Abstract
The collection capacity of common nasopharyngeal swabs and irregularities of medical personnel limit the accuracy of PCR testing. This study describes a newly designed 3D-printed swab that is combined with a 3D-printed cover to prevent the extraction of undesired nasal secretions. This swab improved the accuracy of PCR test results. The results of a series of experiments showed that, because of the mucus extraction effect, 3D-printed swabs can replace ordinary cotton swabs. The crisis of the worldwide medical supply shortage can be ameliorated to a certain extent by applying 3D printing technology.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global shortage of nasopharyngeal swabs needed for sample collection
Swabs must exhibit good mechanical behavior; they are expected to maintain an undeformed shape in compression tests and a good toughness to resist plastic deformation in buckling tests
The results presented here confirm the findings of Callahan et al [8] that 3D-printed swabs are a good alternative to normal cotton swabs
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global shortage of nasopharyngeal swabs needed for sample collection. This shortage may have an adverse effect by delaying testing for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases [1, 2]. When obtaining samples for PCR tests, healthcare personnel may be afraid of being infected; this can lead to mental stress and performance irregularities. This factor, coupled with a lack of a standard swabbing practice, may contribute to the high false-negative rate
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
