Environmental Swabbing in Food Safety

Environmental Swabbing in Food Safety : A Guide to Ensuring Clean and Safe Food Processing Areas

Environmental swabbing is an essential practice in food safety management, particularly for ensuring that food processing areas are microbiologically clean. It involves taking samples from surfaces, equipment, and utensils to test for harmful microorganisms that could cause foodborne illnesses.

Purpose of Environmental Swabbing

TOC Cleaning Verification Kits

  1. Cleaning Verification: Environmental swabbing helps verify whether the cleaning and sanitation programs in a food business are working as intended. Regular swabbing ensures that food contact surfaces and equipment are free from harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
  2. Pathogen Detection (Seek and Destroy): To find any harmful pathogens if there is concern about contamination.  Swabbing can detect pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria that could have been missed during routine cleaning.

Key Areas for Environmental Swabbing

  • Food Preparation Surfaces: Tables, counters, and cutting boards.
  • Equipment and Utensils: Knives, mixers, and other kitchen tools.
  • Storage Areas: Swabbing storage bins, shelves, or walk-in coolers can check for cross-contamination from improperly stored food items.
  • Floor and Walls: To check if these areas are being cleaned properly.

Swabbing Techniques

  • Agar Swabbing: Swabbing is done using a sterile swab that is then streaked across an agar plate. The plate is incubated, and any growth of microorganisms is measured. This can be done for total aerobic plate count (APC), or targeted testing for specific pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, etc.
  • ATP Testing: Some businesses may use ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) swabbing, which detects organic material that could indicate the presence of microbial contamination. This can provide a rapid result but doesn’t identify specific pathogens.
  • Dry vs. Wet Swabbing: Some methods use a moist swab (e.g., with saline solution) to increase the sample collection, while others use dry swabs that are subsequently moistened in a transport medium.
  • Surface Types: Different surfaces require different swabbing methods. For example, smooth surfaces like stainless steel are swabbed with a dry swab, while porous or textured surfaces like wood might require more thorough moist swabbing.

Cleaning Validation swabs

Steps in Environmental Swabbing

  1. Prepare the Area: Ensure the area to be swabbed is free of dust or visible debris before taking samples. This helps ensure that the test focuses on microbial contamination rather than environmental dirt.
  2. Collect Samples: Use sterile swabs that are pre-moistened or dry, depending on the test being conducted. Each swab should be used for a specific area or surface to ensure accuracy.
  3. Transport and Analyze Samples: The swabbed samples should be immediately transported to the laboratory or analyzed on-site, depending on the testing method. Common tests include microbial culture (for bacterial growth) or PCR tests (for genetic material of pathogens).
  4. Evaluate Results: After the samples are incubated, microbial growth or the absence thereof will be examined. Positive results can indicate the presence of specific pathogens, while negative results suggest the area is relatively clean.

Best Practices for Environmental Swabbing

  • Routine Swabbing: Make swabbing a part of the daily or weekly sanitation routine, especially for high-risk areas.
  • Record Keeping: Keep detailed records of where swabs were taken, the test results, and any follow-up actions. This documentation is crucial for compliance with food safety regulations.
  • Proper Training: Ensure staff are trained in proper swabbing techniques, and that the equipment used (swabs, media, containers) are sterile and suitable for the task.
  • Correct Sampling Locations: Select swabbing locations based on areas that are most likely to be contaminated (high-contact surfaces, food contact surfaces, or areas near food preparation).
  • Timely Follow-Up: If swabbing reveals contamination, take corrective actions immediately, such as enhancing sanitation procedures, changing cleaning agents, or repairing equipment.

Selecting the Right Method

According to the Food Authority’s guide, businesses should select an appropriate method based on:

  • Purpose of Testing: Is the goal cleaning verification or pathogen detection?
  • Risk Assessment: Consider which areas of the food business are most at risk for contamination.
  • Time and Resources: Some testing methods are quicker but less specific, while others may require more time but offer more comprehensive results.

Cleanroom 5″ Cleaning Polyester Swab Large Rectangular Head PS714

By following the Environmental Swabbing Guidelines, food business owners can ensure not only that their premises are clean in the traditional sense but also microbiologically safe for food production. This is key to protecting consumers from foodborne illnesses and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. Regular swabbing and effective cleaning verification can greatly reduce the risk of contamination, improve food safety practices, and support better overall hygiene in food processing environments.

Industrial Foam Swab : Your Precision Cleaning Solution

Industrial Foam Swab : Your Precision Cleaning Solution

In high-tech industries like electronics, optical manufacturing, and cleanroom environments, precision cleaning is crucial to ensure quality and performance. The FS752 Industrial Foam Swab, with its unique fingertip spiral head design, offers an advanced solution for meticulous cleaning tasks in hard-to-reach areas.

Product Overview

The Foam Swab is crafted from high-absorbency foam and specifically engineered to meet the strict demands of precision industries. The spiral tip enables precise cleaning, making it ideal for electronic components, optics, and other sensitive surfaces. Whether you’re removing dust from intricate equipment or ensuring a contamination-free surface, TX752 guarantees superior cleaning without leaving any residue.

YST-FS752 Long Spiral Pointed Tip Cleanroom Swab

The FS752 Cleanroom Swab is a highly sought-after cleaning tool, renowned for its effective dust collection and suitability for cleaning intricate components in the hard disk drive industry.

Key Features

  1. High Absorbency Foam Tip
    Made from 100% high-absorbency foam, the TX752 effectively picks up and locks in liquids, dust, and contaminants. This capability makes it ideal for use with cleaning agents like IPA or acetone, and for handling stubborn oils and grime.
  2. Spiral Tip Design for Precision
    spiral tip is designed to access tight spaces and grooves, ensuring thorough cleaning on delicate parts. It is perfect for cleaning complex surfaces such as electronic connectors and optical lenses.
  3. Low Particle Shedding for Cleanroom Use
    The foam material is processed to minimize particle shedding, ensuring that FS752 is compatible with ultra-clean environments. This is essential for industries like semiconductor manufacturing, where cleanliness is paramount.
  4. Eco-Friendly, No Harmful Chemicals
    Free from silicones, amides, and phthalates, FS752 is safe to use on sensitive surfaces without risking corrosion or contamination.
  5. Durable, Ergonomic Design
    With a polypropylene handle designed for strength and comfort, the FS752 provides easy handling and long-lasting durability.
  6. Wide Application Range
    • Electronics: Perfect for cleaning circuit boards, chips, and connectors.
    • Cleanroom Use: Ensures spotless surfaces in contamination-controlled environments.
    • Optical Equipment: Ideal for lens and component cleaning.
    • Pharmaceutical and Food Industries: Meets the high cleanliness requirements for equipment cleaning.
    • Mechanical Components: Excellent for cleaning parts with grooves and hard-to-reach areas.

Specifications

 

Specifications Details
Head Material High-absorbency foam
Head Width 3.6mm
Head Thickness 3mm
Head Length 13.5mm
Handle Material Polypropylene
Handle Length 53.5mm
Total Length 67mm
Packaging 500 swabs/bag (5 inner bags of 100)

ESD-Safe Spiral Pointed Foam Swab FS752

Industry Applications

  1. Electronics: Cleans sensitive parts such as PCBs, displays, and chips effectively.
  2. Cleanrooms: Low-particle shedding design ensures no contamination in highly controlled environments.
  3. Optics: Perfect for cleaning lenses, sensors, and fiber optic connectors.
  4. Pharmaceutical & Food: Safe for use in environments requiring no contamination.
  5. Automotive: Ideal for delicate cleaning of dashboards, displays, and electronic components.

Why Choose FS752?

The FS752 Industrial Foam Swab delivers exceptional cleaning power with a design optimized for precision. From electronics and optics to food processing and pharmaceutical settings, the 752 is trusted for its ability to safely and efficiently clean the most sensitive surfaces. Its unique spiral tip design, high absorbency, and low-particle release make it a reliable tool across various industries.

For those seeking an efficient, high-quality cleaning solution that meets the rigorous standards of modern industry, the 752 Industrial Foam Swab is the ultimate choice.

Ensure Precision and Safety with Professional Endoscope Cleaning Tools

Ensure Precision and Safety with Professional Endoscope Cleaning Tools

Endoscopes are essential tools used in medical procedures to look inside the body, such as in gastroscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, and more. These instruments are delicate, and proper cleaning is crucial to ensure they work correctly, stay safe, and last longer.

At YOUSUTO, we understand the importance of endoscope cleaning. That’s why we specialize in designing and manufacturing a full range of high-quality endoscope cleaning tools, including brushes, swabs, and custom cleaning kits.

For the delicate and precise nature of endoscope care, ensuring that your equipment remains in peak condition, providing accurate results for each examination.

Endoscope Cleaning Swab Brush

Why Proper Endoscope Cleaning Matters

Endoscopes come into contact with bodily fluids, oils, and debris during medical procedures. If not cleaned properly, these can build up and affect the endoscope’s performance. Regular cleaning is key to preventing contamination, ensuring accurate results, and maintaining patient safety.

By choosing the right cleaning tools, you can help extend the life of your endoscopes and keep them performing at their best for every procedure.

Our Professional Cleaning Tools

We offer a comprehensive range of endoscope cleaning tools designed to meet the specific needs of medical professionals. Whether you need to clean the working channel, rigid instruments, valves, or external components, our cleaning brushes and swabs ensure the highest standards of hygiene and performance. Here’s why our products stand out:

  1. Precision Design for Perfect Fit
    To match the specifications of most major endoscope brands, including gastroscopes, colonoscope, bronchoscope, and others. Whether you need to clean the working channel or external parts, our tools ensure thorough cleaning for every part of your device.
  2. Highly Effective Cleaning
    Our brushes reach deep into endoscope channels and tight spaces, removing debris that could affect performance.
  3. Quality Materials for Durability and Safety
    Made from high-quality materials, including pig bristle, nylon filaments, and stainless steel wire. These materials ensure durability and efficiency in cleaning while being gentle on sensitive surfaces to prevent any damage to delicate endoscope parts.
  4. Manufactured in Controlled Environments
    All our cleaning products are produced in ISO-certified cleanrooms, ensuring they meet the highest hygiene and safety standards. We adhere to strict quality control processes, ensuring every product is free from contaminants and ready for use in medical settings.

Custom Cleaning Kits for Every Need

We understand that different endoscope models have different cleaning requirements. That’s why we offer custom cleaning kits that include 2 to 5 essential components tailored to your specific cleaning needs. These kits come with brushes, swabs, and other tools to thoroughly clean various parts of your endoscope, allowing for more efficient and effective maintenance.

Our customizable cleaning kits ensure that you have the right tools on hand for each procedure, whether it’s regular cleaning or deep cleaning for stubborn build-up. With our kits, you can confidently maintain your endoscopes and keep them in top condition for years to come.

Key Features of Our Endoscope Cleaning Tools

  1. Total Length and Handle Design:
    We offer tools with varying lengths to match different endoscope sizes. Some have looped handles for easy use, while others are designed for straight handling.
  2. Brush Tip Diameter:
    The diameter of the brush tip is crucial to the cleaning process. With an optimal tip diameter, ensuring they effectively clean the inner channels without damaging sensitive endoscope surfaces. The diameter is carefully calibrated based on the design of each endoscope type.
  3. Wire Material and Thickness:
    We use stainless steel and iron wire for the central wire of the brush. This ensures strength and flexibility, allowing you to clean deep inside the endoscope’s channels.
  4. Brush Tip Closure:
    The brush tip also plays a role in the quality of cleaning. Some of our brushes feature closed tips, which prevent fibers from shedding during cleaning, enhancing both the safety and effectiveness of the cleaning process.
  5. Brush Hair Material:
    Our brushes feature a variety of materials for the bristles, including pig bristle, nylon, stainless steel, copper wire, and abrasive fibers. Based on their cleaning efficiency and their ability to reach into crevices and remove tough debris without harming the endoscope.
  6. Durable and Safe Materials:
    Made from non-corrosive, biocompatible materials, ensuring they are safe to use with cleaning agents and won’t cause damage to your endoscope.

Why Choose Us?

  1. Expertly Designed Products
    Designed by professionals who understand the complexities of endoscope care. Each product is tailored to deliver the highest level of performance in cleaning, ensuring that your endoscopes remain in pristine condition.
  2. High-Quality Manufacturing
    We manufacture all our products in controlled environments, following ISO standards for cleanliness and product quality. You can trust that our products will provide reliable, safe, and effective cleaning every time.
  3. Customized Solutions
    Our flexible approach means we can provide customized cleaning kits and tools that cater to the specific needs of your medical facility, ensuring you get the right product for each type of endoscope.
  4. Reliable Customer Service
    We offer excellent customer support to help you select the best products for your needs. Our team is always available to answer questions and provide guidance on the best cleaning solutions for your endoscopes.

Endoscopes are vital medical instruments that require regular and thorough cleaning. By using the right cleaning tools, you can extend the life of your equipment, ensure it performs well, and maintain patient safety.

At YOUSUTO, we provide top-quality endoscope cleaning brushes, swabs, and kits to help you maintain your equipment in perfect condition.

Choose YOUSUTO to keep your endoscopes clean, safe, and ready for every procedure.

Nylon Flocked Swab Sample Kit

Nylon Flocked Swab Sample Kit

Nylon Flocked Swab Sample Kit

Our sterile CellMedical® flocked nasopharyngeal swab provides excellent specimen absorption and elution EO sterilized and individually packaged in peel pouches 100% Made in the USA Nylon flocked tip 6″ overall length with 0.7″ long flocked tip.

Nylon Flocked Swab Sample Kit

Nylon Flocked Swab Sample Kit

Why Flocked Swabs Provide Superior Specimen Collection

Product Description

TECHNICAL FEATURES
INDICATIONS FLOCKED SWAB(Nasopharyngeal and Throat)
Material Nylon Flocked tip, oral type with ABS handle, nasal type with pp handle
Specification
  1. Nasopharyngeal Type    2) Throat Type
Length of Handle 151cm+-1cm
Break Point Nasopharyngeal swab:8cm / Throat swab: 3cm
Cotton Specification Nasopharyngeal swab flocked part: 2.5cm length/3mm diameter
Throat swab flocked part:2.2cm length/6mm diameter
COMPLIANCE TO STANDARDS Directive 93/42/EEC. Class IS medical device.
Compliant to ISO EN 13485: 2016
PACKING
EXPORT PACKING 1pcs/blister, 100pcs/bags, 100bags/carton, carton:60x40x48cm
STORAGE Temperature: 0÷+40ºC Relative Humidity: 20%÷80%
EXPIRY EO sterilization and 5 years from production date indicated on the package
                            Other Opitional
Model       Technical Feature Package
NLD602-1  Flocked Swab With Tube 100 pcs/bag, 20 bags/carton, carrton:44X37X34cm
                            DESCRIPTION
disposable use, destroyed after use
Pls donnot use it if expired or package damage
Flocked Swabs and Custom Swab Manufacturing

COVID-19: Main Symptoms

The three main symptoms of “new crown”: are fatigue, brain fog and muscle pain, the specific manifestations vary from person to person. Other more common persistent symptoms include shortness of breath, chills, body aches, headache, joint pain, chest pain, cough, and persistent loss of taste or smell.

Flocked Swabs and Custom Swab Manufacturing

ISO13485 Quality Management System Disposable Sampling Swab Production Quality Standard Sterile Swab.

 Forgetfulness, anxiety: “I feel useless”

Many people with long-term symptoms report cognitive impairment or memory loss that affects their ability to make everyday decisions, speak, follow directions and drive, and impair their quality of life.

Xiao Liu (pseudonym) works in British media. Three years ago, he suffered from depression. He largely recovered before contracting Covid-19 in November 2021 and has stopped taking antidepressants. But after she contracted Covid-19, the depression returned. The doctor assessed and judged that one of the symptoms of the new crown-brain fog persisted.

“After I got the new crown, I felt that I was ‘brainless’, I didn’t want to do anything, and I was extremely anxious.”

It starts with cold-like symptoms, headache, cough, fever, and loss of taste and smell. There are also chest tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, unresponsiveness, anxiety, etc.

“The overall condition is not good, and the weight has lost four kilograms”

After Xiao Liu fell ill, the children became sensible. I get up every morning looking for a school uniform to wear, and my 11-year-old will scramble eggs, eat breakfast, and go to school alone. My brother was hungry at night, so he cooked instant noodles and ate them together.

Flocked swab

Flocked swab

Xiao Liu remembers coughing for three weeks, being bedridden for a month, and then taking a long sick leave of more than three months.

“I couldn’t get out of bed to cook at all. The children ate takeaways every day, and my mouth ulcers had developed for a long time. Fortunately, some friends helped us and often brought us home-cooked food. At that time, the volunteers in the community even gave me anti-inflammatory drugs. Depression. Come to my house and make sure I take it on time. My family doctor advised me to call my psychiatrist again.”

“The biggest motivator for me was the several home visits from the social worker in charge of child welfare. The kind help made me extremely anxious and insomniac, and I felt like an incompetent mother who couldn’t do even the most basic things to take care of her children.” Covid has cost me! It’s unacceptable to me.”

“Regular doctor consultations and cordial greetings from unit leaders also made me feel like I was a burden. I didn’t want to be sick all the time. Everyday burnout and bedridden made me feel like I was useless.” “

For a long time, Xiao Liu felt that he had Alzheimer’s disease. Can’t remember anything, looking for something every day. It takes a few repetitions to understand what the doctor says. Sometimes after calling in the morning to confirm, call in the afternoon to ask.

“Sometimes I don’t know if I have taken medicine or not. Once I enter the kitchen, I forget what I am doing. I look at the pills with a water glass and ask myself if I just took the medicine or not?”

Because of the confusion caused by many small things, Xiao Liu deeply doubts his ability to do things. She feels that she must first learn to forgive herself and accept herself who is often tired and forgetful now.

Xiao Liu said that now he wants to make himself happier and more optimistic by doing one small thing every day. Doctors want to taper off antidepressants over a year.

Fatigue: “Three hours of sleep when I get back from the store”

Severe fatigue is by far the most common symptom of COVID-19. Other symptoms include muscle pain, hearing and vision problems, headaches, loss of taste and smell, damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and intestines, diarrhea, and mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and distraction, and stupor.

Before being diagnosed with “coronavirus”, she had been suffering from persistent fatigue, fever, and loss of smell and taste for months, for which she consulted several doctors of different specialties.

At first, my temperature rose slightly, I felt dizzy, and then my throat started to hurt. A day later, my fever reached 38.5°C. 

Later, I went for a checkup and received treatment. 

After three weeks of conventional viral infection treatment, tachycardia was found, while fatigue symptoms did not decrease.

Frequent blood tests, blood pressure measurements, and lung monitoring are performed. After taking antibiotics and vitamins for three weeks, the treatment failed, and he underwent ENT, pulmonology, cardiology, virology, rheumatology and immunology tests. Found chronic sinusitis, and heart adhesion, but not sure if it is caused by the new crown, it was still there before.

After a month, blood cell counts stabilized, but mental and physical fatigue and fever persisted.

For seven months, I was unable to concentrate, disoriented, felt hot, shivering, tired, didn’t know when it was going to pass, and felt scared every day.

At the doctor’s advice, make a “resurrection” plan, start walking, but take breaks from time to time, sleep at least three hours after going to the store or spend an hour in front of the computer.

The child is doing nucleic acid nasopharyngeal testing

The child is doing nucleic acid nasopharyngeal testing

Feeling changes, headaches, fatigue and brain fog are just a few of the symptoms of ‘coronavirus’

 Cognitive Function and Brain Fog: “IQ Decreases…”

“I’m not back to normal, from a cognitive standpoint, I’m not back to where I was before the coronavirus, in terms of focus, agility, flexibility… a year and a half later, I feel like I’ve only lost 30-40 %”. she says. % has been restored. I’m not the same as before, my IQ has dropped. “

“After a year and a half, after a lot of hard work, a lot of self-discipline, and all things considered, my condition has improved. I have anxiety (cognition) and I won’t fully recover, but I’m slowly accepting the possibility.”

Mrsa Nasal Swab

Mrsa Nasal Swab

The way to prevent MRSA transmission in hospitals is to screen high-risk patients admitted to the hospital for MRSA, and then isolate those who screen positive.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasingly rampant, and its infection spreads almost all over the world. Together with AIDS and hepatitis B, it has become the three most difficult infectious diseases in the world. How to prevent and controlling MRSA has become a problem that cannot be ignored.

The long-term treatment of MRSA infection, in addition to the direct economic burden on patients, will also generate some indirect costs, such as isolation, disinfection and so on. Strict detection and control measures should be proposed in response to the prevalence of MRSA. MRSA screening is an important part of this.

MRSA is one of the major pathogens of nosocomial infections. The epidemiology and microbiology of MRSA vary around the world and provide an important basis for developing strategies to prevent and control its infection.

MRSA can be classified into hospital-associated, community-acquired, community-associated, and livestock-associated. Community-associated and livestock-associated MRSA are relatively recent, and this article focuses on hospital-associated MRSA.

At present, the optimal screening strategy and expansion scope of MRSA colonized or infected patients are still controversial.

Which patients should be screened for MRSA?

Flu Test Throat Swab China Factory And Manufacturers

A throat-flocked swab for influenza is more accurate. Throat swab testing for influenza is very fast, economical, and simple.

Proponents of universal screening claim that this strategy significantly increases the detection rate of MRSA carriers. Others argue that universal screening protocols are too expensive and that patients with risk factors for MRSA colonization should be tested.

Universal screening may make it easier to identify MRSA carriers and those at high risk of infection.

The Scottish Health Technology Assessment study showed that universal screening as part of a programme to control MRSA is potentially effective and cost-effective.

The MRSA screening clinical risk assessment questionnaire in this study included the following questions:

(1) Does the patient have a history of MRSA colonization or infection?

(2) Where has the patient been other than his own home?

(3) Did the patient have wounds or ulcers, and whether there were prostheses or medical implants in the body before admission?

But then a large prospective study including nearly 70,000 patients showed that screening all patients admitted to “high-risk” specialties (intensive care, orthopedics, nephrology, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery), based on the above Targeted screening of other hospital admissions for the three questions, combined with clinical risk assessment, can achieve similar detection rates and significantly reduce costs.

 Although high in-hospital prevalence is associated with MRSA, key risk factors may vary by country.

Risk factors for MRSA colonization in adults in emergency care settings:

(1) Hospitalized in the past 24 months.

(2)  a long-term care facility or rehabilitation facility within the past 18 months.

(3) an intensive care unit in the past 5 years.

(4) In-hospital transfer.

(5) Received surgical intervention within the past 60 months.

(6) Indwelling urinary catheter.

(7) Antibiotics used in the past 12 months.

(8) There is skin damage.

(9) History of MRSA colonization in the past.

(10) Chronic health comorbidity assessment grade C or D (patient severely restricted in activity due to chronic disease or bedridden).

(11) The presence of terminal disease.

(12) Male.

When should MRSA screening begin?

Eligibility for screening of all other admitted patients should be based on local policy and screening as early as possible. Ensure that appropriate interventions are applied as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection in the patient and avoid infecting others.

How to screen for MRSA?

Nasal Swab Test

A nasopharyngeal culture is a test that examines a sample of secretions from the uppermost part of the throat, behind the nose,

Standard screening swabs should include (a) nasal and perineal swabs or (b) nasal and pharyngeal swabs. 

(1) The optimal protocol and screening range for MRSA screening are still controversial.

(2) Clinicians must understand and implement local MRSA colonization patient screening and management policies.

(3) Standard screening swabs should include (a) nasal and perineal swabs or (b) nasal and pharyngeal swabs as a minimum screening to identify colonized or infected patients. For whom subsequent Manage to reduce the spread of MRSA, including close contact protection, decolonization, and isolation.

(4) Time boundaries should be provided for the acquisition of screening results so that effective interventions minimize the risk of infection and transmission to others.

To sum up, it is suggested that in relatively underdeveloped medical institutions, we may directly carry out decolonization interventions for high-risk groups, and perhaps do not need to do the screening. Because the cost of screening is indeed very high, many hospitals do not have rapid screening facilities. technology. Direct decolonization or direct isolation of high-risk groups may result in intervention for some uncolonized high-risk patients, but it may be more cost-effective than full screening.

 

Sterile Foam Tipped Applicator

Sterile Foam or Flocked Tipped Applicator

Sterile Foam or Flocked Tipped Applicator

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia in 2020 on a global scale has brought significant losses to human society. Viral nucleic acid detection plays a key role in epidemic prevention and control.

As the first step in viral nucleic acid detection, specimen collection is an indispensable link.

The amount of virus collected and released by sampling swabs is directly related to the positive rate of nucleic acid detection. As the gold standard, nucleic acid detection plays an important role in virus detection, and the role of swabs as a sample collection tool should not be underestimated. Among them, throat swabs and nasal swabs are most commonly used, and anal swabs are also used as auxiliary tests.

During the epidemic, researchers from various countries analysed and found that the efficiency of flocking nasal swab sampling and the acquisition of virus samples were the best.

At the same time, in order to solve the problem of the shortage of nasal swabs.

Nasal swabs

Nasal swabs

The researchers proposed a combined sampling method of oropharyngeal and nasal swabs to achieve the same effect as nasal swabs.

As the main tool for sampling, swabs have important applications in the fields of forensics, clinical medicine, and environmental testing.

Swabs of different materials, such as rayon, foam, polyurethane, polyester, flocked nylon, etc., will have different structures and performance differences and have different collection effects for different specimens such as protein and nucleic acid, which will affect the detection.

The selection of appropriate swabs according to different sampling samples and testing indicators is very important for testing, and the proper use of swabs is also very important for sample collection and the safety of medical staff.

Flocked Swabs and Custom Swab Manufacturing

ISO13485 quality management system for producing disposable sampling swabs, quality standards, and sterile swabs.

Nylon flocking swabs–small nylon fibres to a moulded plastic rod.

This production process significantly increases the surface area of ​​the nylon swab, which is conducive to the adsorption of bacteria and easy release.

Oral Foam Swabs 104mm (with 22mm breakpoint)

Oral Foam Swabs 104mm (with 22mm breakpoint)

The sponge swab is soft in texture and has numerous tiny pores. It has strong adsorption to liquid, can collect more target analytes, increase the number of samples collected, and can release a large number of samples without defibrillation.

How to elute, etc., which will affect the test results. Many factors can affect the swab sampling results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cotton swab used to poke the throat or nose during the nucleic acid test of the new crown should be called an aseptic sampling swab, also called a pharyngeal swab. According to different sampling sites, including nasopharyngeal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs.

The swab is in direct contact with the nasopharynx or oropharynx to absorb the secretion sample, then put the head with the secretion into the culture solution, break the handle through the breakpoint, seal the lid and send it for testing.

Nasopharyngeal Sampling Procedure

Nasopharyngeal Sampling Procedure

In this process, the swab involves two links: sampling and elution (release the collected sample into the culture medium). The choice of different materials will affect the efficiency of sampling and release, and also affect the correctness of PCR detection. There are certain requirements for the material of the sampling swab.

PCR TEST

According to different materials, common swabs can be divided into medical cotton swabs, foam swabs and flocking swabs.

Several reports have shown that the sensitivity of medical cotton swabs in collecting respiratory samples is low, and natural fibres such as cotton have strong adsorption to proteins, which is not conducive to the subsequent release in the culture medium.

Generally, cotton swabs also have wooden handles, which may adsorb proteins during storage and interfere with virus detection. In addition, the wooden handle is too hard to break, and can also cause safety problems when sampling.

The US CDC recommends that the swab head material— synthetic fibres. The use of calcium alginate swabs or swabs with wooden shafts may inactivate certain viruses and reduce Accurate substances.

Flocked Sterile Swabs

Sterile Flocked Nasopharyngeal Swab: a 100% nylon flocked swab that provides exceptional absorption quality.

We produce flocked swabs, VTM kits, virus transport medium, and Specimen Collection Swab with multiple automatic production lines.

Including automatic VTM tube production line, OEM VTM Tube, Flocked Swab Production Line, etc.

We support custom production, OEM and so on, and develop products with customers.

Flocked Swabs For Sample Collection

Flocked Swabs For Sample Collection

The nucleic acid test (PCR TEST) uses a flocked swab instead of a cotton swab.

Flocking is a craft, not a material

   Flocking is not the fluff of any plant, but a very common fabric treatment process.

         Widely used in the textile industry, automobile manufacturing, printing industry, chemical industry and other fields.

   The flocking process means vertical fixing of some cut or milled short fibres to some kind of adhesive-coated surface. Short fibres are usually nylon, polyester, or other artificial fibers. The range of planting them is very wide, and surfaces such as cloth, plastic, wood, leather, paper, etc. can be flocked.

  Flocking only needs three things, 1, short fibers; 2, adhesive, 3, some kind of surface

   Flocking is very common in everyone’s life, just usually without realizing it. For example, flocking fabrics can be found on clothes, curtains, carpets, and furniture. Usually, those surfaces that are fluffy and comfortable to the touch are brought by the flocking process.

   In addition to the decorative effect, the flocking technology has also been tried by scientists to make graphene lithium battery anode sheets; make special lipophilic and hydrophobic materials to absorb marine oil spills, etc.

The principle of flocking

   At present, the most commonly used flocking method is electrostatic flocking. After the fluff enters the high-voltage electric field, it contacts the negative electrode and is negatively charged. 

   Don’t worry if some fibers fall to the side and don’t stick to the side. After they touch the positive electrode side, the negative charges on the surface are completely neutralized, and they will fall to the negative end due to the force of the electrostatic electric field. Repeat the above movement until they are all stuck.

Flocked swabs for nucleic acid testing

   The flocking swabs used for nucleic acid detection are mostly “planted” with nylon short fibers. The reason for choosing flocked nylon over cotton swabs is the functional need for sampling.

Flocked swab

Flocked swab

Any material design is purposeful, and flocked swabs for nucleic acid detection need to meet the following characteristics:

    ② After the swab is put into the preservation solution, it has to “let go” to release the biological sample, and it cannot hold the sample firmly for a second or divide it. ③ It cannot react with biological samples and destroy the samples.

   Because cotton itself has superior hydrophilicity and adsorption, once it comes into contact with the sample, it is like the characters in Qiongyao play. In contrast, nylon flocked swabs are like a scumbag “can take it and put it down.

   Therefore, the collection and release volume of nylon flocking swabs is much larger than that of traditional winding cotton swabs. Experimental studies have shown that the collection and release volume of flocking swabs can reach 95% of the samples, while cotton swabs are only about 20%.

  In fact, the ability of cotton swabs to grasp the sample is not bad, but after inserting the preservation solution, the flocked swab can quickly let go of the sample to be eluted, but the cotton swab will make the cells stuck in the fiber mass and cannot be separated.

 Otherwise, the nucleic acid will be degraded before the detection begins, and the correct result will definitely not be detected.

   Because of this, it is superfluous to worry that nylon is a synthetic fiber that is harmful to the human body. Flocked fibers have even been tried in regenerative medicine to help repair damaged bones and cartilage. By implanting the flocked fibrous scaffold, the properties of the extracellular matrix are modeled, allowing stem cells to adhere to it to proliferate and differentiate; and provide sufficient space for the newly synthesized matrix and capillaries to enter.

Flocked Swabs and Custom Swab Manufacturing

Flocked Swabs and Custom Swab Manufacturing

When it comes to flocking sampling swabs, many people may only know that they are used for sampling by name, but they may not know the specific details. So what are flocking sampling swabs usually used for?

COVID-19 Testing Sampling

Throat swab: Professional operation is required, because the throat is more prone to injury, flocking swabs are the first choice.

ISO13485 quality management system for the production of disposable sampling swabs, quality standards, sterile swabs, disposable oral swabs, DNA flocking swabs, flocking swabs, foam swabs, disposable sterile swabs, disposable DNA swabs, Disposable virus sampling tube, oral cotton swab, sponge cotton swab, cloth tip cotton swab, cotton swab, medical cotton swab flocking swab.

Our factory specializes in the production and operation of: medical equipment flocking cotton swabs. Flocking sampling swabs: (DNA sampling swabs, cleaning verification cotton swabs); DNA extraction reagents and other products. The company has the right to import and export, and has obtained the certificate of free sale of medical equipment. Products are exported to Europe, America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Japan and South Korea. Send the sample to the laboratory for analysis. High quality sampling swab wholesale factory.

 

1. What is a flocking swab?

Flocking refers to the process of applying multiple lengths of fibers to an adherent coated surface; if the tip of the swab is flocked, it is a flocked swab. It is a disposable sampling swab composed of nylon short fiber fluff head and abs plastic rod. For oral nasopharynx, sampling, cervicovaginal sampling, laboratory testing, etc.

Flocked sampling swab samples are easy to collect.

Flocked sampling swab samples are easy to collect.

2. What are the advantages of flocking swabs for DNA collection?

Sample collection process: The unique structure of the flocked swab tip can greatly increase the number of samples collected

Sample extraction process: The brush-shaped layer structure can release approximately the entire collected sample.

3. Why use flocking sampling swabs? You will know after reading the comparison below.

Conventional fiber swab: The sample is trapped by the gaps in the fiber mass, that is, the sample is penetrated, diluted, and trapped in the fiber. The acquisition is slow, the release is even slower.

 

 

 

Nylon flocked swabs: Superior sample collection/release capability, >80% release rate

The time for flocking swabs to collect samples is 3-5 seconds, while the time for cotton swabs is 15-120 seconds, or even longer, which causes pressure on staff during the diagnosis process. Only faster sample extraction can complete the collection and analysis more efficiently.

3. Why are flocking swabs more advantageous for micro DNA collection?

Due to the internal structure of traditional cotton swabs, which are entangled with cotton fibers at the top, the sample will be dispersed by its fiber clusters and remain in the fibers during sampling, resulting in lower precipitation efficiency of DNA with low content, and even causing false negatives in the test. result.

The unique structure of the top of the flocking swab can almost completely extract and separate out a very small amount of DNA, so the flocking swab has a more obvious advantage in the collection of trace DNA.

3, ethylene oxide sterilization, independent packaging;

sampling step

Flocked Swabs and Custom Swab Manufacturing

Flocked Swabs and Custom Swab Manufacturing

Swab Step 1: Hold the handle and gently insert the sampling swab into the mouth.

Step 2: Gently rotate the sampling swab for 3-5 turns, then slowly take it out

Step 3: Put the extracted sample into the sample collection tube, break the handle, and seal it immediately to complete the sampling.

The newly developed sampling swab nylon flocked sampling swab head has soft flocking hair, and the absorption and release force is 3 times greater than that of trapping microorganisms in traditional sampling swabs, and it will not cause epithelial damage to patients.

The short nylon fibre acts like a soft brush, which can effectively improve the collection of cellular material; the capillary movement between the fibers forms a strong hydraulic pressure, thereby ingesting the liquid sample; at the same time, the sample is close to the surface of the swab and is easy to elute.

Flu Test Throat Swab China Factory And Manufacturers

Flu Test Throat Swab China Factory And Manufacturers

Influenza requires a throat swab test. Tests can be used to determine whether a patient is infected with the flu virus, and then targeted treatment can be given.

Influenza patients will have symptoms of dry cough, and they will also have dry cough symptoms after being infected with the new coronavirus, so throat swab tests should be performed for patients who have been in contact with people infected with the new coronavirus or who have been to the epidemic area. Patients infected with the new coronavirus generally do not need a throat swab test to determine whether they are infected with the new coronavirus.

Covid Test Throat Swab

Covid Test Flu Throat Swab

The throat swab detection process is as follows: the tested person needs to sit facing the sampler, raise his chin, and open his mouth wide. in special equipment.

These tests include reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), viral culture, and immunofluorescence assays. All we require is that a health care provider swipe the inside of your nose or the back of your throat with a swab and then send the swab for testing. Results may take one to several hours.

Accuracy of throat swabs for influenza.

A throat flocked swab for influenza is more accurate, but there are no authoritative experimental statistics for its specific accuracy.

Throat swab testing for influenza is very fast, economical, and simple, but if the throat swab is negative.

It does not mean that there is no Influenza that may be caused by contamination of specimens, improper sampling of specimens, etc.

And comprehensive judgment should be made in combination with clinical symptoms, epidemiological history, and antigen testing.

When taking a throat swab for influenza, insert the swab completely into the throat from the oral cavity, and moderately wipe the bilateral pharyngeal tonsils and posterior pharyngeal wall with the throat wall and the reddened part of the palatine tonsil as the centre. But avoid touching the tongue. Then remove the test strip. Insert the sampled swab into the solution in the sample extraction tube

So that the specimen is dissolved in the solution as much as possible, and the results can be observed within 15 to 20 minutes.

After more than 30 minutes, the displayed results are usually not clinically meaningful.

If there are two red lines or three red lines in the patient, it means that the throat swab test for influenza is positive.

And there are two red lines, which usually means that there is influenza A or B. If it is three red lines, it means that it is a mixed infection of influenza A and B.

If only one red line appears, the throat swab is negative.

If the reaction line does not appear, the test is invalid, and it is recommended to use a new test card to test again.

Is it a cold or the flu? How to distinguish?

1. Influenza: fast and furious,

If you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck, you might have the flu. Symptoms such as sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches, congestion and cough can come on suddenly. Colds are usually less intense and include a runny or stuffy nose. The flu gets better in 2 to 5 days, but you may feel the discomfort for a week or more. Colds come on slowly and last up to 10 days.

2. Fever: Usually means the flu

While some people have a mild fever when they catch a cold, most do not. If you have the flu, your body temperature may reach 38-40°C. The flu tends to be higher in children, and children may also be more likely to develop a fever.

3. Flu: Fatigue can last for weeks

You may start to feel very tired and sore. Fatigue and weakness can last up to 3 weeks, and even longer in older people and people with long-term (chronic) illnesses or weakened immune systems. Colds are self-limiting and you usually get better within a few days, usually 1 week to 10 days.

4. Cold and flu: Both can cause headaches

Like other symptoms caused by a cold, headaches that accompany a cold are still milder than those caused by the flu.

5. Cough: Both colds and flu can cause

Colds and flu are respiratory illnesses that both affect your airways, so both can cause a cough.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be a complication of the flu. If you have a persistent cough, fever higher than 38°C, chills, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or chest pain, please seek medical attention in time.

6. Earache: Maybe from a cold or the flu

Congestion from either disease can raise the pressure in your ears. This affects the Eustachian tube, where the larynx and middle ear communicate. It may cause dull ear pain, hearing loss, and a “popping” feeling in the ears. These symptoms will disappear as the disease improves.

If other symptoms get better and the earache persists or you experience sudden, intense pain, see your doctor. You may have an ear infection that needs treatment.

7. Colds: Usually starts with a sore throat

These early symptoms tend to last 1 to 2 days, and a runny nose and nasal congestion are also common. A sore throat also accompanies the flu, but if it’s the flu, you may feel tired and have other symptoms right away.

8. Stuffy nose: Could mean a cold

Simple nasal congestion without fever and general tiredness tends to lead to a cold, although many flu sufferers also say they have nasal congestion and sneezing.

Both colds and flu can cause sinus infections. In addition to a thick yellow or green snot, a sinus infection can also cause headaches and pain in the forehead, cheeks, and bridge of the nose. Sudden head movements or strains can make the pain worse.

9. Flu throat swabs can quickly identify the flu

Flu Test Throat Swab China Factory And Manufacturers

Flu Test Throat Swab China Factory And Manufacturers

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The quickest way to find out about your illness is to go to the hospital for a checkup.

A nasal or throat swab can usually tell you if you have the flu virus in 30 minutes or less. If a test shows you have the flu and your symptoms started within the past 48 hours, your doctor may recommend antiviral medication to help you recover faster.

10. Influenza: start antiviral drugs as soon as possible

These medications can give you relief and shorten your condition within 1 to 2 days, especially if you start taking them within 2 days of getting sick. Over-the-counter medications can also relieve symptoms such as coughing and congestion. Read labels and directions carefully so you know what the medicines do and how to use them.

11. Colds: Over-the-counter medications can ease symptoms

12. Hand washing is key

Washing your hands is very important to protect yourself and not spread the flu to others. Wash your hands with soap and warm water, preferably the six-step method. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.

Wash your face frequently during cold and flu season, especially after coughing, sneezing, or having a runny nose. What if I can’t find a tissue? Face your elbow when sneezing or coughing instead of covering your mouth with your hand.

13. Get vaccinated

There is now a flu vaccine that protects against the flu, and it’s made from a protein from the previous year’s flu cases. It helps your body prepare to recognize and fight when you’re exposed to the virus again. Note: The flu shot won’t give you the flu!

The flu shot is very important for children over 6 months of age, pregnant women, adults 50 years and older, and people with long-term (chronic) illnesses or weakened immune systems.