Laboratory swab Opti-Swab®

microbiologyfor sample recoveryfor gut microbiome

Overview
Cultivate clinical specimens with liquid-based media designed for high performance and ease of use. Puritan products, featuring proprietary flocked swab technology, provide a buffered environment to protect aerobic, anaerobic and fastidious bacterial viability as well as enteric bacteria during specimen collection and transport. These systems support efficient absorption and elution of bacteria to benefit nurses, microbiologists, laboratory personnel and other healthcare workers.

The Evolution of Flocked Swab Technology
Puritan Opti-Swab® Liquid Amies and Fecal Opti-Swab collection and transport systems—combined with proprietary HydraFlock® swabs—provide high performance and ensure ease of use in the collection and transport of microbiology specimens.

High performance

• Purity of swab fibers for complete fluid absorption
• Proprietary HydraFlock swab technology for more rapid elution and maximal sample preservation
• Higher bacterial recovery rate compared to conventional swabs
  • Higher colony counts
  • Maintained viability of organisms over time during transport
• Reliable, consistent performance with no interference with Gram staining
• Better recovery of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria

Ease of use

• Convenient, simple packaging design, with the tube and swab packaged together
• Leak-proof self-centering cap for easy swab removal for all swab types
• Variety of handle and tip configurations that pair well with many collection sites
• Simple transportation due to the tube’s small size, room temperature storage and lack of leaking

Documents and Guides (available)

• Brochure: 3 Simple Steps to High Absorption and Rapid Elution
• Brochure: Optimize Your Fecal Enteric Bacteria Collection and Preservation
• How-to: A Handy Reference Guide for Proper Throat Swab Specimen Collection
• How-to: Rectal Swab Sample Collection Instructions
• How-to: Stool Sample Collection Instructions

Technical characteristics / specifications

• Opti-Swab® 1 ml Liquid Amies Transport Medium with 6" Sterile Elongated HydraFlock Swab
  • Length: vial 12 x 80 mm
  • Handle: polystyrene
  • Tip material: polyester flock
  • Tip type: elongated
  • Sterile: yes
  • Shelf life: 18 months
  Designed to accommodate nose, throat, vaginal, rectal and wound sampling sites
• Opti-Swab® 1 ml Liquid Amies Transport Medium with 6" Sterile Mini-tip HydraFlock Swab
  • Length: vial 12 x 80 mm
  • Handle: polystyrene
  • Tip material: polyester flock
  • Tip type: mini-tip
  • Sterile: yes
  • Shelf life: 18 months
  Designed to accommodate eye, ear, urogenital and pediatric sampling sites
• Opti-Swab® 1 ml Liquid Amies Transport Medium with 6" Sterile Ultrafine HydraFlock Swab
  • Length: vial 12 x 80 mm
  • Handle: polystyrene
  • Tip material: polyester flock
  • Tip type: ultrafine
  • Sterile: yes
  • Shelf life: 18 months
  Designed to accommodate nasopharyngeal sampling sites
• Fecal Opti-Swab® 2 ml Cary-Blair Medium Filled Vial with One Sterile Elongated HydraFlock Swab
  • Length: vial 12 x 80 mm
  • Sterile: yes
  Intended for preservation of clinical fecal and rectal specimens containing enteric bacteria from collection to laboratory for examination and culture