There are different types of microbiological swabs available in the market, what are the different characteristics of these swabs? How should I choose?
A: The swabs may all look similar, and there are cost savings in buying cheaper swabs. But if the bacteria or other microorganisms being transferred do not reach the lab safely, what are you really saving?
A transfer swab is really a kit that plays an important role in the timely and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Swab head
Is it just a swab? That's what it looks like from some information. But did you know that cotton products are toxic to bacteria. Cotton wool products contain a variety of fatty acids that can be toxic to bacteria if exposed to them for an extended period of time. Radiation sterilization of swabs actually exacerbates this situation because it causes fatty acids to precipitate out of these substances. If the swab is used immediately, such as for sensitivity testing in the laboratory, this does not have serious consequences; however, for swabs used in delivery devices, this can lead to a reduction in the number of microorganisms such as bacteria.
In addition, even if the correct material is used, some swab heads can still be wound too tightly, resulting in bacteria not being easily released - an important issue. The current focus is on "flocked swabs", where the swab head is made of fine nylon fibers that are glued to a molded plastic rod. The advantage of this swab is that the surface area is large and conducive to bacterial adhesion; it also facilitates the release of the stain and its attachment to the swab head to show the results. However, bacteria are not stains, and some may be more adhesive, and the actual amount released is not as expected.
Swab stick
Are they made of wood, metal wire, or plastic? What's the difference? Wooden products have the same problem as cotton products - precipitation of fatty acids, especially after irradiation. There is also the risk of breakage. Plastic swabbing sticks like polystyrene and polypropylene are preferable because they are inert for transporting media.
Choose a swab that is right for you. A standard plastic swab stick will meet most requirements, but for nasopharyngeal sample collection a slim and soft swab stick is needed, while for ENT and urethral sampling a slim but rigid swab stick is needed. In short, consider the ability of the swab head to release the organism.
Ltd. flocked sampling swab is composed of nylon short fiber fluffy head and medical grade ABS plastic rod, which is 3 times higher than traditional swab to collect and release samples, ensure the survival rate of cell samples, no residual fatty acid, no effect on the test detection effect, widely used in genetic testing field
