Sterilin has launched Copan's universal transport medium (UTM) for swine-flu testing in the UK.
It meets the testing guidelines laid down by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), which recommends that two nose and two throat swabs are taken for swine flu A/H1N1 assessment and screening.
The viral transport medium from Sterilin allows greater convenience of multiple tests and maintains virus viability at room temperature and on ice.
The flocked swab increases the amount of sample collected and its release into the medium for the pooling of patient samples taken, which helps maximise the sensitivity of serological and molecular detection assays.
Sterilin offers a choice of tube size and product format - 1ml or 3ml tube, with medium alone or as a kit containing a flocked collection swab.
All swabs supplied in the UTM kits have a moulded 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.
