Throat swab and Nasopharyngeal swab

REQUIREMENTS: Swab & transport media, Tongue depressor, PPE (Non- sterile disposable gloves, N95, Face Shield, gown)

 

 

PROCEDURE: 

● Follow universal precautions

● Open the packet containing swab and the viral transport medium containing bottle and write patient's details on the bottle label in capitals

Remove the swab stick, holding it at the end of the stick

FOR THROAT SWAB: 

● The patient should sit in front of adequate light source with head tilted backwards. Stand in front of the patient. Ask the patient to open his mouth wide and say 'AH'.

● Gently depress the tongue with tongue depressor so that throat is well exposed.

● Press the swab firmly with a slight rotational movement for at least 30 seconds over the back of the throat  

● AVOID TOUCHING THE TONGUE CHEEKS OR LIPS WITH THE SWAB 

FOR NASPHARYNGEAL SWAB: 

● Ask the patient to clear nose of any secretions

● Ask the patient to tilt back the head to about 70 degrees

● Insert the swab along nasal septum just above the floor of nasal passage till a resistance is felt

● Rotate the swab against the mucosa for minimum 10-15 seconds (30 seconds if possible). 

● Collect sample from one nostril only if the swab gets adequately soaked by secretions. If not, collect sample from both the nostrils

●For covid-19 suspect, to send for RAT only nasopharyngeal swab is required and for RT-PCR both oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab

● Both the swabs should be put into transport medium tube immediately and push the swab to the bottom

●The swab stick may have to be broken (at given marking) to fit into test tube containing transport medium

● Put these tubes in a primary receptacle

● This may be covered with absorbent material (cotton/ paraffin)

● This is then put in a zip lock pouch

● Put in a box containing ice pack

 

 

● Place forms and samples separately 

● Wash hands with soap and water and dispose remaining things in proper bags

VIDEO LINK: 

THROAT SWAB: https://youtu.be/EurY3w84Ud0 

NASOPHARYNGEAL SWAB: https://youtu.be/DVJNWefmHjE  

Written by our guest author Shrinivas Surnar

Illustration by Ayushi Gupta and Anveshi Nayan

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