Nasopharyngeal swab
Nasopharyngeal swab | |
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viral infections | |
MedlinePlus | 003747 |
A nasopharyngeal swab is a device used for collecting a sample of
Procedure
To collect the sample, the swab is inserted in the
Material composition of swab
Similar in concept to the cotton swab, a swab used for nasopharyngeal collection constitutes a narrow stick made of a short plastic rod that is covered, at one tip, with adsorbing material such as cotton, polyester, or flocked nylon. (Some swab handles have been made of nichrome or stainless steel wire.[3][10]) The swab material used for a particular diagnostic application may vary based on the test type. Some research has shown that flocked swabs collect a larger volume of the sample material, when compared to fiber swabs.[7][11]
Related methods
Slightly different but related is nasopharyngeal aspiration. Rather than depending on a physical swab to catch material from the nasopharynx, aspiration uses a catheter that is attached to a syringe. As with the swab method, the catheter is placed into the nostril and gently advanced to the nasopharynx, where approximately one to three milliliters of saline are introduced, followed by immediate re-aspiration of the saline—along with cells and secretions—back into the syringe.[7] This aspiration method is often used when 1. the patient is an infant or elderly and 2. when the method is indicated as effective for a test type.[6][12]
Diagrams
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Diagram of the nasal cavity
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Nasopharyngeal aspiration
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Collecting nasopharyngeal aspirate
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Video of a nasopharyngeal swab test for COVID-19
See also
References
- ^ "Nasopharyngeal culture". MedlinePlus. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ISBN 9780715318836.
- ^ ISBN 9781259000768.
- ^ "Specimen Collection". Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ PMID 22723469.
- ^ a b c "Influenza Specimen Collection" (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. n.d. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
A nasopharyngeal (NP) swab is the optimal upper respiratory tract specimen collection method for influenza testing.
- ^ ISBN 9788131231272.
- hdl:10665/331501. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- PMID 32302471.
- PMID 21489228.
- ISBN 9781466583207.
- PMID 27838671.