VTM Kit Red

A Viral Transport kit is intended for the collection and transport of clinical specimens containing viruses, chlamydia, mycoplasmas or urea plasmas from the collection site to the testing laboratory. It is ready-to-use transport swab kit, designed to maintain viral viability and transport viruses in active form for isolation. The unique design of the swab ensures optimal elution of the specimen into the transport medium.

The kit comprises of one sterile throat swab, one nasopharyngeal swab and a tube of Viral Transport Medium The viral transport medium contains essential buffers and antibiotics required for maintaining the viability of the viruses during transport. The medium is also recommended by CDC and WHO for collection and transport of Coronavirus.

The Nylon/Polyester Flocked Swab contains short perpendicular nylon fiber strands attached to flexible molded plastic that results in efficient collection and release of particular matter. The flocked specimen yields more sample which helps to maximizes sensitivity of cell culture and molecular technique assay. Flexible plastic shaft delivers better patient comfort. Each swab has a molded breakpoint which allows the swab to be broken in to the tube.

PRINCIPLE

The viral transport medium consists of Hanks Balanced Salt Solution modified and enriched with bovine serum albumin, amino acid, gelatin peptone and carbohydrate. The pH is adjusted with buffer. Phenol red is used as a pH indicator. Vancomycin, amphotericin B and colistin have been added to the medium to inhibit the proliferation of competing bacteria and yeasts. The medium is isotonic and lacks toxicity to the mammalian host cells.

contact with the transport medium. To maintain optimum viability, samples should be taken to the laboratory as soon as possible. Better recovery is obtained if samples are refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C or held with ice pack after collection and during transport. If there is going to be a long delay before the samples are processed, the samples should be frozen at -70°C or lower temperature and transported in dry ice.