The main application of virus sampling tube?
For the collection, preservation and transportation of virus specimens such as novel coronavirus, influenza virus, avian influenza (e.g. H7N9), hand, foot and mouth virus, measles, etc., as well as mycoplasma, ureaplasma and chlamydia specimens.
Why choose a special virus sampling tube?
The quality of the collected samples is directly related to the subsequent testing. If improper collection tools and preservation liquids are used, the collected samples have low viral load and gradually decompose as the survival microenvironment changes, which can easily cause wrong test results and make it difficult to confirm the diagnosis.
Therefore, the use of special virus sampling tubes can guarantee the validity of the sample and reduce false negatives!
What conditions must a good virus sampling tube meet?
On the one hand, a good virus sampling tube can improve the abundance of virus at the time of sample collection, and on the other hand, it can ensure the maximum activity and integrity of virus particles, providing the first guarantee for subsequent virus isolation and nucleic acid detection.
① Sample validity aspects
- The activity of the pathogen infection factor must be maintained;
- The time between sample collection and laboratory testing must be met;
- It is necessary to limit or prevent the proliferation of commensal microorganisms to ensure the reliability of the diagnostic test;
- Maintain the integrity of the viral antigens and nucleic acids;
- The ability to maintain viral activity at ambient conditions.
Safety aspects
Virus sampling tubes are loaded with infectious substances, some of which are even highly pathogenic, so the requirements for packaging containers are very demanding and must also meet safety requirements
- Safety of transportation: to ensure that the sample does not leak during transportation.
- Safety of storage: to ensure that the sample does not leak during storage.
Considerations for the selection of sampling tubes
Virus Preservation Solution
There are two main types of preservation solutions in widespread use: one is a modified virus maintenance solution based on transport medium, and the other is a modified lysis solution based on nucleic acid extraction lysate. Since the collected samples may involve multiple testing methods, not only for nucleic acid extraction, but also for virus culture, isolation and antigen detection, etc.
It is recommended to choose virus maintenance solution, which can maintain the originality of the sample to the greatest extent possible, so that it can be used for a variety of assays. However, it is important to note that regardless of the type of reservoir chosen, the tubes should be strictly inactivated prior to testing.
Sampling tubes with preservative
It is advisable to use polyethylene - propylene polymer (Polyallomer) plastic and some special treatment of polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) plastic and other containers, which need to be airtight, resistant to high and low temperatures, and can be suitable for a variety of inactivation methods.
Sampling swab
Swab head should use synthetic fiber flocking is appropriate, should not choose cotton or calcium alginate sponge and other materials;
The material of the swab handle is recommended to use hollow polystyrene (PS) extruded tube or polypropylene (PP) injection indentation tube, not wooden sticks or bamboo sticks, etc. Because the wood stick or bamboo swab containing calcium alginate and wooden components will adsorb protein after breaking and soaking in the preservation solution, and even have an interfering effect on the subsequent test, the fiber of cotton has a stronger adsorption of protein and is not easily eluted.
The length of the swab should not be too short, and the fracture position should not be too close to the head of the swab to avoid contamination of the patient's body fluids during operation;
The fracture point should be reasonably positioned to avoid the risk of contamination caused by the outflow of liquid from the tube when the sampling tube is broken.
