For all PCR and NGS tests, the appropriate swab is:

• Plastic-shafted
• Non-cotton tipped swab
• Placed in 0.25 ml sterile saline or liquid transport media

One commercially available swab/liquid transport media is the Copan ESwab™.

• It is a multipurpose collection and transport system that maintains viability of aerobic, anaerobic and fastidious bacteria for up to 48 hours at 4°C
• Contains 1 mL of modified Liquid Amies; extracts the entire sample into the medium; therefore, multiple tests can be completed on the same specimen
  • Aerobic Culture
  • Anaerobic Culture
  • Clinical Pathology Evaluation
  • Fungal Culture
  • PCR Testing
  • Virus Isolation

• Is similar in cost to other culturette swabs but only a single swab needs to be submitted.
• The liquid medium is also suitable for transport of biopsy or small tissue samples for culture submission

More information on the Copan Eswab™ can be found at http://www.copanusa.com/products/collection-transport/eswab/

The Copan Eswab™ can purchased through KSVDL.