Sterile swabs are free of living microorganisms, bacteria, or viral DNA. Common methods for sterilization include autoclaves, ETO (ethylene oxide gas), and Gamma irradiation. Sterile swabs are generally used in medical testing and diagnostic sample collection, along with applying ointments to patients in hospitals and medical exams.
Sterile swabs may be used in forensics and medical diagnostic testing to determine whether a patient has the virus that causes covid-19. With the rise of omnicron, the standard swab used in diagnostic testing has shifted towards saliva swabs due to their increased accuracy in testing.¹ Because nasopharyngeal testing may not detect the new variant as quick as saliva testing, the FDA has reassured people to only use at-home tests as directed. The FDA explicitly recommends not to try to use a nose swab as a throat swab because it interferes with the accuracy of testing.² Some at the World Health Organization have proposed expanding the supply of testing swabs by using medical cotton swabs for covid-19 diagnostics.³
