Lab Test

Specimen Collection Manual: Nasopharyngeal for Eosinophils

Eosinophils and PMNs Smear

Instructions

Materials/Supplies

  • A dry, flexible, type 1 aluminum-shafted, Rayon- or Dacron-tipped wire swab with culture/transport media should be used for this procedure.
  • Use separate swabs when collecting specimens from both nostrils.

    flu pak diagnostic swab plastic and aluminum

Specimen Collection Criteria

  • Insert the swab into one nostril.
  • The swab tip should touch the mucosal surface of the mid-inferior portion of the inferior turbinate:



  • Hold the swab in place for 5-15 seconds, then gently rotate the swab three times to loosen and collect cellular material.
  • Withdraw the swab and rub it on the surface of an acetone-cleaned slide. Be sure to roll the swab so that the entire surface of the swab comes into contact with the slide.
  • Repeat the process on a second slide.
  • Allow the slides to air dry.
  • Send the slides to the Laboratory in a slide mailer.
  • If submitting a swab only, ensure insertion of the swab into transport medium is performed so that the swab becomes moistened.

Rejection Criteria

  • Dry culturettes and dry swabs.

Reference

Applicable Tests:

Contacts

Last Updated

5/24/2024

Microtainer® and Vacutainer® are registered trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
UroVysion® is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. ThinPrep® is a registered trademark of Hologic, Incorporated.