iClean® Viral Transport System (VTM-RT)

The iClean® Virus Transport Medium – Real – Time (VTM – RT) is mainly used for the collection, preservation, and transportation of virus samples, and has important specific applications in multiple fields:

I. Medical Testing and Diagnosis

1. Infectious Disease Detection
   • COVID – 19 Detection
     It played a crucial role during the COVID – 19 pandemic. Medical staff use this transport system to collect samples such as nasopharyngeal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients, ensuring the viability of the virus during transportation. After these samples are sent to the laboratory, nucleic acid testing (such as RT – PCR), antigen testing, or antibody testing can be carried out. By accurately detecting the nucleic acid sequence of the COVID – 19 virus, it can be determined whether the patient is infected and the degree of infection, providing important diagnostic evidence for epidemic prevention and control.
   • Influenza Virus Detection
     It is also of great significance for the monitoring of influenza viruses. During the high – incidence season of influenza, it is widely used to collect samples from suspected influenza patients. Samples such as nasal secretions and throat swabs can be collected, and the virus is effectively preserved to ensure that it will not be inactivated during transportation to the laboratory for virus isolation, nucleic acid testing, or antigen testing. This can accurately determine whether the patient is infected with the influenza virus and the specific virus subtype, providing support for targeted treatment (such as the use of anti – influenza drugs).
2. Hospital – acquired Infection Monitoring
   In the hospital environment, it is used to monitor the sources of hospital – acquired infections. By regularly collecting environmental samples from different areas within the hospital (such as wards, operating rooms, emergency rooms, etc.), including air, object surfaces, and medical devices, the samples are transported to the laboratory for testing using the iClean® Virus Transport Medium – Real – Time (VTM – RT). If the virus is detected, timely prevention and control measures such as disinfection and isolation can be taken to prevent the spread of the virus within the hospital and ensure the health and safety of patients and medical staff.
3. Clinical Research and Drug Development
   During the development of new antiviral drugs, it is used to collect virus samples from clinical trial participants. Accurate collection and transportation of virus samples can ensure the accuracy of the evaluation of drug efficacy and safety. For example, in the clinical trial of evaluating a new anti – COVID – 19 drug, virus samples from patients before and after taking the drug are collected through this transport system. By comparing the changes in viral load, the inhibitory effect of the drug on the virus can be analyzed, providing data support for the development and improvement of the drug.

II. Public Health Surveillance

1. Disease Epidemic Trend Monitoring
   In the long – term monitoring of disease epidemic trends caused by viruses in public health institutions, the iClean® Virus Transport Medium – Real – Time (VTM – RT) is an indispensable tool. It can be used to collect virus samples from different regions and populations. For example, in a national or global infectious disease surveillance network, samples collected from communities, schools, factories, and other places are sent to designated laboratories through this transport system. Researchers can analyze information such as the genetic sequence, mutation status, and transmission range of the virus, and timely grasp the epidemic situation of the disease, providing a basis for public health decision – making (such as vaccination strategies and adjustment of prevention and control measures).
2. Environmental Hygiene Monitoring
   It is used to detect the virus contamination in the environment. Samples are collected from water sources, environmental surfaces in public places (such as shopping malls, subway stations, etc.), and the transport system can ensure the stability of virus samples during transportation. This helps to assess the potential risk of virus transmission in the environment. For example, to detect whether there are adenoviruses and other water – borne viruses in public swimming pool water, or to evaluate the viral load on the surfaces of objects such as escalator handrails in shopping malls, and then take corresponding environmental cleaning and disinfection measures.

III. Veterinary Field

1. Animal Disease Detection
   It plays a role in the diagnosis and prevention of animal diseases. For animals in farms, zoos, and other places, when a viral disease (such as avian influenza, classical swine fever, etc.) is suspected, veterinarians can use the iClean® Virus Transport Medium – Real – Time (VTM – RT) to collect samples such as nasal swabs, oral swabs, and fecal samples from the animals. These samples can be transported to the veterinary laboratory for testing under appropriate conditions to determine whether the animals are infected with the virus and the type of virus, providing an early diagnostic basis for the prevention and control of animal diseases. This helps to take timely measures such as isolation, treatment, or culling to prevent the spread of the disease.
2. Wildlife Virus Monitoring
   It also has important applications in wildlife virus monitoring. Researchers can collect samples from wild animals in the wild environment, such as bats, migratory birds, etc., which may be natural hosts or vectors of viruses. Through the iClean® Virus Transport Medium – Real – Time (VTM – RT), the samples are safely transported to the laboratory for virus detection and research, helping to understand the types, distribution of wildlife viruses, and their potential connections with human and livestock diseases, and making early public health risk warnings.