Pharyngeal swab is a kind of nucleic acid test. The operation of throat swab is relatively simple. It mainly includes nasopharyngeal swab and oropharyngeal swab. Relatively speaking, the detection rate of nasopharyngeal swab is higher because of nasal secretions. The viral load is relatively higher than the viral load of oropharyngeal secretions.
In addition, the nasopharynx is used to collect secretions. The operator can stand on the side of the patient and look directly at the patient’s mouth and nasal cavity, and the risk of exposure is low. If an oropharyngeal swab is used for detection, the operator must stand in front of the patient. On the opposite side, the secretions and pollution that are easily emitted by the patient's vomit or reflexes increase the risk of infection.
