Proper use of medical swabs for sample collection 

Preparation before collection

• Understanding the purpose of collection: Clearly understand whether it is for nucleic acid testing, bacterial culture, or other testing projects, as the requirements and sites for sample collection may vary for different testing purposes. For example, nucleic acid testing usually collects respiratory tract samples, while bacterial culture may require collecting wound secretions, etc.
• Selecting the appropriate swab: Choose the appropriate medical swab according to the collection site and sample type, such as nasopharyngeal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, etc. At the same time, ensure that the quality of the swab is reliable, the packaging is intact, and within the validity period.
• Doing personal protection: The collection personnel should wear protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and goggles to prevent cross-infection. For patients or those being collected, they should also be informed in advance of the collection process and precautions to obtain their cooperation.

Operation during collection

• Preparation of the collection site
  • Collection of respiratory tract samples: If collecting a nasopharyngeal swab, let the person being collected slightly tilt their head back, gently insert the swab into one nostril, and slowly advance along the nasal cavity wall until resistance is felt, rotate the swab several times, and then slowly remove it. For oropharyngeal swabs, ask the person being collected to open their mouth wide and make a “ah” sound, and quickly wipe the bilateral tonsils and posterior pharyngeal wall with the swab, avoiding touching the tongue and other parts of the mouth.
  • Collection of skin samples: First, clean the skin around the collection site with a disinfection cotton ball, then gently wipe the affected area or specific area with the swab to ensure that enough samples are collected.
  • Collection at other sites: Such as anal swab collection, let the person being collected take a lateral decubitus or knee-chest position, gently insert the swab into the anus for 2-3 cm, rotate several times, and then remove it.
• Collection technique: During the collection process, maintain a gentle movement to avoid damaging the tissue with excessive force. At the same time, ensure that the swab fully contacts the collection site to obtain enough sample volume. For some sensitive sites, such as the nasal cavity and throat, more attention should be paid to the accuracy and comfort of the operation.
• Collection time: Stay at the collection site for a sufficient time, generally 15-30 seconds, to ensure that the swab absorbs enough samples. But don’t stay for too long to avoid discomfort to the person being collected.

Post-collection processing

• Sample preservation: Immediately place the collected samples into a sampling tube containing preservation solution to ensure that the samples are completely immersed in the preservation solution. The preservation solution can prevent the pathogen in the sample from becoming inactive and also helps to maintain the stability of the sample.
• Marking information: Clearly mark the name, gender, age, collection time, testing project, etc. of the person being collected on the sampling tube to facilitate subsequent laboratory testing and result analysis.
• Submit for testing in time: Send the collected samples to the laboratory for testing as soon as possible to avoid deterioration of the samples or inactivation of the pathogen due to prolonged storage. Generally, nucleic acid testing samples should be submitted for testing within 2-4 hours, and bacterial culture samples should also be delivered to the laboratory within the specified time.

Proper use of medical swabs for sample collection is the key to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of test results. During the operation process, strict compliance with operating procedures and aseptic principles is required to ensure the collection of high-quality samples and provide strong support for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.