microFLOQ™ Swabs

microFLOQ Swabs are comprised of a solid, molded plastic applicator shaft with a regular-sized tip. The tip of the applicator is coated with short nylon fibers that are arranged in a perpendicular fashion. This perpendicular arrangement is the result of a process called flocking, where the fibers are sprayed onto the tip of the swab while it is held in an electrostatic field. This process creates a highly absorbent, thin layer with an open structure. The swab is supplied in a tube with an active drying system for sample drying and is suitable for reference and evidence collection applications.

Features of microFLOQ Swabs include:

• ISO 18385 certified—free of DNase, RNase, and amplifiable human DNA
• Rapid absorption capability and superior sample release
• Micro-size tip to concentrate minute amounts of DNA
• Lysing treatment on fibers enables direct DNA amplification
• 17-mm break point (from tip end)—easy to process in standard 96-well PCR microplates or 0.2-mL PCR tubes

Unlike traditional fiber wound swabs, microFLOQ Swabs have no internal absorbent core to disperse and entrap the specimen. The sample stays close to the surface for faster and more efficient elution. The perpendicular nylon fibers act like a soft brush that facilitates improved collection of cellular material. Capillary action between the fiber strands facilitates strong hydraulic uptake of liquid sample, and the sample stays close to the surface allowing easy elution.

microFLOQ Swabs are manufactured by Copan, a market leader in the area of sample collection tools, and distributed globally by Thermo Fisher Scientific.