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BBL™ CultureSwab™ Plus 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 Plus collection and transport device. Each BBL CultureSwab Plus 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 Plus are available with Amies Medium Without Charcoal and Amies Medium With Charcoal. These transport media 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. Survival of fastidious bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae can be prolonged due to the presence of charcoal in Amies Medium With Charcoal. BBL CultureSwab Plus pouches are made of a plastic film which retards the penetration of atmospheric air into the product.

Amies Transport Medium With Charcoal is same formulation as above with addition of 10.0 g of charcoal.

For in vitro Diagnostic Use.

It must be assumed that all specimens contain infectious microorganisms; therefore, all specimens should be handled with appropriate precautions. After use, tubes and swabs must be disposed of according to laboratory regulations for infectious waste.

BBL CultureSwab Plus is for single use only; reuse may cause a risk of infection and/or inaccurate results.