Comparison of Nylon Flocked Swabs and Saline Aspirates for Detection Respiratory Viruses

Collection of nasal secretions from infants and toddlers for viral testing is typically performed using the nasal saline aspirate technique described by Hall in 1975.

Nylon flocked swabs (NFS) and universal transport medium for room temperature (UTM-RT) (Copan Medical, Murrieta, CA) storage media have been found to be an effective collection and transport method for bacteria causing sexually transmitted infections.

We adapted these swabs and storage medium to collect respiratory viruses from children less than18 months old and compared detection rates using NFS and traditional nasal aspirates. We will determine the relative roles of the UTM-RT and NFS release and therefore measured viral detection rates of common respiratory pathogens in traditional saline aspirates stored in UTM-RT.

Our primary hypothesis is that nasal secretions collection using NFS stored in UTM-RT will lead to a higher detection rate of the respiratory viruses we arestudying; namely RSV, Influenza and human metapneumovirus from than collection of unpreserved saline nasal aspirates in children less than 18 months of age.