How to choose the right microbial sampling swab

There are different kinds of microbial sampling swabs on the market today, what are the different characteristics of these swabs? How to choose?


A: The swabs may all look the same, and you can save money by buying cheap swabs. But what exactly do you save if the bacteria or other transported microorganisms are not safely delivered to the laboratory?


The transfer swab is actually a kit that plays an important role in the timely and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases.


swab head


Is it just a cotton swab? From some sources, that is the case. But did you know that cotton products are toxic to bacteria. Cotton wool products contain a variety of fatty acids that may be toxic to bacteria if exposed to prolonged periods of time. Irradiation sterilization of the swabs actually exacerbates the situation, as it leaches the fatty acids out of these substances. There are no serious consequences if the swab is used immediately, such as in a laboratory for sensitivity testing; however, for swabs used in shipping devices, this could lead to a reduction in the number of microorganisms such as bacteria.


In addition, even with the right material, some swab tips can be wrapped too tightly, making it difficult for bacteria to be released - an important issue. The current focus is on 'flocked swabs,' which have a tip made of tiny nylon fibers that are glued to a molded plastic rod. The advantage of this swab is that it has a large surface area, which is conducive to bacterial adhesion; it also facilitates the release of stains, which are attached to the swab head to display results. However, bacteria are not dyes, some may be more sticky, and the actual release amount is not as expected.


swab stick


Is it wood material, wire, or plastic? What's the difference? Wood products have the same problem as cotton products - leaching out fatty acids, especially after irradiation. There is also the risk of breakage. Plastic swabs such as polystyrene and polypropylene are ideal because they are inert materials for transporting media.


Choose a swab that works for you. A standard plastic swab will suffice for most requirements, but for nasopharyngeal sample collection a thin, soft swab is required, and for ENT and urethral sampling a thin but rigid swab is required. The ability of the swab head to release organisms with a single stroke.


The flocked sampling swab is composed of nylon short fiber fluff head and medical grade ABS plastic rod, which is 3 times higher than the traditional swab to collect samples and release samples, to ensure the survival rate of cell samples, without residual fatty acids, and to improve the test detection effect. No impact, widely used in the field of genetic testing