The working principle of the non-inactivated virus sampling tube is mainly based on its unique sample preservation system. The following is a detailed introduction to its working principle:

Sample collection

• Virus adsorption and enrichment: When the sampling swab collects virus in human body samples, such as in the throat or nose, the virus will adsorb on the fiber surface of the swab. When the swab is put into the sampling tube, the virus will enter the tube along with the elution solution.
• Prevent virus spread: The sealed design of the sampling tube can prevent the collected virus from leaking during transportation and storage, avoiding contamination of the surrounding environment and personnel. At the same time, it also reduces the contact of the virus with external factors, which helps to maintain the stability of the virus.

Sample preservation

• Maintain stable osmotic pressure: The preservation solution in the sampling tube usually contains a certain concentration of salts and buffer substances, such as sodium chloride, phosphate buffer salt, etc. They can maintain the osmotic pressure of the sample similar to the physiological environment of the virus in the human body, preventing the virus from being damaged or inactivated due to changes in osmotic pressure.
• Provide nutrients: Some amino acids, proteins, and other nutrients may also be added to the preservation solution to provide necessary nutritional support for the virus to maintain a certain activity in the external environment.
• Inhibit nuclease activity: In order to prevent the virus nucleic acid from being degraded by nucleases during the preservation process, nuclease inhibitors, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), etc., are added to the preservation solution. By binding to the metal ions in the nuclease, its activity is inhibited, thereby protecting the integrity of the virus nucleic acid.

Transportation and detection

• Stable virus activity: During transportation, the non-inactivated virus sampling tube can maintain the stable activity of the virus within a certain temperature range. Generally, a low-temperature environment is conducive to reducing the metabolic rate of the virus and reducing its own decomposition and inactivation. Therefore, it is usually required to be transported at a low temperature, such as 2-8°C.
• Convenient for detection: Due to the virus maintaining activity in the sampling tube, when the sample is sent to the laboratory, it can be directly used for a variety of detection methods, such as virus culture, nucleic acid detection, antigen detection, etc., providing convenience for subsequent detection work.