WO2017006879A1

WO2017006879A1 - Sample collection tool

Info

Publication number: WO2017006879A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/069697
Authority: WO
Inventors: 和弘村木; 北林　淳一; 新井　文規
Original assignee: 株式会社クラレ; クラレトレーディング株式会社
Priority date: 2015-07-03
Filing date: 2016-07-01
Publication date: 2017-01-12
Also published as: JP2017015610A; JP6664157B2

Abstract

Provided is a sample collection tool provided with a stem and a sample collection section that is arranged at one end of the stem, wherein the sample collection section contains a non-woven fabric composed of loop-like fibers. Each of the loop-like fibers preferably has a loop diameter of 10 to 150 μm.

Description

Sample collection tool

The present invention relates to a specimen collecting tool that can be suitably used as a tool for collecting mucus from the nasal cavity and throat.

Various swabs have been developed for collecting specimens from the nasal cavity, throat or culture medium in which bacteria are cultured. Taking an influenza virus collection swab as an example, a cotton swab as shown in FIG. 6 has been developed as a cotton swab collected from the nasal cavity.

6 includes a shaft 9 and a cotton ball 10 made of paper, plastic, or the like. The cotton ball 10 is formed by winding a cotton fiber around one end of the shaft 9.

However, for reasons such as increasing the accuracy of the test, there is a demand for a large amount of sample collected and a large amount (collection rate) that allows the collected sample to be returned to the test solution.

Therefore, a cotton swab having a higher recovery rate by changing the cotton fiber to a polyester filament has been developed [Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-275576 (Patent Document 1)]. Also, a cotton swab with a plastic shaft wound with a non-woven fabric composed of rayon and ester ((general) medical device, medical cotton yarn notification number 4162 × 10001000001 (Non-patent Document 1)), and a polyester high void structure cloth Sample collection tool wound around a shaft [Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-229523 (Patent Document 2)], Sample collection swab wound around a plastic shaft with a sponge-like high gap sheet [Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-100990 (Patent Document 3) ] Have also been proposed. Furthermore, a specimen collection swab in which a thin short filament made of nylon is planted in a brush shape on a plastic shaft has been developed [Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-523663 (Patent Document 4)].

JP 2008-275576 A JP 2011-229523 A JP 2012-100990 A Special table 2007-523663

Although conventional sample collection tools have improved the sample collection amount and recovery rate, there are also disadvantages specific to each structure. Sample collection tools include:
(1) Capable of collecting the required amount of sample (2) Efficiently returning the collected sample to the solution used for the reaction (test solution) (recovery rate)
(3) The sample collection amount is stable. (4) The shape is stable from the time of manufacture to the time of inspection use. (5) Functions such as the absence of foreign substances and chemical substances are required.
(6) It is also required that patients do not give discomfort such as pain, itchiness and discomfort.

As described above, a sample collection swab is known in which fibers are planted in a brush shape on a plastic shaft. This sample collection swab is characterized by a large amount of collected sample and a high recovery rate. However, on the other hand, this sample collection swab
(1) The implanted fibers are easily removed, the implanted fibers are removed in the process of returning the collected specimen to the test solution, and clogging occurs in the solution filtration process.
(2) The implanted fibers are usually implanted at right angles to the plastic shaft, but the fibers fall asleep due to their own weight during storage. As a result, the sample collection amount fluctuates and the sample collection amount varies.
There are also disadvantages such as these, and further development is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sample collection tool that can be suitably used as a tool for collecting mucus from the nasal cavity or throat and has the following characteristics.

(A) The shape of the specimen collection part is stable. (B) There is no problem of fiber detachment, generation of fiber scraps, or dropout (c) There is no problem of discomfort during use. Or small (d) The amount of specimen required for the examination can be collected stably. (E) The specimen is easily released during the examination.

The present invention provides the following specimen collection tool.
[1] A shaft, and a specimen collecting part disposed at one end thereof,
The specimen collection unit is a specimen collection tool including a nonwoven fabric composed of loop-like fibers.

[2] The specimen collection tool according to [1], wherein the loop fiber has a loop diameter of 10 μm to 150 μm.

[3] The specimen collecting tool according to [1] or [2], wherein the nonwoven fabric has a porosity of 85% to 97%.

[4] The specimen collection according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the loop fiber includes one or more resins selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins, polyester resins, and polyamide resins. Tools.

[5] The specimen collection tool according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric that has been subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.

[6] The sample collection tool according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the sample collection unit is fixed to the shaft via a thermoplastic resin or an adhesive.

[7] The specimen collection tool according to any one of [1] to [6], which is used for collecting mucus from the nasal cavity or throat.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a specimen collecting tool having the above characteristics (a) to (e).

It is a top view which shows an example of the sample collection tool which concerns on this invention. It is a microscope picture which shows an example of the sample collection part formed with the nonwoven fabric comprised with the loop-shaped fiber. It is a microscope picture which shows an example of a loop-like fiber. It is a microscope picture which shows an example of the fiber before crimping to loop shape. It is a perspective view which shows the state before processing a nonwoven fabric into a bag shape. It is a top view which shows an example of the conventional sample collection tool (cotton swab).

<Sample collection tool>
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a specimen collecting tool according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the sample collection tool according to the present invention includes a shaft 2 and a sample collection unit 1 arranged at one end thereof. The shaft 2 is, for example, a rod-shaped body having a circular cross section. The shaft 2 may have a handle 3 that is thicker than other parts on the side (rear end side) opposite to the side having the sample collection unit 1.

Specimen collection unit 1 attached to one end of shaft 2 includes a non-woven fabric and is typically made of non-woven fabric. The nonwoven fabric is composed of looped fibers. The specimen collection unit 1 can be bonded and fixed to the shaft 2 using a thermoplastic resin or an adhesive.

A cotton swab (specimen collection tool) itself using a nonwoven fabric is known in the art. However, the conventional sample collection tool has a problem that the range in which the sample collection amount can be controlled is limited.

When the sample has a low viscosity, the sample can be collected by storing the sample in the gap of the sample collection unit using capillary action. In order to increase the collection rate for testing, it is necessary to increase the void density of the sample collection part. It is required to be made of thin fibers and be flexible.

However, the specimen collection tool with increased void density and thinner fibers is easily deformed. As a result, for example, when the sample collection tool is packaged, the fibers that have been compressed and napped are splashed, and the amount of void in the sample collection unit changes. This leads to variations in sample collection amount. In order to suppress such a change in the void amount due to compression, it is necessary to perform expensive packaging such as a soft blister.

According to the sample collection tool according to the present invention in which the sample collection unit 1 includes a nonwoven fabric composed of loop-like fibers, the above-described problems can be solved.

That is, the sample collection tool according to the present invention is 1) the porosity of the sample collection unit 1 is high, 2) the sample collection unit 1 is flexible and gentle to the skin, and 3) the sample collection unit 1 is deformed. 4) When returning the collected specimen to the test solution, it is difficult for the fibers to fall out or fall out of the fiber scraps (in addition, foreign matter such as resin scraps that may be generated when a sponge-like material is used as the specimen collecting part) Or the like.

More specifically, since the sample collection tool according to the present invention includes a nonwoven fabric in which the sample collection unit 1 is composed of loop-shaped fibers,
(1) The range of the amount of voids that can be secured between the fibers is wide, and it is possible to stably collect the amount of specimen required for the test.
(2) At the time of storage, there is little change in the structure of the sample collection unit 1, and the variation in the sample collection amount is small.
(3) The step of returning the collected sample to the test solution (the step of putting the sample collection unit 1 in a container containing the test solution, squeezing it from the outside of the container, and returning the sample in the sample collection unit 1 to the test solution. )), There is no fiber mixing in the test solution.
(4) At the time of sample collection, even if the sample collection unit 1 is pressed against the skin, the loop-shaped curved portion (fiber side surface) touches the skin, and it is difficult to give a sense of discomfort and discomfort. In addition, the loop-like fiber has a characteristic that it is appropriately deformed by the pressing pressure at the time of sample collection, and is gentle to the skin due to the combined effect of both functions combined with the contact on the side of the fiber described above.
Or the like.

The specimen collecting tool according to the present invention that can have the above-described features can be suitably used as a tool for collecting mucus from the nasal cavity or throat, for example. More specifically, the sample collecting tool according to the present invention can be suitably used as a tool for collecting mucus from the nasal cavity or throat in order to examine infections such as influenza virus. According to the sample collecting device of the present invention, it is possible to collect a sufficient amount of mucus sufficient for examination from a nasal cavity or throat.

<Nonwoven fabric>
The non-woven fabric forming the sample collection unit 1 is composed of loop-like fibers. FIG. 2 is a photomicrograph (magnification: 20 times) showing an example of a specimen collection part formed of a nonwoven fabric composed of loop-like fibers. FIG. 3 is a photomicrograph (magnification: 100 times) showing an example of a loop fiber. The loop-like fiber refers to a fiber having a curved portion or an annular portion when a single fiber is viewed. The loop fiber is usually a polymer fiber.

The average diameter of the loop-shaped fibers is, for example, about 3.0 μm to 70 μm (0.1 dtex to 50 dtex), preferably about 5 μm to 30 μm, and more preferably about 10 μm to 20 μm from the viewpoint of flexibility and the like. The length of the loop-shaped fiber is not particularly limited, but the average fiber length is usually about 10 mm to 100 mm.

The loop diameter of the loop-shaped fiber is the average radius of curvature of the circle obtained at the center of the fiber from the viewpoints of moderate deformability, touch, sufficient sample collection amount, variation in sample collection amount, and improvement in sample collection rate. For example, about 10 μm to 150 μm, preferably about 30 μm to 100 μm, more preferably about 50 μm to 80 μm.

The average radius of curvature can be measured by obtaining an enlarged photograph (magnification: 100 times) of the cross section of the nonwoven fabric using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Specifically, among the fibers in the enlarged photograph, for the fibers forming one or more spirals (coils), the radius of the circle when the circle is drawn along the spirals (loop from the coil axis direction) The radius of the circle when observing the fiber-like fibers) is determined, and this is defined as the radius of curvature. In addition, when the loop-like fiber draws a spiral in an elliptical shape, 1/2 of the sum of the major axis and the minor axis of the ellipse is set as the radius of curvature. However, the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis of the ellipse is in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 in order to exclude cases where the coil crimping is insufficient or when the spiral shape of the fiber is oblique and elliptic. Only the ellipses that fall within the range are measured. The measurement of the radius of curvature is performed on 100 fibers included in the enlarged photograph obtained by obtaining an enlarged photograph by SEM for an arbitrary cross section. The average value of the 100 obtained curvature radii is defined as the average curvature radius.

The loop-shaped fiber can be formed, for example, by heating a composite fiber in which a plurality of resins having different thermal shrinkage rates are arranged in layers within a fiber cross section to crimp a coil (expression of a loop). FIG. 4 is a photomicrograph (100 ×) showing an example of a fiber before a loop is developed by heating.

The fiber heating method is not particularly limited as long as the fiber can be given heat capable of expressing a desired loop shape, and examples thereof include a method using hot air and a method using steam. A general heat treatment facility can be used for heating the fibers. In order to develop a loop shape with high uniformity and efficiency, a method using high-temperature steam is preferable.

The above-mentioned plurality of resins can be selected from a wide variety of thermoplastic resins, but when the loop expression is performed by heating with high-temperature steam, a resin that does not fuse the fibers under the moist heat condition should be selected. Is preferred. In this respect, the plurality of resins are preferably selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins such as polypropylene resins; polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate resins; polyamide resins such as polyamide 6 and polyamide 66. When the plurality of resins are selected from the above group, the loop shape can be expressed also by hot air treatment.

Non-woven fabric can contain fibers other than loop-like fibers. As other fibers, normal (not the above-described composite fibers) polyolefin resin fibers, polyester resin fibers, polyamide resin fibers, cellulose fibers, semi-synthetic fibers, regenerated fibers, and the like can be used. The ratio of the loop-like fibers to the other fibers is usually about 100/0 to 50/50, preferably 100/0 to 80/20, by mass ratio. The use of other fibers is advantageous in controlling the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the nonwoven fabric.

The nonwoven fabric preferably has a large porosity from the viewpoints of appropriate deformability, touch, sufficient sample collection amount, variation in sample collection amount, improvement in sample recovery rate, and the like. Specifically, the porosity of the nonwoven fabric is preferably about 75% to 98%, more preferably about 85% to 97%, and further preferably about 90% to 96%. The porosity of the nonwoven fabric can be adjusted by changing the fiber thickness, the amount of fibers per unit volume, the number of loops and / or the loop diameter, and the like. The porosity of the nonwoven fabric is expressed by the following formula from the weight (g) of the nonwoven fabric, the specific gravity of the fiber (g / cm ³ ), and the apparent volume (cm ³ ) of the nonwoven fabric:
Porosity (%) = 100 − [(weight of nonwoven fabric × 100) / (fiber specific gravity × apparent volume of nonwoven fabric)]
Is calculated by In addition, the apparent volume of the nonwoven fabric is obtained by multiplying the thickness of the nonwoven fabric by the area of the portion that becomes the surface when the nonwoven fabric is viewed as a sheet.

From the viewpoints of moderate deformability, touch, sufficient sample collection amount, variation in sample collection amount, improvement in sample recovery rate, etc., the recovery rate when the nonwoven fabric is compressed in the thickness direction is preferably 60% or more, more Preferably it is 70% or more, More preferably, it is 80% or more. The measuring method of the recovery rate when the nonwoven fabric is compressed in the thickness direction follows the description in the section of Examples described later.

When the sample to be collected is mucus in the nasal cavity or throat, the nonwoven fabric constituting the sample collection unit 1 is preferably hydrophilic in order to increase the sample collection amount and stabilize the amount. On the other hand, in order to improve the release property of the collected specimen, it is preferably hydrophobic. Therefore, the fiber constituting the nonwoven fabric is preferably hydrophilic on the surface, and the fiber itself is preferably hydrophobic. Since the fiber surface is hydrophilic, it becomes easy to become familiar with the specimen, and the specimen can be easily sucked into the fiber structure by capillary action. By making the fiber itself hydrophobic, it is possible to suppress the collected specimen from entering the fiber and causing swelling.

As described above, the surface of the nonwoven fabric is preferably hydrophilic. The water contact angle on the nonwoven fabric surface is preferably 5 degrees or less. The hydrophilicity of the surface of the nonwoven fabric can be determined by selecting the fiber material to be used, that is, by selecting an appropriate hydrophilic material at the time of fiber production, or by combining two or more kinds of fibers having different hydrophilicity. . Or you may provide hydrophilicity by giving a hydrophilic process with respect to the nonwoven fabric surface. Examples of hydrophilic treatment include physical treatment of the surface by plasma treatment, corona discharge, etc., and impregnation with a surfactant. When the surfactant is impregnated, the surfactant preferably has an HLB value of 9.5 or more.

The thickness of the nonwoven fabric is usually about 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably about 0.6 mm to 1.4 mm. The thickness of the nonwoven fabric is measured according to JIS L 1913 “General nonwoven fabric testing method”.

The nonwoven fabric used in the present invention can be produced, for example, by the method described in JP2012-12758A. Specifically, a composite fiber or a mixed fiber containing other fibers is first formed into a web. Web formation can be performed by a known method for producing a nonwoven fabric, for example, a direct method such as a spun bond method or a melt blow method; a card method using melt blow fibers or staple fibers; a dry method such as an air array method.

The resulting fiber web is heated to cause the composite fibers to be looped, but before that, it is preferable to perform preliminary entanglement of the fibers by spraying or spraying water.

The heating method performed to develop a loop in the composite fiber is not particularly limited as long as the fiber can be given heat capable of expressing a desired loop shape. For example, a method using hot air or steam is used. The method to be used can be mentioned. A general heat treatment facility can be used for heating the fibers. In order to develop a loop shape with high uniformity and efficiency, a method using high-temperature steam is preferable. The temperature of the water vapor is selected from a range of about 70 to 150 ° C., for example, depending on the fiber material and the like.

In addition, as a nonwoven fabric, the nonwoven fabric marketed from Klara Laflex Co., Ltd. can also be used.

<Method for manufacturing specimen collection tool>
The nonwoven fabric forming the sample collection unit 1 is washed with pure water or the like as necessary to remove foreign matters such as deposits and dried. And when the nonwoven fabric is insufficient in hydrophilicity and it is difficult for the specimen to penetrate, it is preferable to perform hydrophilic treatment as described above.

Next, this nonwoven fabric may be processed into a shape suitable for attachment to the shaft 2. For example, the non-woven fabric can be tubular, but is preferably formed into a bag shape in which one opening (head) of the annular structure is sealed. Alternatively, the sample collection unit 1 may be formed by processing a non-woven fabric into a thin tape shape and winding it around the shaft 2.

Examples of the method of processing a nonwoven fabric into a tubular shape include a method in which two nonwoven fabrics are stacked and melted at a predetermined interval, and a method in which a nonwoven fabric is folded in two and melted at a predetermined width. As shown in FIG. 5, if the nonwoven fabric is folded in half and the dotted line indicated by parallel lines in the figure is melted by an ultrasonic welding machine or the like, the melted portion is welded. can get.

The inner diameter of the tubular nonwoven fabric attached to the shaft 2 is, for example, about 50% to 120%, and more typically about 60% to 110% of the outer diameter of the nonwoven fabric attachment portion of the shaft 2. The outer diameter of the tubular nonwoven fabric is the inner diameter + (nonwoven fabric thickness × 2). The length of the tubular nonwoven fabric is, for example, about 4 mm to 50 mm, and more typically about 7 mm to 30 mm.

The material of the shaft 2 may be paper, wood, metal, plastic, etc. that are generally used for cotton swabs. However, the material of the shaft 2 is preferably plastic from the viewpoints of processability to the shaft 2, sterilization properties, ease of attaching the nonwoven fabric, and the like. Examples of the plastic include vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, polyamide, and polycarbonate.

As described above, the shaft 2 may have the handle 3 on the side (rear end side, base end side) opposite to the side having the sample collection unit 1 for easy holding. The material of the handle 3 may be the same as that of the shaft 2. The shaft 2 and the handle 3 may be made of different materials, but are preferably the same in manufacturing. The shape is usually a round bar, but it may be bent. The shape of the handle 3 is usually a rod having a circular cross section, but may be a bent shape. Further, the handle 3 may be thicker than the shaft portion.

The cross-sectional diameter of the shaft 2 is, for example, about 0.4 mm to 2.8 mm, and the length is, for example, about 4 mm to 100 mm. The cross-sectional diameter of the handle 3 is, for example, about 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, and the length is, for example, about 30 mm to 150 mm. The total length of the shaft including the handle 3 is, for example, about 50 mm to 180 mm.

It is preferable to consider the attachment of the sample collection unit 1 to the shaft 2 so as not to reduce the voids of the nonwoven fabric as much as possible. Specifically, a method in which a thermoplastic resin or an adhesive is interposed between the specimen collecting unit 1 and the shaft 2, a method in which welding is performed with heat, a method in which the cord is bound with a string, a method in which tightening and fixing is performed using a heat shrinkable tube, and the like. Thus, the specimen collecting unit 1 can be fixed to the shaft 2. As a heating means in the case of welding with heat, a heater, an ultrasonic wave, or a laser can be used.

As the adhesive, any of polyester, epoxy, acrylic, cyanoacrylate, rubber and the like can be used. The form of the adhesive is not particularly limited, and any of an organic solvent-dissolved product, a water-dissolved product, an emulsion product, and a solvent-free product may be used. At the time of use, an amount that does not fill the gap in the sample collection unit 1 is used, and the viscosity should be such that it does not easily enter the gap.

The fixing part may be the entire inner surface of the specimen collecting part 1, but usually it may be a part. In this case, it is preferable to fix the rear end side (base end side).

In order to adhere and fix the specimen collecting part 1 to the shaft 2, a thermoplastic resin may be interposed instead of (or as an adhesive) the adhesive. The thermoplastic resin layer interposed between the sample collection unit 1 and the shaft 2 is for fixing the sample collection unit 1 to the shaft 2 by an anchor action. The melting point of the thermoplastic resin is preferably lower than both of the shaft 2 and the specimen collection unit 1, and more preferably 20 ° C. or lower than both. The thermoplastic resin is preferably one that does not substantially affect the specimen and its analysis.

The thermoplastic resin may or may not have chemical adhesiveness to the specimen collection unit 1. Examples of the former include polyethylene, L-LDPE, ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, and examples of the latter include adhesive polyolefin resin and low molecular weight polyester.

The thermoplastic resin layer is desirably as thin as possible within a range where the specimen collection part 1 can be fixed, and the thickness is preferably about 0.05 mm to 2 mm, more preferably about 0.1 mm to 1 mm. The thickness of the thermoplastic resin layer may be such that the outside of the thermoplastic resin layer is in contact with the inside of the sample collection unit 1, or the outside of the thermoplastic resin layer is separated from the inside of the sample collection unit 1. Such thickness may be sufficient. However, when the shaft 2 is inserted into the sample collecting unit 1, the thickness of the thermoplastic resin layer so that the sample collecting unit 1 is not deformed by its force and does not return to the original is not preferable because the sample collected amount varies. . The part where the thermoplastic resin layer is provided may be the entire length of the specimen collection unit 1, or may be only the part to be fixed.

In forming the thermoplastic resin layer, no gap should be formed between the shaft 2 and specifically, a method of applying a thermoplastic resin to the shaft 2, a method of winding a thermoplastic resin film, or a tube shape. For example, a method of inserting a shaft can be adopted. When the tube is formed, it is heated and melted to be fixed to the shaft.

It is preferable to sterilize the specimen collection tool obtained as described above. As the sterilization means, any of heat-sensitive sterilization using an autoclave, chemical sterilization using ethylene oxide gas, sterilization using radiation, sterilization using an electron beam, and the like can be used.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

(Measurement method of recovery rate (compression recovery rate) when the nonwoven fabric is compressed in the thickness direction)
Five test pieces (nonwoven fabric) of about 50 mm × 50 mm were prepared, 0.02 kPa was applied to the test piece as an initial load, and the thickness was measured. Next, after a load of 30 kPa was applied for 1 minute, the load was removed and left for 1 minute, and the thickness of the test piece when the initial load was returned to 0.02 kPa was measured.
P _R = [1− (T ₀ −T ₀ ′) / T ₀ ] × 100
Thus, the compression recovery rate was calculated. Wherein the P _R is the compression recovery rate (%) T0 when adding the first load thickness (mm), T ₀ 'is the thickness when returning to initial load (mm). The thickness was measured according to JIS L 1913 “General nonwoven fabric test method”.

<Example 1>
A nonwoven fabric “Flexstar SR0002” manufactured by Kuraray Laflex Co., Ltd. was used as the nonwoven fabric constituting the specimen collection unit 1. This nonwoven fabric is composed of a polyethylene terephthalate resin having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.65 and a modified polyethylene terephthalate resin copolymerized with 20 mol% of isophthalic acid and 5 mol% of diethylene glycol. Staple fibers ("Kuraray Co., Ltd.," PN-780 ", 1.7 dtex x 51 mm length, 12 crimps / 25 mm mechanical crimp, 62 crimps / 25 mm after 130 ° C x 1 minute heat treatment) were heated. , Loop-expressed. The average diameter of the loop-like fibers in this nonwoven fabric was 13.0 μm, the loop diameter of the loop-like fibers was 65 μm, the porosity was 95%, the compression recovery rate was 86%, and the thickness was about 1 mm.

The nonwoven fabric was immersed in a 0.04% aqueous solution of polyoxyethylene (N = 8) lauryl ether, then taken out, dried and subjected to a hydrophilic treatment. It was 0 degree | times when the surface water contact angle was measured about the nonwoven fabric after a hydrophilic treatment.

The non-woven fabric after the hydrophilization treatment is cut into a tape having a width of 36 mm and folded in half along the longitudinal center line, according to the method described in JP 2010-410 (paragraphs [0014] to [0017]). Using an ultrasonic welding machine, it was welded at intervals of 3.3 mm perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape and cut into a bag shape.

The shaft 2 is made of polyethylene and has a cross-sectional diameter of 0.9 mm on the side where the specimen collection unit 1 is attached, a cross-sectional diameter of the handle portion (handle 3) of 2.5 mm, and a total length of 150 mm.

An ethylene / α-olefin copolymer (manufactured by Nippon Polyethylene Co., Ltd., “KS240T”, melting point 60 ° C.) was used as a thermoplastic resin, and this was extruded into a tube shape having an inner diameter of 1.0 mm and an outer diameter of 1.5 mm. The thermoplastic resin tube thus obtained was inserted into the end of the shaft 2 on the side where the specimen collection part is attached up to about 14 mm from the tip and heated to 70 ° C. to be temporarily fixed to the rear end of the tube. Next, the bag-shaped nonwoven fabric was inserted as the specimen collection unit 1 and heated to 70 ° C., and fixed to the shaft 2 via the thermoplastic resin tube.

The sample collection tool thus prepared was examined for shape retention, sample collection amount and contamination with foreign substances, and compared with a commercially available sample collection tool. Commercial products compared are Phlox swab (COPAN, “FLOQSwabs”) and sponge swab (Nipro, “Nipro sponge swab”).

(1) Shape retention and specimen collection amount Flat roll type sterilization bag (manufactured by Enco Corporation, “ENFR-022-G”, width 50 mm, seal width 8 mm, length 17 cm) Each book was put and sealed at both ends. In this state, after storing for 1 week at room temperature, the change in the cross-sectional diameter of the sample collection part and the change in the sample collection amount were measured. The results are shown in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively. In measuring the change in the amount of sample collected, the amount of water collected when a water absorption test was performed in which the sample collection part was immersed in water for 5 seconds was measured by weight, and this was used as the sample collection amount. In the test for measuring the change in the amount of sample collected, the above water absorption test was performed five times, and the average value and coefficient of variation CV of these five times were obtained.

(2) Confirmation of foreign matter contamination Put 0.8 mL of water into a polyethylene container with a mouth of 10 mm, a bottom of 5 mm, and a thickness of 0.6 mm, insert the sample collection part of the sample collection tool to the bottom, and remove the sample collection part from the outside of the container. After squeezing, the water was returned to the petri dish, and the contamination of the foreign matter was examined with a 10 times magnifier. The results are shown in Table 3.

1 Sample collection unit, 2 axes, 3 handles, 9 axes, 10 cotton balls.

Claims

Including a shaft and a specimen collecting portion disposed at one end of the shaft,
The specimen collection unit is a specimen collection tool including a nonwoven fabric composed of loop-like fibers.
2. The specimen collecting tool according to claim 1, wherein the loop fiber has a loop diameter of 10 μm to 150 μm.
The specimen collecting tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nonwoven fabric has a porosity of 85% to 97%.
The specimen collection tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the loop fiber includes one or more resins selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins, polyester resins, and polyamide resins.
The specimen collection tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric that has been subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.
The specimen collection tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the specimen collection section is fixed to the shaft via a thermoplastic resin or an adhesive.
The specimen collecting tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is used for collecting mucus from a nasal cavity or throat.