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The FDA announced today that spun synthetic swabs — with a design similar to Q-tips — could be used to collect samples from patients suspected of having COVID-19. Patients could even take the samples themselves from the front of the nose, the agency said.

The solution could help solve multiple problems:

The FDA said it collaborated with UnitedHealth Group, the Gates Foundation and diagnostics company Quantigen on a clinical investigation to determine whether spun synthetic swabs could be used for COVID-19 testing.

U.S. Cotton (Gastonia, N.C.) developed a polyester-based, Q-tip-type swab that is fully synthetic for compatibility with COVID-19 testing, according to the agency. Harnessing its large-scale, U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities, U.S. Cotton plans to produce these new polyester swabs in large quantities to help meet the needs for coronavirus diagnostic testing, the agency said.

“This action today demonstrates the ingenuity that results from the FDA working in partnership with the private sector,” said FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn in a news release. “We appreciate the work of these collaborators to consider how these test supplies could be broadly distributed to meet not only the testing needs of the United States but also global needs around the pandemic. All of these actions by these American organizations will help continue to expand our testing capability.”

Filed Under: Business/Financial News, Diagnostics, Featured, Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Tagged With: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, coronavirus, COVID-19, FDA, Quantigen, U.S. Cotton, United Health Group

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