Minitip Flocking Swabs Launched by Copan
Copan Diagnostics, Incorporated announced the launch of a new line of products to aid in the diagnosis of disease, three different types of plastic minitip swabs. Each of these includes the new technology for sample collection from Copan, flocking.
The new swabs are hydrophilic, in addition to absorbing and releasing more volume of a liquid sample compared to traditional swabs that utilize fiber winded minitabs. The swabs promote patient comfort during collection procedures, as well as improve the efficiency of specimen collection.
Flocking entails spraying thousands of short nylon fibers from a perpendicular angle onto the applicator tip. With this approach to the collection, a liquid specimen is absorbed between the adjacent pieces of the nylon strands through capillary action. Specimens are eluted from the swabs once placed in a liquid medium.
An additional benefit, aside from greater collection, is that the Flocked Swabs release specimens more rapidly. The swab design includes a texture similar to a velvet brush. This simplifies the manner in which the liquid specimen becomes dislodged from the collection swab. This also facilitates collection of cells from the nasopharynx which are infected with virus cells.
Three different styles, as stated, are available from Copan. Each of those is designed with a plastic shaft and a molded breakpoint. Also included is a painted red line which indicates the swab break point location. Swabs, in this manner, are easily broken to facilitate transport for laboratory analysis. The swabs are available either in dry pre-labeled transport tubes or in sterile peel pouches.
November 23, 2007 Related topics: New Technology & Innovation, Diagnostic, Otolaryngology