The transport medium with swabs usually refers to a specific liquid or gel-like substance used in conjunction with swabs to preserve and transport biological samples collected from the human body. Here is a specific introduction:

Components and functions

• Basic buffer: Generally contains Tris-HCl, PBS, etc., which can maintain a relatively stable pH value and provide a suitable chemical environment for biological molecules such as nucleic acids and proteins in biological samples to prevent them from degrading or denaturing due to changes in pH.
• Protein protectants: Common ones are bovine serum albumin (BSA), gelatin, etc. These proteins can form a protective film around biological samples, reduce damage caused by physical collisions, temperature changes and other factors during transportation, and also prevent biological molecules from adsorbing to the container wall and causing losses.
• Antibacterial and antifungal agents: Such as gentamicin, penicillin-streptomycin mixture, amphotericin B, etc., can inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that may exist in the sample, avoid the contamination and degradation of the sample by microorganisms, and ensure the biological safety of the sample during transportation.
• Cell nutrient components: In some transport media used for cell samples, appropriate amounts of cell nutrient components such as amino acids and glucose will be added to provide necessary energy and nutrients for cells, maintain the activity and physiological functions of cells, and reduce cell death and damage during transportation.

Application scenarios

• Virus detection: During the COVID-19 epidemic, after saliva swabs or nasopharyngeal swabs used for nucleic acid detection of the new coronavirus are collected, they are usually placed in sampling tubes containing specific transport media. The transport medium can protect the integrity of viral nucleic acids and ensure that the nucleic acids will not be degraded during transportation to the laboratory for detection, thereby improving the accuracy of detection.
• Bacterial culture: For some samples that need bacterial culture, such as throat swabs and anal swabs, the transport medium can maintain the activity of bacteria while inhibiting the growth of other miscellaneous bacteria. When the sample is transported to the laboratory, bacteria can be better isolated and cultured, and the positive rate of culture can be improved.
• Genetic testing: During genetic testing, regardless of whether the samples collected by oral swabs or blood swabs, the transport medium can effectively protect the integrity and stability of nucleic acids. Ensure that DNA or RNA can be accurately extracted and analyzed during the genetic testing process, providing a reliable basis for disease diagnosis, genetic counseling, etc.