Difference Between Nasopharyngeal Swab and Oropharyngeal Swab
2022-05-06

Since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the word "nucleic acid detection" has become a high-frequency word that everyone talks about every day. When I see people from afar, I want to ask: Did you have a nucleic acid test today?


Recently, the new crown pneumonia epidemic broke out again in my country, the epidemic situation in some parts of the country is still running at a high level, the scope of transmission has further expanded, and the epidemic prevention and control situation is still severe and complicated.


Nucleic acid testing is an effective way to diagnose whether you are infected with the new coronavirus.


核酸检测


Nucleic acid detection is mainly divided into two forms: nasopharyngeal swab and oropharyngeal swab. It mainly detects specific nucleic acid sequences in the virus genome through polymerase chain reaction, so as to determine whether the subject is infected with the virus at the moment. The company independently designed Nucleic acid testing for productionDisposable Sampling Tubes (Kebram)It consists of a sampling tube and a sampling swab, and is mainly used for oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal sampling.


Nasopharyngeal swab:


鼻拭子


咽拭子


Oropharyngeal swabs and nasopharyngeal swabshave whatthe difference?

The pharyngeal part includes the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. The mucosa of the three are continuous and belong to the area of ​​the upper respiratory tract. Nasopharyngeal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs only have different sampling paths. Swab, nasal sampling is nasopharyngeal swab. But due toThe oropharyngeal swab can be operated by opening the mouth, which is relatively simple, so it is more commonly used in clinical practice..There are many differences between nasopharyngeal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs, for example, the location of the specimens is different, the patient's feelings during sampling are different, the exposure risk of the sampler is different, and the positive detection rate is different.


1. Keep the bidBen's location is different:Oropharyngeal swab is sampled from the throat of the patient; nasopharyngeal swab sampling requires the swab to be inserted into the nasal cavity and slowly rotated to the deep part of the nasal cavity, so the sampling location is different.

2. Patients feel different when sampling:

Nasopharyngeal swab sampling is relatively more painful for patients, especially those with deviated nasal septum and turbinate hypertrophy.

3. The exposure risks of the samplers are different:

When using oropharyngeal swab sampling, the operator needs to face the patient's mouth. When the throat swab enters the oral cavity, the patient may experience irritating dry cough, vomiting, etc., which increases the risk of the operator being infected; the nasopharyngeal swab sampling operator can Standing behind the patient's side to operate, and the patient basically does not have the gag reflex, the risk of operator exposure is relatively low.

4. The positive detection rate is different:

mouthWhen the throat swab is sampled, the patient has a gag reflex, and it is difficult for the swab to stay in the throat. In addition to diet, drinking, swallowing, etc., the virus enrichment in the oropharynx will be reduced, resulting in a lower positive detection rate; nasal swabs It stays longer in the deep throat to obtain a sufficient amount of samples, so the positive detection rate is relatively higher.


Both nasopharyngeal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs are sampling methods, with slightly different advantages and disadvantages. Patients need to choose the appropriate sampling method under the guidance of the doctor, and cooperate with the doctor to complete the sampling work.


Sampling Notes:

Whether collecting nasopharyngeal swabs or oropharyngeal swabs, the depth of collection is the key. The nasopharyngeal swabs are not collected deep into the nasal cavity, etc. Most of the cells collected may be virus-free cells, which may cause "false negative".


采样管2

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Detector's Note

1. Avoid vomiting, do not eat 2 hours before sampling;

2. In order to avoid affecting the test results, do not smoke, drink or chew gum 30 minutes before sampling;

3. In order to reduce the risk of cross-infection, all testers need to wear masks and prepare a spare mask;

4. All personnel waiting for testing must keep a distance of more than 1 meter and avoid talking.


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