Puritan Medical Flocked Applicators Ideal for Swine Flu Investigations

Puritan Medical Products LLC, the leading manufacturer of specialty-tipped applicators in North America, is ready to respond with its diagnostic single-use products, to the healthcare industry needs regarding the current outbreak of a novel strain of H1N1 Swine Influenza A.

The CDC is recommending that all suspected cases of the virus have upper respiratory specimens collected to test for swine influenza A (H1N1) virus. Specimens of choice include nasopharyngeal swabs, nasal aspirates, nasal swabs, or oropharyngeal swabs, and are to be placed into sterile viral transport media (VTM) and immediately placed on ice or cold packs, or refrigerated at 4OC for transport to a laboratory.

CDC says swab specimens should be collected using swabs with a synthetic tip such as polyester, and an aluminium or plastic shaft. Swabs with cotton tips and wooden shafts are not recommended. The swab specimen collection vials should contain viral transport medium (e.g., containing, protein stabilizer, antibiotics to discourage bacterial and fungal growth, and buffer solution), such as M4RT. Some laboratories are requesting the use of nasal aspirates and/or flocked swabs.

Puritan manufactures a complete range of such swabs -  including standard and nasopharyngeal flocked swabs, polyurethane foam and polyester tipped aluminium or plastic shafts.

Puritan's nylon flocked swabs - including its 25-3317 1PN and its 25-3316 1PN - are used for nasopharyngeal or urethral specimen collection, and/or for recovery of bacterial or viral micro-organisms.

In addition, Puritan's 25-1406 1PF (foam-tip), its 25-3306 1PN (flock-tip) and its 25-1506-1PF (foam tip) are excellent swabs used for specimen collection. Puritan's polyester-tipped 25-801 D 50, and 25-1000 1PD are both used for diagnostic specimen collections, in addition to all of Puritan's polyester-tipped applicators.

All of the above-mentioned swab applicators are widely used in diagnostic applications and are ideal for use in the swine influenza investigations. Many of these swabs are available in a dry transport tube, and all are manufactured in the United States and are available now.

For more information on how Puritan can help address your specific H1N1 Swine Influenza needs telephone +1 207 876 3311 or use the 'More Information' request button at the end of this page.