Study Shows Puritan's Foam Swabs Provide Superior Influenza Detection

A recent study conducted by Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio has concluded that Puritan's foam swabs outperform flocked swabs for detecting influenza. The study compared the clinical sensitivity and specifity of anterior nares specimens collected by a Puritan polyurethane foam swab vs. a nylon flocked swab. Samples of specimen were taken during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 influenza seasons. Results showed that Puritan's high-absorbency foam swabs allowed a larger sample of reliable specimen to be collected using the Quidel QuickVue Influenza Test A & B.