COVID-19 Pandemic Has Increased the Demand for Nasopharyngeal Swab

 


A nasopharyngeal swab is a method for collecting specimens for diagnostic testing of nasal secretions from the back of the nose and throat. The sample is then analyzed for the presence of organisms or other diagnostic markers for the disease. A nasopharyngeal swab is widely used in suspected cases of influenza, diphtheria, cough, and a variety of diseases caused by the coronavirus family of viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. The novel coronavirus quickly transformed from a local outbreak to a pandemic and has made its way to almost every corner of the world. Testing for COVID-19 involves placing a 6-inch long swab in the cavity between the nose and throat for 15 seconds and rotating it several times. The swab is then put into a container and sent to a laboratory for testing. In April 2020, the United States Food and Drug Association (FDA) announced its approval for a broader range of swabs to be used in the tests. 

To date, in the United States, the virus has infected more than 15.5 million people and killed more than 290,000 people. In the United Kingdom, the virus has infected more than 1.77 million people and killed more than 62,566 people. In Italy, the virus has infected more than 1.77 million people and killed more than 61,739 people. As these are essential for testing COVID-19. The rising number of cases worldwide has stirred the demand for Nasopharyngeal Swabs. As of December 9, 2020, the United States had performed more than 211 million tests for COVID-19, the highest number of any country worldwide.

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