The usage methods of sterilizing swabs vary depending on the application scenarios

The usage methods of sterilizing swabs vary depending on the application scenarios, but the general common steps are as follows:
I. Preparation

1. Check the Swab Packaging
   • Check whether the packaging of the sterilizing swab is intact, without any damage, air leakage, etc. If the packaging is damaged, it may affect the sterilization effect of the swab or lead to sample contamination, and a new swab should be replaced.
2. Prepare the Sampling Environment
   • Ensure that the sampling environment is clean and tidy, and minimize the interference of dust, impurities, etc. in the surrounding environment on sample collection. For example, when sampling indoors, the desktop can be cleaned in advance, and doors and windows can be closed to reduce dust brought by air currents.

II. Sample Collection

1. Take out the Swab
   • Open the packaging of the sterilizing swab carefully, avoiding touching the swab head to prevent contamination. Some swab packagings have easy – tear openings, and the swab can be taken out by gently tearing along the indicated direction.
2. Determine the Sampling Site and Method
   • Determine the sampling site and method according to the purpose of testing:
     • Throat Sampling:
       • Ask the person being sampled to slightly tilt their head back, open their mouth wide, and say “ah”. The sampler holds the swab and gently inserts the swab head deep into the tonsil area of the person’s throat, and wipes back and forth with a little force on the surfaces of both tonsils and the posterior pharyngeal wall 3 – 5 times to obtain sufficient samples.
     • Nasal Sampling:
       • Ask the person being sampled to keep their head slightly tilted back. The sampler gently inserts the swab into one nostril and slowly goes deeper along the lower wall of the nasal cavity. When a resistance is felt (the insertion depth is generally about 2 – 3 cm), rotate the swab 3 – 5 times inside the nasal cavity and stay for 15 – 30 seconds. Then, sample the other nostril in the same way.
     • Object Surface Sampling:
       • For the surface of the object to be tested, such as a desktop, door handle, etc., fully contact the swab head with the object surface and wipe in a certain direction and order, ensuring to cover a certain area. Usually, the wiping area is about 10cm × 10cm to collect representative samples.

III. Sample Handling

1. Prevent Sample Contamination
   • Immediately put the swab back into the original packaging or a special sample – storage container (if provided) after sample collection. If it is a swab with a sterilization function, it can prevent the pathogens in the sample from proliferating or spreading in a short time.
2. Label the Sample
   • If sample labeling is required, note key information such as the sampling time, sampling location, and information of the person being sampled on the swab packaging or sample – storage container for subsequent testing and tracking.

IV. Sample Transportation and Storage

1. Transportation Conditions
   • Determine the transportation conditions according to the testing requirements. If it is a routine bacterial test, sample quality will generally not be affected by short – term transportation at room temperature; if virus testing is involved or long – term transportation is required, refrigerated transportation equipment (such as ice packs, refrigerated boxes, etc.) may be needed to ensure that the sample is transported in a low – temperature environment to prevent the inactivation or over – growth of microorganisms in the sample.
2. Storage Environment
   • Before reaching the testing site, the sample should be stored in a suitable environment. Generally speaking, a swab with a sterilization function can maintain the stability of the sample to a certain extent, but if it cannot be tested in a timely manner, the sample should be stored in a refrigerator or other storage equipment at a specific temperature (such as 2 – 8℃) according to the requirements of the testing institution.