A nasopharyngeal swab is a device used for collecting a sample of
nasal secretions from the back of the
nose and
throat.[1][2] The sample is then analyzed for the presence of organisms or other clinical markers for disease. This diagnostic method is commonly used in suspected cases of
whooping cough,
diphtheria,
influenza, and various types of diseases caused by the
coronavirus family of viruses, including
SARS,
MERS, and
COVID-19.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Procedure
To collect the sample, the swab is inserted in the
nostril and gently moved forward into the
nasopharynx, a region of the pharynx that covers the roof of the mouth.[9] The swab is then rotated for a specified period of time to collect secretions, then the swab is removed and placed into a sterile
viral transport media, which preserves the sample for the subsequent analysis.[5][6]
Material composition of swab
Similar in concept to the
cotton swab, a swab used for nasopharyngeal collection constitutes a narrow stick made of a short plastic rod that is covered, at one tip, with
adsorbing material such as cotton, polyester, or flocked nylon. (Some swab handles have been made of
nichrome or stainless steel wire.[3][10]) The swab material used for a particular diagnostic application may vary based on the test type. Some research has shown that
flocked swabs collect a larger volume of the sample material, when compared to fiber swabs.[7][11]
Related methods
Slightly different but related is nasopharyngeal aspiration. Rather than depending on a physical swab to catch material from the nasopharynx, aspiration uses a
catheter that is attached to a syringe. As with the swab method, the catheter is placed into the nostril and gently advanced to the nasopharynx, where approximately one to three milliliters of saline are introduced, followed by immediate re-aspiration of the saline—along with cells and secretions—back into the syringe.[7] This aspiration method is often used when 1. the patient is an infant or elderly and 2. when the method is indicated as effective for a test type.[6][12]
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abc"Influenza Specimen Collection"(PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. n.d. Retrieved 25 March 2020. A nasopharyngeal (NP) swab is the optimal upper respiratory tract specimen collection method for influenza testing.