Product Materials
Puritan uses only the finest materials to provide the highest-quality products in the market today. Explore the following descriptions of many—but not all—of the materials we use in swabs for healthcare, diagnostics, forensics, critical manufacturing, and food processing.
Puritan HydraFlock® vs. PurFlock Ultra®
Flocking refers to a process of applying short fibers to an adhesive-coated surface, which turns the swab into a velvet-like brush.

Designed specifically for the collection and release
of biological specimens, HydraFlock® flocked swabs
provide higher absorption capacity and release than
standard nylon flock swabs.

Higher purity and cell release characteristics make
PurFlock Ultra® flocked swabs ideal for PCR, molecular
assays, DFA testing, forensic applications, and direct
antigen testing.
Patented
Australia (AU)
Canada (CA)
China (CN)
Germany (DE)
European (EP)
Spain (ES)
France (FR)
Great Britain (GB)
Hong Kong (HK)
Italy (IT)
Japan (JP)
United States (US)
PurFlock Ultra
2010341421
2,744,678
ZL201080049991.2
602010008035.8
2263549
2263549
2263549
2263549
HK1152217
2263549
5453529
8.420.385 9.274.029
HydraFlock
2010341422
2,744,678
ZL201080049991.7
602010008033.1
2263548
2263548
2263548
2263548
HK1152216
2263548
5453530 6054277
8.334.134 9.279.747
Patent Pending
United States (US)
PurFlock Ultra
14/969530
HydraFlock
15/007.629
Our Flocked Tip vs. Others

Puritan HydraFlock® + PurFlock Ultra®
Polyester Flock
Highest Performing Collection and Elution
NO fiber treatment = pure specimen collection
Made in the USA
Competitor
Nylon Flock
Inferior specimen absorption and release
Yellow coloring = treated or coated
Imported
A Tip Material for Every Need

Cotton
U.S. spun cotton fiber is used in everything from basic patient care to crime scene investigation. Cotton is absorbent, soft, low cost, and safe.

Polyester
A synthetic spun fiber with excellent collection and release properties validated for use in microbiology, rapid test diagnostics, and PCR analysis.

Rayon
A spun fiber made from wood pulp. Much like cotton, rayon is soft and absorbent and can be used for diagnostic specimen collection as well as patient care.

Foam
Medical grade polyurethane comes in a range of porosities and absorbencies for patient care and diagnostics. Other performance features can be specified.

Knitted Polyester
Woven polyester fabric tips are commonly made without soluble adhesives, ensuring a low-lint, absorbent swab perfect for controlled environments.

Calcium Alginate
Derived from seaweed, the calcium alginate used to make our Calgiswab® applicators contains no fatty acids that may inhibit many strains of gonorrhea.
Handle Materials
Puritan offers a wide variety of swab handle materials to meet our
customers' diverse needs. Do you need a durable applicator that's
resistant to fracture? Polypropylene could be perfect. Or what about
a specimen collection tool that's sleeker than the standard swab?
A fine-diameter aluminum or stainless steel shaft is your best bet.
Customization is also available if you require a special color, certain
breakpoint, tip size, or shape.

Plastic

Wood

Paper
