How to Ensure the Effectiveness of Non – inactivated Virus Sampling Tubes in Different Scenarios?

To ensure the effectiveness of non – inactivated virus sampling tubes in different scenarios, it is necessary to strictly control every link, including the production of sampling tubes, sample collection, transportation and storage, as well as detection and use. The details are as follows:

Production Stage

• Material Selection
  When manufacturing sampling tubes, materials that are non – toxic, non – adsorptive to viruses, and chemically stable should be selected. For example, high – quality polypropylene plastic is used to ensure that it will not affect the activity and integrity of the virus.
• Additive Optimization
  Reasonably add virus protectants, stabilizers, and other additives, such as bovine serum albumin and dithiothreitol, to maintain the activity of the virus in the in – vitro environment. At the same time, ensure the purity and accurate ratio of the additives.
• Quality Inspection
  Strictly implement quality inspection standards, and conduct tests on the sealing and sterility of each batch of sampling tubes. Use pressure tests to ensure that there is no leakage in the sampling tubes, and adopt aseptic testing methods to ensure that there is no microbial contamination in the tubes.

Sample Collection Stage

• Personnel Training
  Provide professional training to sampling personnel, enabling them to be familiar with sampling methods and operating procedures in different scenarios. For example, in clinical sampling, it is necessary to accurately collect samples with a sufficient amount of the virus. When collecting a pharyngeal swab, it is necessary to fully wipe the posterior pharyngeal wall and tonsils.
• Sampling Timing
  Select the appropriate sampling timing according to the infection characteristics and disease course of different viruses. Taking the novel coronavirus as an example, the positive detection rate is relatively high when sampling is carried out generally within 1 – 7 days after infection.
• Sampling Site
  Identify the optimal sampling sites required for different diseases. For respiratory viruses, pharyngeal swabs, nasal swabs, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are usually collected; for enteric viruses, fecal samples may need to be collected.

Transportation and Storage Stage

• Temperature Control
  Choose the appropriate transportation temperature according to the characteristics of the virus. Most viruses need to be transported in a low – temperature environment, such as 2 – 8°C or below – 20°C. Use professional cold – chain transportation equipment, such as refrigerators and dry ice, to ensure stable temperature.
• Storage Time
  Strictly abide by the storage time requirements of the sampling tubes, and try to complete the detection within the specified time. Generally, samples collected by non – inactivated virus sampling tubes should be sent for inspection within 24 hours.
• Shock – proof and Damage – prevention
  During transportation, take effective shock – proof measures. Use buffer materials such as foam and sponge to prevent the sampling tubes from breaking or being damaged, which could affect the quality of the samples.

Detection and Use Stage

• Detection Method Matching
  Select appropriate detection methods according to the type of sampling tube and the characteristics of the sample. For samples collected by non – inactivated virus sampling tubes, methods such as real – time fluorescence quantitative PCR and virus culture can be used for detection.
• Operation Standardization
  Detection personnel should strictly follow the detection operation procedures for experiments, including sample processing, reagent addition, and instrument operation, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the detection results.
• Quality Control
  Regularly calibrate and maintain the detection instruments, and use standards and quality control products to conduct quality control on the detection process to ensure that the detection results are within an acceptable range.