With flu season in full swing, COPAN Diagnostics, Inc., has announced the launch of the first in a series of free educational videos on best practices for specimen collection. The first video features nasopharyngeal swab specimen collection using Nylon flocked swabs and viral transport media (FLOQSwabs and UTM). The goal of the video series is to provide accessible and informative learning tools to help healthcare providers collect adequate and accurate patient specimen samples.
The videos were produced in partnership with J. Michael Miller, PhD, (D)ABMM, director of Microbiology Technical Services, a private consulting firm for diagnostic laboratories. Dr. Miller spent 35 years with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has had a long-term interest in specimen management and clinical relevance. He has authored numerous publications on the topic of proper specimen collection, including A Guide to Specimen Management in Clinical Microbiology, published by the American Society for Microbiology Press.
According to COPAN representatives, the company believes education in specimen collection in the pre-analytical phase of Microbiology is critical to ensure the best patient results. To achieve the goal of providing valuable educational tools, COPAN often partners with experts in the industry such as Dr. Miller.
“Specimen collection is sometimes overlooked as a critical and often life-saving component of patient care,” notes Dr. Miller. “Correct techniques must be learned and carried out properly. Without a specimen that has been appropriately selected, collected, and transported, the microbiology laboratory can provide little value to patient care, and the results of analysis on a poor specimen could lead to erroneous diagnosis and inappropriate therapy. This free video series will provide valuable demonstrations for staff who are tasked with collecting a specimen.”
The launch of this first video on nasopharyngeal collection is part of a series which will include:
- Tools of the trade—discussion of collection systems
- Nasal collection with standard and mid turbinate swab
- Throat collection
- Wound collection
- Eye collection
- Urethral collection
- Vaginal collection
- Ear specimen collection
- Clean catch urine collection
