Comparison among nasopharyngeal swab, nasal wash, and oropharyngeal swab for respiratory virus detection in adults with acute pharyngitis. BMC Infectious Diseases 13 (281). doi:10.1186/1471-2334 ...

There, a nasal Covid swab left her with burst blood vessels and balloon catheters in both nostrils to stem the bleeding. “I’ve never seen so much blood in my life,” Ms. Benattar, 34, said.

With one of the Q-tips in the kit, I’m instructed to swab my left nostril and then hold the swab against the nasal wall for 15 seconds. Then with the same end, repeat on the other side.

Nose swab test What it is: Right now, this is the most common test for COVID-19, and is recommended by the CDC. In the nasal (or nasopharyngeal) swab test, a doctor will stick a long Q-tip-like ...

Throat swab cultures are very effective tools for identifying infections that affect the throat. A throat culture will determine if there is a bacterial infection, and if so, what’s causing it.

For at-home rapid COVID-19 tests, there are suggestions people should swab their throat and their nose for a more accurate result. Experts caution against it.

Nasopharyngeal Covid-19 swab NurPhoto via Getty Images Many who’ve had a nasal Covid-19 test performed on themselves have described it as feeling like that swab got as far back as their brains ...

“When you swab the back of the throat, it may or may not be accurate.” Another factor that can mess with accuracy, per Dr. Russo, is the ability to get a good sample in the back of your throat.

Insert the swab into the nostril, parallel to the palate. If you detect resistance to the passage of the swab, back off and try reinserting it at a different angle, closer to the floor of the ...