Swine-Flu Test Transport Medium Released in United Kingdom

The new viral transport medium for transporting samples for swine flu testing is more convenient for performing multiple tests and maintains virus viability at room temperature and on ice. A flocked swab increases both the amount of sample collected and its release into the medium for pooling patient samples, which helps maximize the sensitivity of serological and molecular detection assays.

Copan's universal transport medium (UTM) for swine flu testing in the United Kingdom meets the testing guidelines laid down by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), which recommends that two nose and two throat swabs are taken for influenza A virus H1N1 assessment and screening. Specific real-time RT-PCR swine influenza or a four-fold rise in influenza A virus H1N1 swine flu-specific antibodies (acute phase sera and convalescent >10-14 days later) constitute a laboratory-confirmed case.

Sterilin (Bargoed, UK) has launched Copan's universal transport medium (UTM) for swine flu testing in the United Kingdom. Sterilin offers a choice of tube size and product format-a 1 mL or 3 mL tube, with medium alone, or as a kit containing a flocked collection swab.

All swabs supplied in the UTM kits have a molded breakpoint, to enable the swab to be broken into the tube if required. The UTM contains glass beads, to assist the release of the sample from the swab when vortexed prior to analysis and the tube's skirted conical base allows it to stand freely on the lab bench without the need for a rack.

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