Cotton swabs

For the sampling of biological materials like blood, saliva, etc., cotton swabs in tubes are used. When the material has dried, the cotton is first wetted with water (distilled or demineralized) before sampling. To avoid microbial degradation of the sample, the cotton must be completely dry before the swab is replaced in the tube.

A time-saving alternative is to cut a hole in the tube well above the area with the cotton swab. This enabs the swab to dry during transport and storage. The distance of the hole to the swab helps to avoid cross contamination with other swabs in case material of the swab would fall off during transport (e.g. blood flakes.)

The cotton swab is ethylene oxide [EtO] sterilised, 13 cm long, with a wooden shaft (attached to the cap) in a sealed plastic tube. The plastic tube has a writable label for marking.

The Forensic Swab XL has a filter on the bottom of the tube that makes is unnessary to cut a hole in the tube for drying and cross-contamination is avoided. Each tube is individually numbered and has a writable label. The picture is off the L-variant. The XL has a longer shaft (just as the L made of polystyrene) and a shorter cap. The total length is 17.5 cm.