Blog
Mask up. Wash up.
No, it’s not just the flu. While we may have heard this ad nauseum the past year, what exactly makes SARS-CoV-2 different than the seasonal flu? COPAN Scientific Director Dr. Susan Sharp broke this down during her recent webinar on…
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New Protocol for Automated Processing of Lab Proficiency Testing (PT) Samples
The data from this multicenter study show that CAP bacteriology PT samples are compatible with both the WASP and the Inocula automated processing systems.
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Study Shows COPAN eNAT™ Transport System Can Address Challenges in COVID-19 Diagnostics in Regions with Limited Testing Access
COPAN eNAT™, molecular collection and preservation medium, which received FDA clearance for microbial nucleic acid storage and stabilization in September 2020 has been featured in a new February 2021 JCM study. COVID19 testing is typically readily available in urban areas…
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New Study Shows the Impacts of the Variability in Instructions for Performance of Nasopharyngeal Swabs in the Era of COVID-19
The gold standard collection to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 uses a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab. Given the significant demand for COVID19 testing, there are a large number of previously untrained and unfamiliar staff now collecting these specimens. We have all…
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COPAN’s Science-Driven Approach to Ramping Up COVID Collection Products One Swab at a Time
Detection. It’s one of the critical weapons in the battle against a virus that looks and acts like so many others. When SARS-CoV-2 first hit our shores, while we understood little about the novel virus, we did know one thing…
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COPAN Diagnostics Inc. Adds Another Tool to Its COVID-19 Arsenal with the Addition of Minitip Foam Swabs
Whether the sample is collected at a clinic, hospital or drive-through site, there’s one common denominator when concerning COVID-19 testing — the swab. And in the face of surging demand — so far, laboratories across the United States have processed more than 260 million COVID-19 tests — there’s obviously room for more collection and transport system options.1 Enter the minitip foam swab for nasopharyngeal swab collection. “COPAN Diagnostics recently added…
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Point-of-Care Testing More Safe and Secure with eNAT™
Drive-through testing sites. Walk-in clinics. Rapid tests at hospitals. With COVID cases on the rise and the holidays approaching, individuals are flocking to various testing sites across the country. And, of course, the frontline workers administering these tests are taking…
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FLOQSwab®: Frequently Asked Questions
Invented by COPAN, flocked swabs are a special type of swab produced with an applicator tip that is spray-coated with short Nylon® fibers arranged perpendicularly.
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UTM®: Frequently Asked Questions
UTM®: Viral Transport is an FDA cleared collection and transport system suitable for collection, transport, maintenance, and long-term freeze storage of clinical specimens containing viruses, including COVID-19, chlamydia, mycoplasma or ureaplasma organisms. The transport medium comes in a plastic, screw cap tube and maintains organism viability for 48 hours at room or refrigerated temperature.
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COVID-19 Sample Collection and Transport Resources
Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we have received many inquiries about which types of swabs, media, and kits can be used for COVID-19 sample collection before testing. Below we have a short guide on which COPAN products meet the CDC and FDA Guidelines. All testing for COVID-19 should be conducted in consultation with a healthcare provider.
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UriSponge™: Frequently Asked Questions
The UriSponge™ collection device combines a plastic tube and a screw cap with attached sponges impregnated with boric acid and sodium formate urine preservatives. Simply collect a sample by dipping the sponge momentarily into a urine specimen.
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FecalSwab® : Frequently Asked Questions
FecalSwab® combines a COPAN-invented flocked swab with 2mL of Cary-Blair medium in a plastic, screw cap tube. Simplify and standardize fecal sample collection, transport and processing, converting semi-solid fecal matter into liquid specimens.
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Experts Weigh in On the Evolving Age of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Diagnostics
A new article in Clinical Microbiology Newsletter reviews the current role of emergent Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies in microbiology diagnostic testing. The authors of the article examined the increasingly prevalent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our day-to-day lives and explored the role of AI in digital image analysis of parasitology samples, gram stains, and bacterial culture. The article also reviews the state of AI technologies in fields of MALDI-TOF mass spectral data analysis and genome sequencing.
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First-in-Class Study Validates Alternate Transport Media and Broader Storage Conditions for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Testing on RT-PCR Platforms
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a communicable illness caused by a newly identified coronavirus with the number of clinical cases currently on the rise globally. Since the first reported case in December 2019, greater than 3.2 million cases have been reported worldwide…
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FecalSwab®, An Excellent Alternative When Utilizing BD MAX™ Enteric Bacterial Panel and the Extended Enteric Bacterial Panel, Study Finds
A new study published in Diagnostic Microbiology & Infectious Disease examines the use of low volume COPAN FecalSwab® specimens on the BD MAX™ molecular platform. The objective of the study is to determine the ideal volume of the flocked swab-based FecalSwab® medium equivalent to the BD MAX™ recommended bulk stool device Meridian Para-Pak Cary-Blair medium.
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COPAN Celebrates International Women’s Day & the Women at COPAN
March is a beautiful time of year that brings with it the promise of warmer sunny days and fun outdoor activities. March is also a very special time of year because it is designated “National Women’s History Month,” a time…
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COPAN Streamlines Production to Yield Maximum Output of Viral Transport Kits for Collection of Upper Respiratory Samples, Including COVID-19
Brescia, Italy February 28, 2020 – With the surging demand for sample collection kits for diagnosing COVID-19 and other upper respiratory tract pathogens, COPAN is concentrating its efforts on strategic items to maximize product output and supply during the ongoing…
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Do My Microbes Love You? How Your Bacteria Affect Your Love Life
In November, we explored how our microbes have a tremendous influence on our nutrition, immunity, and overall well-being (Click to read the article in case you missed it). In honor of Valentine’s Day, we take a more in-depth look into…
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Best Practices for Sample Collection for Respiratory Specimens, Including Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
With the current rise in flu cases and possible spread of emerging respiratory viruses, like the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), laboratories and healthcare providers can expect another very busy flu season. The 2019-2020 flu season is on track to be one…
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CDC Recommends Nasopharyngeal Swabs AND Oropharyngeal Swabs as Suitable for Upper Respiratory Tract Specimens for Investigations of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) held its second meeting in Geneva of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). During the meeting the committee agreed that the outbreak constitutes a…
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Norman Sharples Receives Achievement Sculpture for 25 Years as CEO of COPAN Diagnostics, Inc.
During COPAN Diagnostics’ 25th Anniversary celebration, Norman was presented an achievement sculpture to commemorate his 25 years of service at COPAN. It consisted of an elegant and contemporary Eagle Sculpture from gifted wildlife California artist Kitty Cantrell. The name of…
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Versatile Easy-To-Use FecalSwab® is an Excellent Alternative to Traditional Containers for Accurate and Timely Detection of Gastrointestinal Pathogens from Fecal or Rectal Specimens
Fecal specimens have been utilized in the microbiology laboratory for years in order to detect bacterial gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens by culture. More recently, molecular assays have been developed to detect not only bacterial GI pathogens, but viral and parasitic causes…
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Does ESwab™ Maintain Viability of Pathogenic Mycobacteria and Fungi?
Although there is little disagreement that body fluids, tissues and aspirates are the preferred materials to collect for the culture of specimens for fungus and mycobacteria, the use of ESwab™ has been shown to maintain the viability of these organisms and to release most of the sample into the media allowing for suitable culture material.
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Providers, Trainers, and Defenders: The Hidden Role of Your Microbes to be Thankful For
Halloween has come and gone, shifting our attention to Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to celebrate together with friends and family and to reflect on the relationships we are grateful for in our lives. Yet few people recognize some…
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The Spooky Microbe Monsters Among Us
It’s nearly Halloween, a time to celebrate by donning costumes, carving pumpkins, and watching horror films. The Fall Season is a perfect time to gather around a warm fire and tell spooky stories about our favorite monsters. Although monsters like…
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