Tubes & Sample Collection

<h2 dir="ltr">What are specimen collection swabs?</h2>
 Specimen collection swabs are sterile, single-use devices with a fiber tip on a plastic or wire shaft, used to acquire material from a patient's nasopharynx, anterior nares, oropharynx, wound, skin, or environment for diagnostic testing or microbial culture. Modern flocked swabs replace yards of wrapped fiber with perpendicular nylon or polyester fibers attached to the applicator, giving roughly 97 % specimen release on vortex versus about 33 % for traditional rayon or polyester. Buy from this category whenever specimen acquisition feeds a downstream culture or PCR &mdash; the swab determines whether the assay sees the analyte at all. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
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<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sterile flocked swabs for high-efficiency sample collection and release</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Polyester and rayon swabs for general microbiology sampling</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nylon flocked nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swabs</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Dry swabs for direct plating or molecular testing workflows</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Swabs with transport tubes for stabilized sample transfer</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Breakpoint swabs for easy release into collection vials</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"> How to choose specimen collection swabs</h2>
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Match the collection site Nasopharyngeal swabs use long flexible shafts (~150 mm) and small flocked or molded tips designed to reach the posterior nasopharynx. Anterior nares swabs are shorter and gentler. Oropharyngeal and wound swabs come in foam or flocked variants depending on the target organism.
Choose tip material for the assay Flocked nylon or polyester is the default for respiratory virus PCR. Cotton, calcium alginate, and wood-shafted swabs are excluded by CDC guidance because cotton contains PCR-inhibitory fatty acids and calcium alginate inhibits PCR directly. Foam suits some bacterial cultures and rapid antigen tests.
Verify the breakpoint and the shaft A predetermined breakpoint at a defined distance from the tip (commonly 100&ndash;101 mm for nasopharyngeal swabs) lets the operator snap the shaft into the transport tube; shafts should be plastic or wire, never wood.
Confirm sterility and FDA listing Single-use sterile peel pouches are the clinical standard. Swabs are FDA Class I exempt devices; verify the manufacturer's FDA registration and listing on the certificate of conformity.
<h2 dir="ltr"> Specifications context</h2>
 Diagnostic swabs are characterized by tip material, shaft material, total length, breakpoint distance, and sterility status. Nasopharyngeal flocked swabs commonly measure about 150 mm overall with a breakpoint near 100 mm and a flexible plastic shaft; the MedSchenker CavSwab uses Allium&trade; flock technology on a 153 mm shaft with a 101.3 mm breakpoint. Specimen release ranges from roughly 33 % for traditional rayon/polyester up to about 97 % for flocked nylon. As of 2026, these sit in a low-to-mid price tier per swab and are typically sold in case quantities of 100 or 500.&nbsp; 
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For swab selection, material compatibility, and sample collection formats,<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us"> the MBP team&nbsp;</a>can guide you to the most suitable option based on your testing method and workflow setup.

Swabs

Anterior Nasal swab

AC4100 by MedSchenker is the CavSwab™ Anterior Nare swab, featuring a precision scalloped nylon flocked tip at 80 mm total length (no breakpoint) for enhanced anterior nostril specimen collection. E-beam sterile, medical-grade polypropylene shaft. Case of 5,000 units. Compatible with VTM, UTM, antigen testing, and molecular assays.

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Length

Breakpoint

Shelf life

Manufacturer

MedSchenker Nasal Swab

AC1100 CavSwab™ by MedSchenker is an Allium™ nylon-flocked nasopharyngeal swab — 153 mm total, 101.3 mm breakpoint, 100% medical-grade polypropylene shaft, electron-beam sterile, FDA listed, individually packaged.

<h2 dir="ltr">What are VTM tubes?</h2>
 VTM tubes are pre-filled, screw-cap polypropylene tubes containing viral transport medium &mdash; an isotonic buffer designed to preserve virus viability and viral RNA between specimen collection and PCR or culture in the lab. The CDC reference formulation (SOP DSR-052) is Hank's Balanced Salt Solution with 2 % heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 100 &micro;g/mL gentamicin, and 0.5 &micro;g/mL amphotericin B &mdash; antibiotics that suppress contaminating bacteria and fungi without inactivating the target virus. Most are sold as 3 mL aliquots in a 10 mL or 15 mL conical tube. Buy from this category whenever a respiratory or other virus specimen must travel from the point of collection to a testing laboratory.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What You Will Find:</h2>
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<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Viral Transport Medium (VTM) Tubes &ndash; Medical-grade vials designed to maintain viral viability during transit.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Universal Transport Medium (UTM) &ndash; Versatile, bead-free systems for preserving viruses, chlamydia, and mycoplasma.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">DNA/RNA Shield Collection Tubes &ndash; Advanced tubes that lock in nucleic acid profiles and inactivate pathogens.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Smart Collection &amp; Transport Systems &ndash; High-performance vials and kits for streamlined diagnostic management.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Saliva Collection Kits &ndash; User-friendly funnel and vial systems for non-invasive, high-yield sampling.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Flocked Swab &amp; Medium Combos &ndash; Precision-engineered pairings for maximum recovery and immediate stabilization.</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"> How to choose VTM tubes</h2>
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Verify the formulation against CDC SOP Confirm the medium follows CDC SOP DSR-052 (HBSS + 2 % HI-FBS + gentamicin + amphotericin B); some lots substitute 1 % bovine serum albumin or fluconazole &mdash; both are accepted variants, but the substitution should be on the certificate of analysis.
Check tube material and IATA compliance For specimen shipping, the primary tube should be polypropylene, screw-capped, and rated to 95 kPa internal pressure per IATA packaging instruction 650. MedSchenker tubes are 100 % polypropylene and 95 kPa compliant.
Match volume to the swab and assay 3 mL of medium in a 10 mL tube is the CDC reference fill for nasopharyngeal swabs; 1 mL or 1.5 mL versions exist for pediatric and difficult-to-collect specimens where dilution must be minimized.
Confirm storage and stability Standard VTM stabilizes respiratory viruses for about 72 hours at 2&ndash;8 &deg;C; some commercial formulations are room-temperature stable for up to six months. The MedSchenker Smart Transport Medium variant maintains organism viability for 96 hours at room temperature. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">Specifications context</h2>
 A VTM tube is defined by its formulation, fill volume, primary container material, screw-cap design, and validated stability window. The MedSchenker line is manufactured by Vectormed (a Vectornate company, headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey, and manufactured in South Korea), is FDA-cleared and CE-marked, and ships sterile in individual peel-pouch or bulk case packaging. As of 2026, MBP stocks 3.0 mL and 1.5 mL MedSchenker VTM formats and the Smart Transport Medium variant alongside paired flocked swabs.&nbsp; 
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Don&rsquo;t let your viral titers drop. Browse our VTM inventory and hit up the<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us" style="color: #236fa1; text-decoration: underline;"> MBP team </a>for a custom quote today.

VTM Tubes

Saliva Collection System (Funnel + Collection Vial)

SCK-KIT by MedSchenker — FDA-listed saliva collection system with ergonomic backflow-preventing funnel and 10 mL CQ-Lock polypropylene vial; 7-day virus viability at room temperature.

Volume

Package type

Material

Collection System

<h2 dir="ltr">What are UTM Tubes?</h2>
 Universal Transport Medium (UTM) tubes are pre-filled collection and transport systems containing Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) enriched with proteins, a pH indicator, and antibiotics that maintain the viability of viruses, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma for 48 hours at room or refrigerated temperature. They are used in molecular diagnostics, viral culture, antigen detection, and NAAT-based workflows for respiratory, genital, and other clinical specimens. The Copan UTM&reg; (catalog 360C and related) is FDA-cleared and is cited in CDC guidelines as an acceptable transport system for SARS-CoV-2 specimens. Choose UTM tubes over plain saline when the specimen requires extended ambient-temperature stability, viral viability for culture, or compatibility with automated molecular diagnostic platforms validated for UTM matrix.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
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<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Pre-filled UTM tubes for viral and microbial specimen transport</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Swab-integrated collection systems for respiratory sampling</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">3 mL and 5 mL Universal Transport Medium tube formats</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sterile screw-cap tubes for secure clinical handling</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Buffered transport medium for pathogen stabilization</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal compatible sampling systems</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"> How to Choose UTM Tubes</h2>
 Standard Tube vs. Round-Bottom (UTM-RT) Standard UTM tubes (12 &times; 80 mm, red cap, 3 mL) require swab removal and possible aliquoting before loading onto automated analyzers. The UTM-RT&reg; Round Bottom Tube is engineered for direct loading onto Roche cobas&reg; 5800/6800/8800 platforms without aliquoting or swab removal, saving processing steps in high-volume clinical labs. Choose UTM-RT if your laboratory runs cobas instrumentation at scale.
With or Without Swab Bulk media tubes (tube-only format) suit labs that stock their own swab type. Kit configurations pair UTM tubes with Copan FLOQSwabs&reg; (flocked nylon), which provide 10&ndash;100&times; greater cell elution than rayon or Dacron swabs, directly impacting the sensitivity of downstream NAAT and antigen tests. For nasopharyngeal specimens, the minitip FLOQSwab + UTM combination is the standard validated pairing.
Volume: 1 mL vs. 3 mL Fill A 1 mL fill is used when a higher specimen concentration is needed for sensitive assays or limited-volume extraction protocols. A 3 mL fill is the standard for most NAAT platforms. Using a 1 mL tube on a platform calibrated for 3 mL inputs may cause out-of-range results; always confirm volume requirements with your assay's instructions for use.
Bead Inclusion UTM tubes with 3 glass beads facilitate the release and dispersion of patient material from the swab tip during vortexing, improving homogeneity before aliquoting. For platforms that recommend homogenization (e.g., high-mucosity respiratory specimens), bead-containing UTM is preferred.
Regulatory Status For clinical diagnostic use, confirm that your specific UTM tube carries FDA 510(k) clearance. Copan UTM&reg; (K910043 and subsequent clearances) is FDA-cleared for collection, transport, preservation, and long-term freeze storage of clinical specimens and complies with CLSI M40-A2 standards. Verify product-specific regulatory status before deploying in clinical settings.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Specifications Context</h2>
 UTM contains HBSS supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA), sucrose, gentamicin, amphotericin B, and a phenol-red pH indicator. The antibiotic-antimycotic formulation inhibits bacterial and fungal overgrowth without affecting viral, Chlamydial, or Mycoplasmal viability. At ambient temperature (15&ndash;25 &deg;C) or 2&ndash;8 &deg;C, UTM maintains organism viability for 48 hours. For long-term storage of viral isolates, specimens can be frozen at &minus;70 &deg;C or colder; storage at &minus;20 &deg;C is specifically discouraged by Copan because it can result in loss of viral infectivity. UTM-RT has received CE-IVDR compliance marking. As of 2026, Copan UTM&reg; is carried by MBP and is a registered catalog item for institutional procurement customers.
 MBP is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Direct PO ordering and bulk pricing available.&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact MBP</a> &mdash;they&rsquo;ll help you sort out the right UTM setup without second-guessing.

UTM Tubes

Smart Collection System STM30 + AC1100 SCS30-A

SCS30-A Smart Collection System by MedSchenker combines the AC1100 CavSwab™ Allium™ nylon-flocked nasal swab with 3 mL STM30 transport medium — CO-Lock cap, Phenol Red indicator, 96-hour specimen viability at room temperature, electron-beam sterile, FDA listed.

CavSwab™

Organism viability

Sample Vial

<h2 dir="ltr">What are Transport Tubes?</h2>
 Transport tubes are sterile, leak-proof screw-cap tubes used for collecting, transporting, and temporarily storing biological specimens from the collection site to the testing laboratory. They span a broad category: empty specimen containers (15 mL and 50 mL self-standing conical tubes), pre-filled saline transport tubes, UTM (Universal Transport Medium) tubes, and specialty specimen vials. All transport tubes share three required attributes&mdash;leak-proof construction, sterility confirmation, and compatibility with the downstream assay's matrix requirements. Choose the transport tube type based on the specimen, the target analyte, and the assay platform it will be processed on. 
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
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<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">5 mL transport tubes for routine sample movement</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">10 mL tubes for higher volume biological samples</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Leak-tight screw-cap tubes for secure handling</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sterile transport tubes for clinical workflows</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Graduated tubes with labeling surfaces for tracking</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Self-standing tubes for easier bench organization</li>
</ul>
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<h2 dir="ltr">How to Choose Transport Tubes</h2>
 Material: Polypropylene (PP) vs. Polystyrene (PS) PP conical transport tubes are chemical-resistant, autoclavable, and certified DNase/RNase-free in molecular-grade formats. PS transport tubes (30 mL translucent format, Globe Scientific) are lighter and less expensive but not autoclavable. For nucleic acid work, DNA/RNA-free certified PP is the standard. For specimen transport requiring centrifugation, PP is preferred due to higher g-force tolerance (PP rated to &ge;10,000 &times; g in most formats). Self-Standing vs. Rack Format Self-standing (skirted-base) conical tubes stand upright without a rack, reducing knock-over risk during aliquoting and transport. Rack-based tubes require a separate holder. Globe Scientific self-standing 50 mL PP transport tubes feature a printed graduation, white frosted writing area, and are available sterile, non-sterile, or metal-free. Sterile tubes are RNase/DNase-free and pyrogen-free per the lot certificate. Sterile vs. Non-Sterile Sterile tubes (ISO 11137 radiation sterilization, SAL 10⁻⁶) are required for culture, NAAT, and any specimen where contamination would invalidate the result. Non-sterile metal-free PP tubes are suited to trace-element analysis and environmental sampling where sterility is not required but metal contamination would interfere. Volume 15 mL tubes are standard for most clinical specimen aliquots, urine transfers, and culture setups. 50 mL tubes are used for higher-volume specimens (24-hour urine aliquots, stool homogenates, bulk transport of tissue homogenates). Globe Scientific 30 mL tubes with integral spoon are designed specifically for fecal specimen self-collection. Media and Additives Empty transport tubes (no fill) are the base format; select a pre-filled tube (saline, UTM, boric acid) based on the specimen type and analyte stability requirements. For nucleic acid targets, pre-filled tubes with DNA/RNA Shield, UTM, or saline are the appropriate formats. 
<h2 dir="ltr"> Specifications Context</h2>
 Globe Scientific self-standing 50 mL conical transport tubes are manufactured from USP Class VI medical-grade PP with a conical bottom skirt for freestanding stability. Printed graduation marks (1 mL intervals) and a frosted writing area are standard features. Sterile versions are individually wrapped and certified RNase-free, DNase-free, and pyrogen-free per lot certificate, consistent with ISO 9001:2015 manufacturing standards. Non-sterile metal-free versions are supplied with a separate natural screw cap and are tested for trace metals via ICP-MS before lot release. MBP's transport tubes catalog includes Globe Scientific and NEST Scientific formats in multiple pack sizes (25/bag and bulk packs of 500). 
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If you need help choosing tube size or matching the right transport format to your workflow,<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us" style="color: #236fa1; text-decoration: underline;"> the MBP team</a> can help you sort it out without overthinking it.

Transport Tube Products

Smart Transport Empty Vial

Smart Transport Empty Vial (STM100-V) by MedSchenker is a sterile, empty 10 mL skirted conical PP tube (16×100 mm) with CQ-Lock screw cap, E-beam sterilized, manufactured under ISO 13485, for bacteriology and routine lab procedures.

Inner Box

Tube

Size

Smart Transport Medium Vial

STM00-A by MedSchenker — FDA-listed, CE-marked viral transport medium vial; 1.5/2/3 mL volumes; 96-hour room-temperature viability; IATA PI650 compliant; 18-month shelf life.