Compared with traditional cotton swabs, synthetic fiber swabs have several advantages in multiple aspects. The details are as follows:

Material Stability: Synthetic fibers are usually made of chemical fibers such as polyester and nylon, possessing better chemical stability. They are less likely to deteriorate or degrade under the influence of environmental factors like humidity and temperature. In contrast, the main component of cotton swabs is natural cellulose, which is prone to breeding bacteria and mold in a humid environment, thus affecting the quality of the swabs and the test results.
Fiber Shedding: The fiber structure of synthetic fiber swabs is relatively compact, and they are less likely to shed fibers during the sampling process. By comparison, cotton swabs may shed fibers when in use, and these shed fibers may mix into the samples, interfering with the test results and even being misidentified as components of the samples, thereby affecting the accuracy of the tests.

Sample Collection Volume: Synthetic fiber swabs generally have better water absorption and water retention capabilities. They can quickly absorb and retain a relatively large amount of liquid samples, ensuring that a sufficient sample volume is collected and improving the sensitivity and accuracy of the tests. Cotton swabs have relatively weaker water absorption, and it may be necessary to sample multiple times to obtain a sufficient sample volume, which increases the discomfort of patients and the sampling time.
Sample Release Rate: During the subsequent testing process, synthetic fiber swabs can release the collected samples more effectively, enabling the target components in the samples to have better contact with the testing reagents and improving the testing efficiency. However, cotton swabs sometimes have the problem that the samples are adsorbed on the fibers and difficult to release, resulting in deviations in the test results.

Irritation to the Human Body: Synthetic fiber swabs generally have good biocompatibility, are less irritating to human tissues and mucous membranes, and are not prone to causing allergic reactions. The natural fibers in cotton swabs may contain some impurities or residual chemical substances, which may cause irritation or allergic reactions in some sensitive individuals.
Sampling Damage Risk: Synthetic fiber swabs have better flexibility and elasticity and can better adapt to different sampling sites during the sampling process, reducing the damage to the sampling sites. Cotton swabs are relatively stiff, and when sampling some delicate mucous membrane areas, they may cause slight abrasions or injuries, increasing the pain of patients and the risk of infection.

Storage and Transportation: Due to the good stability of synthetic fiber swabs, they have relatively lower requirements for environmental conditions during storage and transportation. They are less likely to be contaminated or damaged and are more convenient for long-term sample storage and long-distance transportation. Cotton swabs, on the other hand, require stricter storage conditions; otherwise, the quality of the samples is likely to decline.
Wider Applicability: Synthetic fiber swabs can be specially treated or have specific reagents added according to different testing requirements. For example, virus preservation liquid or antibacterial agents can be added to the swab heads, making them suitable for more types of testing projects. Cotton swabs have relatively single functions and are limited in their application in some special testing scenarios.