Collection Instructions

Anterior Nasal Swab Collection in Viral Transport Medium
  1. Insert a nasal swab 1 to 1.5 cm into a nostril. Rotate the swab against the inside of the nostril for 3 seconds while applying pressure with a finger to the outside of the nostril.
  2. Repeat on the other nostril with the same swab, using external pressure on the outside of the other nostril. To avoid specimen contamination, do not touch the swab tip to anything other than the inside of the nostril.
  3. Remove and place the swab into the tube containing 3 ml of viral transport medium. Break swab at the indicated break line and cap the specimen collection tube tightly.

Nasopharyngeal flocked Swab in Viral Transport Medium
  1. Use a flexible plastic shaft minitip swab. The distance from the patient's nose to the ear gives an estimate of the distance the swab should be inserted to reach the mid-inferior turbinate sampling site. Patient's head should be tilted backwards to an angle of 70 degrees.
  2. Insert the swab into one nostril straight back (not upwards) and continue along the floor of the nasal passage for several centimeters, until reaching the nasopharynx (resistance will be met). Do not force the swab, if obstruction is encountered before reaching the nasopharynx, remove the swab and try the other side.
  3. Rotate the swab gently 2 or 3 times and then hold the swab in place for 5 seconds to loosen and absorb the infected epithelial cells. Slowly withdraw swab with a rotating motion.
  4. For an optimal sample, repeat the same procedure in the other nostril using the same swab.