Nasopharyngeal swab – MicroLabGuide

Sample collection conditions

There are no specific contraindications for collecting specimens with nasopharyngeal swabs
However, clinicians should be cautious if the patient has had recent nasal trauma or surgery, has a markedly deviated nasal septum, or has a history of chronically blocked nasal passages or severe coagulopathy.

Tasklist / steps to perform the sampling

Wash your hands
Put on your PPE
Ask the patient to take off her mask and blow her nose into a tissue to clear excess secretions from the nasal passages
Remove the swab from the packaging
Tilt the patient’s head back slightly, so that the nasal passages become more accessible
Ask the patient to close her eyes to lessen the mild discomfort of the procedure
Gently insert the swab into the nostril, parallel to the palate, along the nasal septum, just above the floor of the nasal passage, to the nasopharynx, until resistance is felt
If you detect resistance to the passage of the swab, back off and try reinserting it at a different angle, closer to the floor of the nasal canal
The swab should reach a depth equal to the distance from the nostrils to the outer opening of the ear
Leave the swab in place for several seconds to absorb secretions, rotate several times and then slowly removing the swab while rotating it
Ask the patient to reapply her mask
Open the collection tube and insert the swab into the tube
Break the swab at the groove and discard what remains of the swab and close the sample tube

Material & equipment