sample collection tool, which has a high sample collection rate, good adsorption and not easy to lose lint and other advantages of cotton swabs do not have, can be a good sample collection.
2、Virus preservation tube
Virus sampling tube generic name for single-use virus sampling tube, generally used in disease control departments and clinical departments for the detection and sampling of infectious pathogenic microorganisms. Applicable to influenza virus (including general influenza, highly pathogenic virus, influenza A H1N1 virus, etc.), hand, foot and mouth virus, new coronavirus, measles rubella and other types of virus detection sampling. vtm virus sampling tube can also be used for mycoplasma, chlamydia and mycoplasma urealyticum detection sampling.
Virus sampling tubes are usually paired with a single-use flocked swab. From the appearance, the flocked swab is white and soft, and the use of this soft brush during the sampling process will allow the user to have no foreign body sensation and is suitable for people who sample different parts of the body. The flocked swab has a break point designed to meet the length of the sampling tube and the natural lumen of the human body, which is not only convenient for sampling but also easy to transport the specimen.
Virus sampling tubes are loaded with infectious substances, some even highly pathogenic susceptibility substances, therefore, the packaging container requirements are very demanding, to meet the requirements of three aspects at the same time.
(1), the safety of transport.
Ensure that the sample does not leak during transportation. Meet the WHO regulations and biosafety regulations of the sampling tube.
(2) Safety of preservation.
Ensure that the sample does not leak during storage. Meet the WHO regulations and biosafety regulations of the sampling tube.
(3), the validity of the sample.
To ensure that the sampling tube itself does not have a toxic effect on the sample.
