BBL™ CultureSwab™ devices are sterile ready-to-use systems intended for the collection, transport and preservation of clinical specimens for bacteriological examination.

One of the routine procedures in the diagnosis of bacterial infections involves the collection and safe transportation of a clinical specimen from the patient to the laboratory. This can be accomplished using the BBL CultureSwab collection and transport device. Each BBL CultureSwab unit is comprised of a sterile peel pouch containing a rayon-tipped swab applicator used to collect the sample and a tube containing transport medium into which the swab applicator is placed after sampling.

The BBL CultureSwab transport media (Amies Liquid Medium, Liquid Stuart Medium and Cary-Blair Transport Medium) are non-nutritious, buffered with phosphate and provide a reduced environment due to their formulation with sodium thioglycollate.¹ Organisms in the sample material are protected from drying by moisture in the transport medium. The medium is designed to maintain the viability of organisms during transit to the laboratory. BBL CultureSwab pouches are made of a plastic film which retards the penetration of atmospheric air into the product.

BBL CultureSwab media are contained in a constricted (venturi) tube. Nitrogen gas is flushed into the transport tube during the media filling and capping process. During final packaging of the swab and tube, air is removed from the pouch by vacuum and nitrogen gas is flushed inside.