Sampling swabs and virus sampling tubes are needed to ensure the amount of sampling and release, and the quality of sampling swabs and virus sampling tubes is can directly affect the results of subsequent testing, so must not be able to use materials that have an impact on subsequent testing, especially calcium alginate and wood bamboo and other materials.

Virus sampling swab head should use polyester (PE) synthetic fibers or artificial fibers made, shall not use calcium alginate sponge or wooden rod swab (including bamboo stick rod, etc.), and the head of the swab can not use cotton wrapped around the rod, because cotton fibers have a strong protein adsorption capacity, so it is not easy to be eluted to the subsequent preservation solution; and contains calcium alginate and wood components immersed in the preservation solution will also absorb proteins and even inhibit subsequent PCR reactions.

There are two types of swab rods, fracture type and built-in type

Generally the fracture type swab can be placed directly into the virus preservation solution after sampling by fracturing the swab at the fracture opening and discarding the tail, tightening the cap and sending it off for testing in a timely manner. This type of swab is also more common.

Built-in swab is the tube cover and swab is connected to a piece, directly after sampling the swab into the sampling tube tighten it, this does not need to break the swab directly after the sample can be sent directly to the test, this swab is generally used for dry collection.