Swab Sticks

Swabs pick up specimen material from the throat, nose, wounds or surfaces and release it again for testing. This subcategory comprises three sterile swabs that differ in tip material and design: a viscose swab with plastic shaft, a flocked nylon swab and a swab supplied with Amies transport medium in a tube.

They are bought by GP surgeries, hospitals, laboratories and teams carrying out hygiene inspections. The two swabs without medium come in boxes of 100; the swab with transport medium comes in boxes of 50.

Typical applications

• Microbiological swabbing in practices and hospitals
• Sampling for PCR and rapid tests
• Swabs that are sent on to an external laboratory
• Hygiene inspections

What to look for when buying

The tip material determines how well a swab picks up and releases specimen material. The flocked nylon swab is designed for good sample release and, according to the product description, is ideal for PCR and rapid tests. The viscose swab is the straightforward option for microbiological sampling and is individually wrapped.

How the specimen travels matters just as much: if time and shipping lie between collection and analysis, the Amies medium in the tube maintains the specimen's viability. Which swab is suitable for a given test is set out in the test system's instructions for use or by the receiving laboratory.

Frequently asked questions