What is the Difference Between Nasopharyngeal and Nasal Swab

Nasopharyngeal and nasal swabs are common methods used to collect samples from the upper respiratory tract. CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) usually recommends collecting and testing respiratory specimens such as nasopharyngeal, nasal mid-turbinate, or anterior nasal when using diagnostic tests such as NAAT (nucleic acid amplification) for confirmatory testing. Swabs are a very important part of healthcare and diagnostic settings. They have gained significant attention in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The key difference between nasopharyngeal and nasal swab is the location from which the sample is collected. A nasopharyngeal swab is used to collect diagnostic samples from the upper part of the throat behind the nose, while a nasal swab is used to collect diagnostic samples from the nasal membrane.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Nasopharyngeal Swab
3. What is a Nasal Swab
4. Similarities – Nasopharyngeal and Nasal Swab
5. Nasopharyngeal vs Nasal Swab in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Nasopharyngeal vs Nasal Swab
7. FAQ – Nasopharyngeal and Nasal Swab

What is a Nasopharyngeal Swab?

A nasopharyngeal swab is a method used to look for bacteria or viruses that cause respiratory infections. Nasopharyngeal swab collects a sample from the nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the throat, behind the nose. This is done by healthcare providers. In this method, a small, mini-tipped swab is first inserted into the nostril parallel to the chin until resistance is felt. Normally, the swab is inserted half the distance between the nostrils and the ear. Then, the swab is rotated a few times while holding it in place. Later, the swab is slowly removed while gently rotating.

Healthcare providers perform this test to look for respiratory infections such as COVID-19, flu, whooping cough, meningitis, RSV infections, and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections. However, using this swab method can sometimes lead to problems like accidentally leaving the swab inside the nose, epistaxis (nosebleed), and cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

What is a Nasal Swab?

A nasal swab is a method used by healthcare providers to collect a diagnostic sample from the inside of the nose using a swab. This method involves inserting a swab into the nostril about 0.5-.75 inches deep. The swab is rotated for 10-15 seconds while touching the sides of the nasal wall in one nostril.  Then, with the same swab, the diagnostic sample is collected in the other nostril.

Nasal swabs can be used to diagnose COVID-19, bacterial infections (meningitis), and fungal infections. Furthermore, a nasal swab is less uncomfortable, but it can still cause some issues, like the swab breaking if its breakpoint mechanism is triggered during the test or causing some bleeding.

Similarities Between Nasopharyngeal and Nasal Swab

1. Nasopharyngeal and nasal swabs are two different methods that use swabs to collect respiratory samples.
2. Both methods can be used to diagnose respiratory infections.
3. The above methods are usually combined with PCR testing.
4. Both methods are done by trained professionals or healthcare providers.
5. These methods may cause some complications like bleeding.

Difference Between Nasopharyngeal and Nasal Swab

Definition

1. Nasopharyngeal swab is done by collecting a diagnostic sample from the nasopharynx by using a swab.
2. Nasal swab is done by collecting a diagnostic sample from the nasal membrane by using a swab.

Comfort Level

1. Nasopharyngeal swab is more uncomfortable.
2. Nasal swab is less uncomfortable.

Effectiveness

1. Nasopharyngeal swab is comparatively more effective.
2. Nasal swab is comparatively less effective.

Method

1. Nasopharyngeal swab method involves tilting the head back, inserting a long swab into the nostril until it reaches the nasopharynx, rotating the swab for 10 to 15 seconds, and removing it.
2. Nasal swab method involves gently inserting a swab inside the nostril and rotating the swab for 10-15 seconds, removing the swab and inserting it into the other nostril, swabbing the other nostril by using the same technique and removing the swab.

Complications

1. Nasopharyngeal swabs can cause complications like retained swabs, epistaxis, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
2. Nasal swabs can cause complications like breaking the nasal swab by triggering the swab’s breakpoint mechanism during the examination and bleeding.

Used to Diagnose

1. Nasopharyngeal swab is used to diagnose conditions like COVID-19, flu, whooping cough, meningitis, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) infection, and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections.
2. Nasal swab is used to diagnose conditions like COVID-19, bacterial infections (meningitis), and fungal infections.

The following table summarizes the difference between nasopharyngeal and nasal swab.

Summary – Nasopharyngeal vs Nasal Swab

Nasopharyngeal and nasal swabs are two methods used to collect respiratory samples for testing using swabs. However, a nasopharyngeal swab is used to collect diagnostic samples from the upper part of the throat, behind the nose, while a nasal swab is used to collect diagnostic samples from the nasal membrane. Furthermore, nasopharyngeal swabs are more uncomfortable and comparatively more effective, whereas nasal swabs are less uncomfortable and comparatively less effective. This is the summary of the difference between nasopharyngeal and nasal swab.

FAQ: Nasopharyngeal and Nasal Swab

1. What is the use of swabs?

• A swab is a medical device used for the collection of biological samples from various parts of the human body, such as the throat and nose. It also allows for the transport and preservation of the sample.

2. How does one perform a nasal swab test?

• A nasal swab test is performed by inserting a swab into one nostril, about 0.5-.75 inches deep. The swab is rotated for 10-15 seconds while touching the sides of the nasal wall in the nostril. Then, the same procedure is repeated for the other nostril as well, with the same swab.

3. Is nose swab PCR test accurate for CoVID-19?

• The nose swab PCR test for COVID-19 is an accurate and reliable test for diagnosing COVID-19 disease. A positive test means the person is more likely to have COVID-19. A negative test means the person probably does not have COVID-19 at the time of the test.

4. What is the purpose of nasopharyngeal swab in testing?

• The upper part of the throat behind the nose is known as the nasopharynx. Nasopharyngeal swabs are used to collect samples from the nasopharynx in order to diagnose respiratory infections.

5. What is the difference between a PCR test, nasal swab, and an antigen test?

• PCR test nasal swab uses a nasal swab culture to detect the genetic material of the pathogen, and it is the most reliable and accurate test for detecting active infection. PCR tests typically take hours to perform, but some types are faster. On the other hand, an antigen test detects bits of proteins on the surface of the virus called antigens. Antigen tests generally take only 15 to 30 minutes.

 Reference:

1. “Nasopharyngeal Swab – An Overview.” ScienceDirect.
2. “Nasal Swab Test.” Healthify.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Man Getting Tested for Covid19” (CC0) via Pexels.com.

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