BBL CultureSwab Plus

Becton Dickinson CultureSwab Plus Collection and Transport System Overview

The BD BBL CultureSwab Plus is a complete cotton swab culture collection, transport, and preservation system. This product is made for throat, vaginal, wound, and skin swabs. Each cotton swab is completely sterile and comes individually packaged with an attached cap and an Amies agar gel-containing transport container. The red algae-based gel in each container contains a phosphate buffer, sodium thioglycollate, and oxygen-scavenging agents and helps moisten and protect collected microorganisms to increase microbial recovery. This includes both anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms.

This system has a sophisticated vial design. Tubes are designed to distribute the Amies gel evenly across its inner surface to further promote moisture retention, oxidation minimization, and specimen preservation. The gel reservoirs inside are completely non-toxic and have a 5-milliliter volume. The caps for these tubes are designed to be extra safe with both a double-secured cap and a tamper-evident seal. Try the CultureSwab Plus Collection and Transport System today for a simple, yet secure, specimen-collection procedure.

Features and Benefits

• Throat, Skin, Wound, and Vaginal Specimen Collection Tool
• Attached Closed Container
• Double-Secured Cap
• Tamper-Evident Seal
• Enhanced Microbial Recovery
• Amies Agar (Red Algae) Gel
• Gel Promotes Life of Microorganisms
• Gel Contains Phosphate Buffer and Sodium Thioglycolate
• Both Anaerobic and Aerobic Microorganism Support
• Oxygen-Scavenging Agents
• Proportionate Surface Area Gel Exposure
• Moisture-Retention Design
• Oxidation-Reducing Container5 Milliliter Gel Column
• Non-Toxic Gel Reservoir
• Sterile

Applications

These swabs might be used for the following:

• Skin or wound infection detection and prevention (such as various types of rashes, herpes, athlete's foot, and staph)
• Throat infection detection (such as strep throat, meningitis, tonsillitis, whooping cough, and pneumonia)
• Vaginal infection and STD detection (such as yeast infections, trichomonas, and other forms of vaginitis)
• Infection treatment decision making
• And more

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a BBL CultureSwab used for?
These swabs are made to specifically collect throat, wound, epidural, and vaginal specimens.

How long is a culture swab good for?
Healthcare professionals should always check the expiration date on the box or swab itself before use. The viability of microorganisms will last between 24 and 48 hours after collection with the use of the CultureSwab Plus. Expired culture swabs should not be used. Used culture swabs should be sent to a laboratory for testing immediately. Do not use sterile swabs if there is damage to the package as the swab may no longer be sterile. These swabs are for single use only.

How are the swabs stored?
The Swabs should be stored between 5 and 77 degrees F.

What is Amie gel?
This Amies agar gel is a sugary gel derived from red algae. This gel supports sampling anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms and contains oxygen-scavenging agents. It helps diminish potential oxidation. These features protect the specimen and promote its survival and usability.

Product Specifications

• Manufacturer: BD Becton Dickinson
• Brand: CultureSwab
• Product Number: 220116
• Material: Plastic, Cotton
• Color: Clear, Blue
• Volume: 5 Milliliters
• Length: 5.2 Inches
• Sterile: Yes
• Type: Culture Swab
• Style: Tamper-Evident
• Application: Culture Collection

Resources

Harkin, Michael. Throat Swab Culture 2017.    Harvard Medical School. Testing for Vaginitis (Yeast Infections, Trichomonas, and Gardnerella) 2019.    Ramos, Juan. What Is Agar? 2018.    University of Michigan. Skin and Wound Cultures 2020.