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Nasal Wash: Syringe Method

Materials: Sterile Saline 3-5 mL syringe* 2” 18-20 gauge tubing* Universal Transport Medium (UTM) Specimen container

1. Fill syringe with saline; attach tubing to syringe tip.
2. Quickly instill saline into nostril.
3. Aspirate the recoverable nasal specimen. Recovery must occur immediately, as the instilled fluid will rapidly drain.
   
   (alternate) In appropriate cases, patients may tilt head forward to allow specimen to drain into suitable sterile container.
4. (if aspirated) Inject aspirated specimen from syringe into suitable dry, sterile specimen container or one containing UTM, according to virology laboratory requirements.
   

Nasal Wash: Bulb Method

Materials:  Sterile Saline 1-2 oz. tapered rubber bulb* Universal Transport Medium (UTM) Specimen container

1. Suction 3-5 mL saline into a new sterile bulb.
2. Insert bulb into one nostril until nostril is occluded.
3. Instill saline into nostril with one squeeze of the bulb and immediately release bulb to collect recovereable nasal secretion. Empty bulb into suitable dry, sterile specimen container or one containing UTM, according to virology laboratory requirements.

 

Nasopharyngeal Swab Method

Materials:  Nasopharyngeal Flocked Swab & UTM Transport System or Nasopharyngeal swab with synthetic fiber tip 1-3 mL Universal Transport Medium (UTM) Specimen container

1. Insert swab into one nostril.
2. Press swab tip on the mucosal surface of the mid-inferior portion of the inferior turbinate (see sketch), and rub the swab tip several times across the mucosal surface to loosen and collect cellular material.
3. Withdraw swab; insert container with UTM. Break end of swab so top of vial can be screwed on securely.

Please visit our partner COPAN for an animated video on proper specimen collection and transport preparation with Flocked Swabs and UTM.

Vacuum-assisted Nasal Aspirate Method

Materials:  Portable suction pump Sterile suction catheter Mucus trap (i.e, Luken’s tube) Universal Transport Medium (UTM)

1. Attach mucus trap to suction pump and catheter, leaving wrapper on suction catheter; turn on suction and adjust to suggested pressure.
2. Without applying suction, insert catheter through nose into posterior nasopharynx nose, directed posteriorly and toward the opening of the external ear. NOTE: depth of insertion necessary to reach posterior pharynx is equivalent to distance between tip of nose and external opening of the ear.
3. Apply suction. Using a rotating movement, slowly withdraw catheter. NOTE: catheter should remain in nasopharynx no longer than 10 seconds.
4. Hold trap upright to prevent secretions from going into pump.
5. Rinse catheter (if necessary) with approximately 3.0 mL UTM; disconnect suction; connect tubing to arm of mucus trap to seal.

* Procedures Adapted From: G.A. Storch, Essentials of Diagnostic Virology