Collection and Preservation of Throat Swab

-

 

What is a Throat Swab?

A throat swab is a sample collected from the back of the throat and tonsils using a sterile cotton swab. It is used to detect bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms causing throat infections.

Collection of Throat Swab

  1. Use a sterile cotton swab.
  2. Ask the patient to open their mouth wide.
  3. Use a tongue depressor if necessary.
  4. Gently rub the swab over the tonsils and back of the throat.
  5. Avoid touching the tongue, cheeks, or teeth.
  6. Place the swab immediately into a sterile transport tube.
  7. Label the specimen with:
    • Name of the patient
    • Date and time of collection

Preservation of Throat Swab

  1. Transport Immediately
    • Send the sample to the laboratory as soon as possible.
  2. Transport Medium
    • Place the swab in a suitable transport medium (e.g., Stuart's or Amies medium) to keep microorganisms alive during transport.
  3. Refrigeration (if delayed)
    • Store at 2–8°C for a short period if immediate transport is not possible.

Importance

  • Helps diagnose throat infections.
  • Detects bacteria such as streptococci.
  • Identifies viral and fungal infections.

Precautions

  • Use a sterile swab and container.
  • Avoid contamination during collection.
  • Ensure proper labeling.
  • Handle the sample carefully and transport promptly.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UNIT-II: NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY

-
Image
UNIT-II: Biomaterials- Introduction and Types. Biodegradable polymers. Biocompatibility, mechanical properties and Antibacterial Activity. DNA based nanomechanical devices, Biomaterial Nanocircuitry - DNA nanostructures for mechanics, computing and DNA based computation. 🧬 UNIT-II: Biomaterials and DNA Nanotechnology 1. Biomaterials: Introduction and Types What are Biomaterials? Materials used in medical devices that interact with the body. Must be safe , non-toxic , and biocompatible . Used in implants, prosthetics, drug delivery, tissue engineering, etc. Types of Biomaterials: Type Examples Key Features Metals Titanium, Stainless steel Strong, durable, used in bone plates, dental implants Ceramics Alumina, Zirconia Hard, wear-resistant, used in bone grafts, dental crowns Polymers Polyethylene, Silicone, Chitosan Flexible, biodegradable, used in sutures, drug delivery Composites Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers Combine p...
Read more

UNIT-IV-Techniques to Construct Nanostructures and Characterisation of Nanoparticles

-
Image
Techniques to Construct Nanostructures and Characterisation of Nanoparticles 1. Techniques to Construct Nanostructures Nanostructures are materials with size in the nanometer range (1–100 nm). Special techniques are used to create and study them. A. Scanning Probe Instruments Scanning probe instruments are used to image, measure, and manipulate materials at the nanoscale . They work by scanning a very sharp tip over the surface. 1. Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) Uses a sharp metal tip and a conducting sample When the tip comes very close to the surface, electrons “tunnel” between tip and sample The tunneling current changes with surface atoms Produces atomic-level images Uses: Study surface atoms of metals and semiconductors Construct nanostructures atom by atom Limitations: Works only with conductive materials 2. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) Uses a very fine tip attached to a flex...
Read more

UNIT-III: NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY

-
Image
Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Plants, Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses 1. Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles Green synthesis means producing nanoparticles using natural biological materials instead of chemicals. It is eco-friendly, low-cost, and safe. Biological organisms contain proteins, enzymes, metabolites, or biomolecules that can reduce metal ions into nanoparticles. 2. Plant-Mediated Nanoparticle Synthesis Plants contain phytochemicals like flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, sugars, and proteins. These act as reducing and stabilizing agents. Process • Prepare plant extract (leaf, stem, bark, fruit). • Mix extract with metal salt solution (e.g., AgNO₃ for silver). • Phytochemicals convert metal ions into nanoparticles. • Colour change confirms formation (e.g., silver turns brown/yellowish). Advantages • Very simple process • No need for microbes • Fast reaction Examples • Silver nanoparticles from neem, tulsi, aloe vera • Gold nanoparticles from tea extract or...
Read more