Nasal swabs are tools used to collect samples from the nasal cavity and are mainly applied in the following aspects:

1. Medical Testing

• Virus Detection
  • Widely used in the detection of respiratory virus infections. For example, during the COVID – 19 pandemic, nasal swabs were one of the important sampling methods for detecting the nucleic acid of the novel coronavirus. Medical staff insert the nasal swab deep into the nasal cavity, rotate and wipe the nasal mucosa to obtain a sample containing the virus, which is then subjected to nucleic acid testing to determine whether the sampled person is infected.
  • Also applicable to the detection of other respiratory viruses such as influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus. By collecting samples with nasal swabs and conducting laboratory tests, virus infections can be diagnosed quickly and accurately, providing a basis for subsequent treatment.
• Bacteria Detection
  • Used to detect bacteria in the nasal cavity or those causing respiratory infections. For instance, detecting bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, which may lead to diseases such as sinusitis and pneumonia. After sampling with a nasal swab, methods such as bacterial culture or other tests are carried out to help doctors identify the types of bacteria causing the infection, and then select appropriate antibacterial drugs for treatment.
• Allergen Detection
  • Plays a role in the diagnosis of diseases such as allergic rhinitis. By collecting nasal secretions with a nasal swab, allergen components in them, such as pollen, dust mites, and animal hair and dander, can be detected. This detection method helps to identify the allergens for patients, facilitating targeted allergen avoidance and desensitization treatment.

2. Medical Research

• Microbiome Research
  • Used to study the composition and changes of the nasal microbiome. There are various microorganisms in the nasal cavity, including bacteria and fungi, which are closely related to human health and diseases. Nasal swabs can collect nasal microbial samples, and through techniques such as gene sequencing, the diversity, structure, and function of the microbiome can be analyzed, contributing to a deeper understanding of the role of nasal microorganisms in nasal health and the development of respiratory diseases.
  • Also valuable in studying the interaction between microorganisms and the immune system. For example, by observing the impact of changes in the nasal microbiome on the local immune response in the nasal cavity, the mechanism of microorganisms in regulating immune balance and preventing or inducing inflammatory responses can be explored.
• Disease Mechanism Research
  • Helps in researching the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases. For example, in the study of the causes and pathological processes of chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps, samples collected by nasal swabs can be used to analyze the expression of inflammatory factors and cell lesions, providing clues for revealing the development mechanism of the diseases.

3. Epidemiological Investigation

• Disease Surveillance
  • In the field of public health, it is used to monitor the prevalence of respiratory diseases. By collecting samples from people in places such as communities, schools, and hospitals using nasal swabs, the infection rate, spread range, and epidemic trend of viruses or bacteria among the population can be understood. This is of great significance for promptly detecting disease epidemics and implementing prevention and control measures (such as isolation and vaccination).
• Tracing Investigation
  • During the outbreak of an infectious disease, nasal swab samples are helpful in tracing the source of the disease. Through genetic analysis of nasal swab samples from early cases, combined with epidemiological data such as the patients’ contact history and travel history, the transmission route of the virus or bacteria can be traced, and the initial source of infection can be determined, providing key evidence for the formulation of epidemic prevention and control strategies.