The educational videos show proper technique for collecting respiratory specimens for influenza using swabs, aspirates and washes. Demonstrations of Nasal and Nasopharyngeal swab sample collection use FLOQSwabs™ by Copan and Copan's Universal Transport Media (UTM). Additional videos demonstrate proper technique for Nasal Aspirates and Nasal Washes. pan has invested in training and educational materials from the beginning through close collaboration with the medical and scientific community. The invention of flocked swabs for collection of biological samples by Copan was the culmination of years of research and development to improve the quality of pre-analytics and make swab sample collection, using flocked swabs, equivalent to the gold standard for respiratory specimen collection.

Proper sample collection plays a critical role in obtaining proper test results for patients. 'Copan has always been committed to providing educational resources to those at the laboratory and at the point of care,' said Copan Executive Vice President, Norman Sharples. 'We recognize that though our products may be used at the beginning of the process, there is a human being waiting on accurate and timely results at the end. We are proud to play an important role in safeguarding public health and we strive to help improve the specimen collection process through valuable educational resources, which we have always provided free of charge,' concluded Sharples.

The videos have been launched during the 28th annual Clinical Virology Symposium (CVS) in Daytona Beach on April 22nd - 24th, 2012. Copan is providing free DVD copies of the educational videos during CVS. These videos are also available on Copan's website.

Copan holds patents for flocked swabs in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China.