Choosing the Right Swab and Transport Medium for the Specimen
A microbiology laboratory’s accuracy hinges on the quality of specimens it receives. Poor specimen collection or transport can compromise sensitive pathogens before they reach the lab, risking failed diagnoses due to either the degradation of pathogens or the overgrowth of commensal bacteria. Using CLSI M40-A2-compliant swabs and transport systems helps capture an accurate microbial profile, supporting precise diagnoses. MWE’s SIGMA Range, compliant with CLSI M40-A2 standards, ensures reliable results by sustaining key bacterial species across various storage conditions, including refrigeration and ambient temperatures.
The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M40-A2 is a guideline for the performance of microbial specimen transport devices. It establishes quality benchmarks for transport swabs, requiring both quantitative and qualitative survival of specific microorganisms, such as aerobes, anaerobes, and fastidious bacteria like Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or where relevant, enteric bacteria or viruses. Compliance with this standard ensures that transport swabs can sustain viable organisms from collection to processing, enabling accurate diagnostics. MWE’s Σ-TRANSWAB®, Σ-FECAL TRANSWAB®, Σ-VIROCULT®, and Σ-VCM™ are all CLSI M40-A2-compliant, ensuring reliable performance for their intended uses.
Choosing The Right Medium for Transport to the Lab
Equally essential is robust transport. MWE’s line of liquid transport swabs—Σ-TRANSWAB®, Σ-FECAL TRANSWAB®, Σ-VIROCULT®, and Σ-VCM™—are built for secure transport, with reinforced caps and durable tubes that withstand 95kPa pressure, making them suitable for pneumatic tube systems commonly used in labs. The Liquid SIGMA Range offers additional advantages: it maintains stability at ambient temperatures, simplifying logistics and storage. The liquid phase ensures complete dispersion of the sample, allowing for a uniform suspension that can be aliquoted for multiple tests or pooled for batch testing. Furthermore, each device is sterilized by gamma irradiation without the use of sterility indicator dyes, ensuring no interference with visual monitoring.
Choosing the Right Swab and Transport Medium for Automation
For seamless integration with laboratory automation, MWE’s liquid transport swabs are compatible with major automated processing systems, including WASP, Kiestra TLA, Autoplak, and Cobas. By choosing products that support automated workflows, labs can optimise specimen handling, reduce errors, and improve efficiency.
Choose MWE’s CLSI M40-A2-compliant swabs for reliable specimen integrity and smooth laboratory automation.
