Evaluation of a Liquid Medium Transport Swab (SIGMA-TRANSWAB®) for the Detection of MRSA Using the Cepheid GeneXpert® PCR Analyser

Accurate and rapid MRSA detection depends on specimen collection devices that are compatible with both molecular and conventional laboratory workflows. This validation study demonstrated that SIGMA-TRANSWAB® performed equivalently to the dedicated Cepheid/Copan collection device when used with the GeneXpert® MRSA PCR system, successfully detecting MRSA at all tested concentrations with comparable cycle threshold (CT) values and no false positive or false negative results. Importantly, SIGMA-TRANSWAB® achieved this performance despite an additional dilution step, confirming that the liquid Amies medium does not interfere with PCR analysis. The findings support the use of SIGMA-TRANSWAB® as a flexible specimen collection solution that can be used for rapid molecular testing while retaining the sample for additional culture, automation, or downstream diagnostic investigations.