Eye Swab Chlamydia PCR

Patient Preparation

Aptima eye swabs (orange label)

• Partially peel open the swab package. Remove the swab. Do not touch the soft tip or lay the swab down. If the soft tip is touched, the swab is laid down, or the swab is dropped, use a new APTIMA Swab Specimen Collection Kit.
• Hold the swab, placing your thumb and forefinger in the middle of the swab shaft covering the score line. Do not hold the swab shaft below the score line.
• Hold the swab parallel to the cornea and gently rub the conjunctiva in the lower eyelids from nasal side outwards.
• Swab any pus or exudates as well as any lesion of interest.
• While holding the swab in the same hand, unscrew the cap from the tube. Do not spill the contents of the tube. If the contents of the tube are spilled, use a new APTIMA Vaginal Swab Specimen Collection Kit.
• Immediately place the swab into the transport tube so that the score line is at the top of the tube.
• Carefully break the swab shaft at the score line against the side of the tube.
• Immediately discard the top portion of the swab shaft.
• Tightly screw the cap onto the tube.
• If both eyes are to be swabbed, label swabs ‘right’ and ‘left’ accordingly