Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Throat

Container/Tube: ESwab collection kit

Specimen Volume: Adequate amount

Collection Instructions:

1. Place the patient in a seated position facing the ​light. ​
2. Instruct patient to open mouth as wide as possible. ​If needed, use tongue depressor to press the ​tongue downward to the floor of the mouth so that ​the throat can be seen. ​
3. Rub the swab tip up and down the back of the ​throat, the tonsils, and against any white patches in the tonsillar area.​
4. Remove swab from the mouth.  Do NOT touch the tongue, cheeks, teeth, or gums with the swab.
5. Insert the swab into the ESwab transport media tube. Swirl the swab against the inside wall of ​the tube 3 times.
6. Break the swab shaft and leave the swab in the tube. Attach the cap securely.
7. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Specimen Rejection:

Specimens collected on cotton swabs, calcium alginate swabs, or swabs with a wooden shaft will be rejected.