Respiratory Specimen Collections

Today, with the increasingly severe international COVID-19 epidemic, the correct collection of respiratory samples has become an important prerequisite for ensuring the accuracy of nucleic acid detection results.

However, how to correctly collect respiratory samples? Cell medical (Dongguan) Co., Ltd. summarizes as follows:

Why should respiratory tract samples be collected standardized and correctly?

1. Clear diagnosis;

2. Observe the condition and treatment effect;

3. Guide the formulation of treatment measures;

4. Sample quality directly determines the reliability of test results.

What are the types of respiratory samples?

1. Upper respiratory tract samples (including swabs, nasal specimens, nasopharynx extracts, pharyngeal gargle and nasal lotion, etc.);

2. Lower respiratory tract samples (such as sputum, tracheal aspirate, lung lotion, etc.);

When is the best time to collect respiratory samples?

Respiratory tract samples were collected as soon as possible after symptoms appeared;

Collect as much as possible within 72 hours of the patient’s fever;

Try to collect before the use of antiviral drugs;

If possible, collect multiple times in multiple days;

What sampling tools are needed to collect respiratory tract samples?

1. Virus sampling kits, including flocked swab, virus sampling tube, virus transport medium, etc;

2. Refrigerated transport box;

3. Personal protective equipment: protective mask (N95), protective glasses.

How to collect respiratory tract samples?

Oropharyngeal swab sampling process:

Oropharyngeal swab sampling pictures

1. The sampler first let the patient sit down, then let the patient tilt his head back and open his mouth.

2. Press the front 2 / 3 of the patient’s tongue with a tongue depressor, and wipe the posterior pharyngeal wall and bilateral tonsils with a nylon flocked swab for 3-5 times to avoid touching the tongue.

3. Take out the rear sampling tube, break the plastic handle at the contact part of the hand, soak the swab into the sampling solution, and tighten the tube cover.

Nasopharyngeal swab:

Note : do not use too much force, but try to be as deep as possible, usually more than 5cm, stay for several seconds to absorb secretions, gently rotate and take out the swab, place the sampling tube, break the plastic ellipse at the contact part of the hand, and soak the test piece into the sampling solution, Tighten the pipe cover.