The coronavirus is a group of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses like pneumonia, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Notably, the strain of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that caused the outbreak in China is new and previously unknown.
COVID-19 is the most recently discovered infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. Both were unknown before the outbreak broke out in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
- Our trained sampling staff will place disposable personal protective equipment and check that the tube for the sample is labeled.
- Our specialist will ask you to sit down and ask which side of your nose you breathe best to take the sample from that side.
- Our specialist will ask you to raise your head a little and insert a sterile swab until you reach the back of your throat about 2,5 cm (nasopharynx) once there, gently rotate it to get the sample of the cells that are the ones that may be infected by the virus.
- Staff will insert the swab into a test tube containing a liquid in which the sample will be kept in adequate condition until it is processing in the laboratory.
- When a swab sample of the posterior region of the throat (nasopharynx) is performed the test can be a little bothersome, cause mild pain in case of tenderness, itching, wanting to sneeze and even small bleeding can occur in certain cases. Despite this it is a safe test for patients that will produce no long-term sequelae other than discomfort at the time of taking.
- Coronavirus is present in the throat secretions of infected patients, the nasopharynx area has enough of these cells to be identified (more than 10,000 copies of RNA per sample microlitre) so it remains the most reliable sample type for patients.
- For patients where the nasopharyngeal swab test is contraindicated, the pharyngeal swab sample is used.
- In this type of sample, the patient's tongue should be held with a tongue-down and the back of the throat firmly rubbed.
- This sample is used in patients who have recently had surgeries in the nose region, severe septum deviations and young children.
- This test is not used for all patients as it can cause nauseous reflex and requires stronger rubbing of the throat region to obtain sample (increased friction) which makes the sample less effective.
