What is a swab typically used for?

A swab is typically used to collect a sterile sample, making it essential in various fields, especially in medicine and forensic science. The sterile sampling process is crucial for obtaining samples such as saliva, blood, or other bodily fluids without contamination. This ensures that the results are accurate and reliable, which is vital for diagnoses or evidence analysis.

In medical scenarios, swabs are often used to take specimens from areas like the throat or nasopharynx to test for infections. In forensic investigations, they are utilized to gather traces of biological materials from crime scenes, aiding in the identification of suspects or victims through DNA analysis. Furthermore, the design of swabs, usually consisting of a stick with a small piece of absorbent material at the end, is specifically meant to facilitate the collection of such samples in a way that minimizes contamination and maximizes the integrity of the evidence or clinical sample being collected.