Disposable sampling swabs, We believe you are familiar with them in the past two years because most of the testing tools used for nucleic acid testing (PCR tests) are disposable sampling swabs.
Usually, we see most nasal swabs and throat swabs, and the sampling swabs we commonly use are flocking swabs.
The flocking swab is a disposable sampling swab composed of a nylon short fibre fluff head and abs plastic rod.
Recently, there have been many concerns about rapid antigen detection on the Internet.
One of them is that if the “single-use sample collection swab” (sampling flocked swab) used in the antigen test is “non-sterile” and “non-sterile”. Bacteria” products. There are risks when using it.
Citizens disinfect the sampling swab with alcohol before conducting antigen testing at home? ( Alcohol disinfection is not advisable)
Experts and industry insiders say such concerns are unnecessary as long as qualified products are available through formal channels.
Discard damaged or contaminated swabs.
Specimen collection sterile flocked swab
Are there risks to using “non-sterile” “non-sterile” Specimen collection swabs?
There are two main issues that netizens worry about:
One is to worry about the “bacteria” of the sampling swab, which will affect the results of the antigen test, such as “false positives”;
The second is to worry about the “bacteria” of the sampling swab. During the sampling process, “bacteria” will enter the human body with the sampling swab and affect health.
Nasopharyngeal swab test
Regarding the effect of “bacteria” sampling swabs on antigen test results, experts said that this is a misunderstanding caused by confusing bacteria and viruses.
You know, the antigen test “looks” for the antibodies produced by people infected with the new coronavirus.
The display window of the reagent strip contains a protein that recognizes the antibody, like a dam, blocking the colloidal gold that binds the antibody to the virus. So it appears red in the display window.
Therefore, even if the sampling swab contains “bacteria”, the kit will “ignore” it and focus on “finding” the antibodies produced by the new coronavirus infected person.
Since the kit is not interfered with by “bacteria”, it will not affect the results of antigen detection.
For some people who think that “bacteria” sampling swabs will affect human health, experts say that this may be due to a lack of understanding of “sterile” products.
Sterile
The single-use Specimen collection swab can currently be applied for registration as a second-class medical device, and can also be registered as a first-class medical device (the third-class is the highest level) in the regulatory department.
If it is a Class II medical device, it must meet the sterility requirements when it leaves the factory. While a Class I medical device has no relevant requirements and can be listed in the state of “non-sterile” and “unsterilized”.
Experts said that “sterility” refers to the state of no viable microorganisms. All medical devices must meet certain hygienic requirements, such as strict control of the number of microorganisms before they can be qualified for the market.
Flocked Sterile Swabs
Flocked swabs are mainly used for oral and nasopharyngeal sampling, cervicovaginal sampling, and laboratory testing.
Sterile Flocked Nasopharyngeal Swab is a 100% nylon flocked swab that provides exceptional absorption quality with a flexible handle engineered to reach remote areas of the nasopharynx for specimen collection.
According to different uses, it can also include nasopharyngeal swabs, throat swabs, oral swabs, DNA swabs, and cervical swabs.
It is similar to the above classification, but it is slightly different.
For laboratory testing centres and hospitals.
flocked swab — CellMedical
What are the advantages of flocked Sterile swabs?
Using nylon fibre flocking technology. The front end of the swab has nylon staple fibres fixed vertically. By making the entire collection area of the swab free of absorbent holes. The sample does not scatter and become trapped in the fibres, facilitating faster and more efficient elution.
This makes flocked swabs ideal for PCR work, as flocked swabs are biocompatible and ideal for PCR work.