Throat swab
Sampling protocol
- Collect specimen in the acute phase of the disease and for bacterial infections before start of antibiotic therapy
- Throat swab cultures are contraindicated in patients with epiglotitis
- If diphteria, Vincent’s angina, thrush, gonococci or whooping cough is suspected, it should be stated on the request form
- Throat swabs should be collected for streptococcal sore throat, diphteria, Vincent’s angina,thrush and gonococcal pharyngeal infection
- Nasopharyngeal swabs are recommended for respiratory viruses infections such as COVID-19 and suspected cases of whooping cough
- Turn the patient’s face against the light, ask the patient to open his mouth wide and phonate an “ah”
- Gently depress tongue with a tongue depressor so that the throat is well exposed and illuminated
- Sample poster pharynx, tonsils and any areas of inflammation, exudation or ulceration with a sterile swab
- Care should be taken to avoid touching the tongue, cheeks or lips with the swab
- Insert swab into swab transport medium
- Tongue depressor
- Swab transport system with appropriate transport medium