How to Collect a Throat/Nasal/Nasopharyngeal Swab for COVID-19?

Types of swabs for COVID:

• Nasopharyngeal Swabs
• Nasal Swabs
• Throat(Oropharyngeal) Swabs

All of the above swabs can be used for the diagnosis of COVID-19. 

Swab Specimen Collection Procedure

How to collect a nasopharyngeal swab?

1. Sanitise hands and put on a pair of medical gloves.

2. Remove the swab.

3. Conduct a nasopharyngeal swab sample by tilting the patient's head back 70°.

4. Insert a swab into the nostril.

Note: The swab should reach a depth equal to the distance from the nostril to the outer opening of the ear.

5. Leave the swab in place for several seconds to absorb secretions.

6. Remove the swab while rotating it.

7. Place the swab in the extraction buffer vial.

8. Refer to the test strip product insert for instructions on performing a patient test.

How to collect a nasal swab?

1. Sanitise hands and apply gloves.

2. Remove the swab.

3. Conduct nasal swab sample by tilting patient's head back 70°.

4. Insert a swab into the nostril until resistance is met.

5. Rotate the swab several times against the nasal wall.

6. Repeat this process on the other nostril.

7. Place the swab in the extraction buffer vial.

8. Refer to the test strip product insert for instructions on performing a patient test.

How to collect a throat(oropharyngeal) swab?

1. Sanitise hands and put on gloves.

2. Remove the swab.

3. Conduct an oropharyngeal swab sample by tilting the patient's head back 70°.

4. Depress the tongue using a tongue depressor.

5. Gently insert the swab into the oral cavity without touching the lips, teeth, tongue, hard palate, or soft palate. 

Note: These surfaces should be avoided as they are often colonized by a wide range of microbes. 

6. Twist the swab shaft gently but thoroughly, sampling the oropharyngeal wall. Collect the sample from the back wall of the throat. 

7. Place the oropharyngeal swab into the sample collection tube and sent it to the laboratory as quickly as possible. 

The swab is a new procedure even for clinical workers, such as doctors and nurses. Swab performing is required for collecting throat, nasal, or nasopharyngeal swabs. To improve swab technique, Pro-Health Product Ltd. recently developed an anatomically accurate and realistic swab collection training model, which can be widely used in swab collection training courses, or test sites, clinics, health facilities, doctor's offices, and more. Give front-workers and patients confidence.