The following are the precautions for the use of sterile polyester fiber swabs:

(I) Preparation Before Sampling

1. Check the Integrity of the Packaging
   Before use, it is necessary to carefully examine the packaging of the swabs. The packaging should be intact, without any damage, tears, or loose seals. Once there is a problem with the packaging, the swabs are likely to be contaminated by external microorganisms, which will affect the accuracy and reliability of sampling. Only swabs with intact packaging can ensure their sterility, which is an important prerequisite for ensuring the quality of sampling.
2. Select the Appropriate Swab Model
   It is essential to choose the appropriate model of sterile polyester fiber swabs according to the sampling site and purpose. Different models of swabs vary in size, shape, and the softness of the material. For example, swabs used for nasal sampling are usually long and thin, which facilitates reaching deep into the nasal cavity for sampling. While swabs for large-area swabbing may be wider to ensure effective coverage of the sampling area.

(II) Sampling Process

1. Standardize the Operation Technique
   Operators need to conduct sampling strictly in accordance with the operating procedures. Taking the collection of throat swab or nasal swab samples as an example, it is necessary to ensure that the insertion depth and angle of the swab are appropriate. Inserting too deep or at an improper angle may cause harm to the person being sampled, such as pain or bleeding. When swabbing the sample, it is necessary to ensure that the swab makes full contact with the sampling site to obtain sufficient samples for testing. However, it is also important to avoid excessive swabbing, as this may damage the tissue, especially when sampling relatively fragile mucosal tissues.
2. Avoid Cross-Contamination
   When multiple samples need to be collected, cross-contamination is a key issue that requires special attention. A new swab should be used after each sample is collected. If not replaced, the sample on the used swab may contaminate other samples or the surrounding environment. In microorganism detection, cross-contamination will lead to confusion in test results and make it difficult to accurately determine the source of the pathogen, thus affecting the accuracy and effectiveness of the entire detection work.

(III) Post-Sampling Handling

1. Send Samples for Inspection or Preserve Them in a Timely Manner
   The collected samples should be sent for inspection in a timely manner. If they cannot be sent immediately, they need to be preserved according to the prescribed methods. Because if the samples are left for a long time, they may deteriorate due to the growth of microorganisms, the death of cells, or other factors. For example, in virus detection, the collected throat swab or nasal swab samples should be placed in tubes containing virus preservation solutions as soon as possible and stored at an appropriate temperature until they are sent to the laboratory for testing. Otherwise, the decline in sample quality will affect the accuracy of the test results.
2. Properly Dispose of Used Swabs
   Used swabs are regarded as medical waste or laboratory waste and need to be properly disposed of. They should be placed into designated medical waste or laboratory waste containers according to relevant regulations. If not properly handled, they may cause pollution or harm to the environment and people, such as spreading germs.