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Swabs for Oral and Nasopharyngeal Sample Collection

A wide range of CE marked plain and transport swabs for collection
 and safe transport of viral, bacterial, serological and cytological samples

For over 45 years Alpha Laboratories has been supplying the NHS with quality laboratory and diagnostic consumables.
Our broad range of swabs is ideal for collecting and transporting a wide range of samples.

Our range of available swabs is not exhaustive. Alpha Laboratories has the capacity and expertise to quickly respond to unique customer requirements. For example if you need a swab with a specific break point to fit your tube which is not available from our existing options, we can still help with customised solutions.

Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements and obtain a quotation to meet your needs.

Applications

COVID-19 Testing

For COVID-19 RT-PCR tests, swabs with polystyrene shafts should be used, as swabs with wooden shafts may contain PCR inhibitors.

In order to meet the required capacity for the vast number of tests required per day, the Government guideline* on transport swabs for use in testing for COVID-19, has made allowances for laboratories to use alternatives to Viral Transport Medium (VTM) subject to local validation.

Where necessary, transport swabs with no transport medium (such as the SW1010 dry swabs) can also be used.

*Public Health England: COVID-19: Guidance on Alternative Swab Types and Transport Media Source

Benefits

  • Swabs that are CE marked for IVD, conform to the MDD 93/42/EEC for Class IIa

  • Available in various packaging formats:
    - Bulk packs ideal for diagnostic kit assembly
    - Single swab peel-packs ideal for POC testing

  • Manufactured in ISO class 8 or higher clean room conditions, under an ISO 13485 accredited quality system

  • Certified free of PCR inhibitors, human DNA, RNase, DNase and pyrogens

  • Where swabs are marked as sterile this is by irradiation or EtO

Quality Verification

The swabs are manufactured in an environment only accessed by specially trained personnel, wearing protective clothing. Products with a sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10–6 carry the blue Sterile Plus mark. Products certified free of PCR inhibitors have the yellow PCR Ready mark.

To ensure and improve sustainable product quality, every batch is reviewed by an independent laboratory.

Comparison Tables

Standard Swabs

Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Description Culture Swab in Tube Plain Swab Plain Swab Single Peel-Pack Plain Swab Single PeelPack Transport Swab Amies Media Plain Swab
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Sterility Sterile IRR Non Sterile Sterile EtO Sterile EtO Sterile IRR Non Sterile
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Shelf Life 48 Months 60 months 36 Months 36 Months 30 Months 60 months
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Œ Marked Œ IVD Œ Œ Œ Œ IVD Œ
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Shaft Material Polystyrene Wood Wood Polystyrene Polystyrene Polystyrene
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Shaft Length 150mm 150mm 150mm 150mm 150mm 150mm
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Swab Material Viscose Cotton Cotton Viscose Viscose Viscose
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Swab Diameter Ø4.0mm Ø4.0mm Ø4.0mm Ø4.0mm Ø4.0mm Ø4.0mm
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Tube/Cap Material Polypropylene/ Polyethylene - - - Polypropylene/ Polyethylene -
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Tube Dimensions Ø12x165mm - - - Ø12x165mm -
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Transport Media None - - - Amies -
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Suitable for COVID-19 Yes No No Yes No Yes
Product Code SW1010 SW1020 SW1030 SW1040 SW1050 SW1070 Pack Quantity 500 10x100 100 10x100 8x150 90x100

EtO = Ethylene Oxide Sterilisation, IRR = Irradiation

Swabs With Specific Break Points

Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Description Plain Swab Single Peel-Packs Plain Swab Single Peel-Packs Flocked Swab Single Peel-Packs Flocked Swab Single Peel-Packs
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Sterility Sterile EO Sterile EO Sterile R Sterile R
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Break Point(s) 78mm 80mm 30mm & 80mm 80mm
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Shelf Life 36 months 36 months 36 months 36 months
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 ΠMarked ΠIVD ΠIVD ΠIVD ΠIVD
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Shaft Material Polystyrene Polystyrene Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Shaft Length 150mm ± 0.2mm 150mm ± 0.2mm 150mm ± 3mm 150mm ± 3mm
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Swab Material Viscose Viscose Nylon Nylon (Fine head)
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Swab Diameter Ø4.0mm-5.5mm ±3mm Ø4.0mm-5.5mm ±3mm 3.0mm ±1mm 3.0mm ±1mm
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Suitable for COVID-19 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Product Code 09-812-8054 09-812-8055 09-812-8070 09-812-8071 Pack Quantity 10x100 10x100 12x100 12x100

EO = Ethylene Oxide Sterilisation, R = Irradiation

Literature

Contact us for Custom Requirements

Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements and obtain a quotation to meet your needs.

Swabs

Plain dry swabs with 78mm break-point along polystyrene stick and viscose tip EO sterile CE marked supplied as 10 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
Plain dry swabs with 78mm break-point along polystyrene stick and viscose tip EO sterile CE marked supplied as 10 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
09-812-8054
Pack Size: 10x100
More Information
Plain dry swabs with 80mm break-point along polystyrene stick and viscose tip EO sterile CE marked supplied as 10 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
Plain dry swabs with 80mm break-point along polystyrene stick and viscose tip EO sterile CE marked supplied as 10 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
09-812-8055
Pack Size: 10x100
More Information
Flocked dry swabs with 30mm and 80mm break-point along ABS stick and nylon tip IR sterile CE marked supplied as 12 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
Flocked dry swabs with 30mm and 80mm break-point along ABS stick and nylon tip IR sterile CE marked supplied as 12 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
09-812-8070
Pack Size: 12x100
More Information
Flocked dry swabs with 80mm break-point along ABS stick and fine nylon tip IR sterile CE marked supplied as 12 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
Flocked dry swabs with 80mm break-point along ABS stick and fine nylon tip IR sterile CE marked supplied as 12 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
09-812-8071
Pack Size: 12x100
More Information
Transport swab without medium in rigid polypropylene tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip sterile CE IVD marked
Transport swab without medium in rigid polypropylene tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip sterile CE IVD marked
SW1010
Pack Size: 500
More Information
Plain swabs without tube with wooden stick and cotton tip non-sterile CE marked supplied in 10 packs of 100
Plain swabs without tube with wooden stick and cotton tip non-sterile CE marked supplied in 10 packs of 100
SW1020
Pack Size: 10x100
More Information
Plain swabs without tube with wooden stick and cotton tip sterile CE marked supplied as 100 single peel-packs
Plain swabs without tube with wooden stick and cotton tip sterile CE marked supplied as 100 single peel-packs
SW1030
Pack Size: 100
More Information
Plain swabs without tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip EO sterile CE marked supplied as 10 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
Plain swabs without tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip EO sterile CE marked supplied as 10 dispensers of 100 single peel-packs
SW1040
Pack Size: 10x100
More Information
Transport swab with Amies medium in rigid polypropylene tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip supplied in sinlge peel-pack sterile CE IVD marked
Transport swab with Amies medium in rigid polypropylene tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip supplied in sinlge peel-pack sterile CE IVD marked
SW1050
Pack Size: 8x150
More Information
Plain swabs without tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip non-sterile CE marked supplied as 90 packs of 100
Plain swabs without tube with polystyrene stick and viscose tip non-sterile CE marked supplied as 90 packs of 100
SW1070
Pack Size: 90x100
More Information
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