Swab Orders

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Swabs ordered on the NVRL website are for UCD NVRL testing use only. By placing this order, you agree not to use the swabs for testing with any laboratory other than UCD NVRL.

NVRL Swab Guide

Please read the following information before ordering

Aptima Collection devices for combined Chlamydia / Gonorrhoeae testing / Trichomonas vaginalis

  • Aptima® Multitest Swab Specimen Collection (Vaginal; Throat; Rectal; Penile meatal)   Kit No. 03546
  • Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection (Male and Female Urine Specimens)                      Kit No. 301040
  • Aptima® Unisex Swab Specimen Collection (Female endocervical/Male urethral)          Kit No. 301041 (very limited supply - please note Multitest Swabs are an alternative option)

 Please always remember to check expiry dates on devices before  their use.

Urine collection guide

Mulitiest swab collection gude

Unisex swab colllection guide

Oracol Saliva Collection Devices: Please note UPDATED Supply Date

Measles testing: HSE now provides Oracol Swabs – please order via the email address below

To continue to supply the needs of clinicians for the period up to 31st March 2025, the HSE will now provide Oracol swabs to GPs, hospitals and other service providers. 

To order Oracol swabs for measles testing, GPs should email measles.swab@jmc.ie providing the following information:

  • GP / Practice Name
  • Address and Eircode
  • Contact Number

The device is designed to be used in a similar way to a toothbrush. Saliva is collected by rubbing the sponge swab firmly along the gum (at the base of the teeth if present) until the sponge is wet, this takes about 1 minute. Once the sponge is sufficiently wet, replace the sponge swab back into the test tube and insert the cap. The sample is then ready to be sent to the laboratory for processing.

Oracol Saliva Collection Device - Instructions for Use 

Copan UTM

Copan UTM™, Universal Transport Medium, is a room temperature stable transport medium for collection, transport, maintenance and long term freeze storage of viruses and other intra-cellular pathogens. Copan swabs may be used to collect samples for the following investigations: Herpes Simplex virus, Varicella Zoster virus, Adenovirus, Enterovirus, Parechovirus, Measles & Mumps (however, buccal swabs are preferable) and the respiratory pathogen screen, i.e. nose and throat swabs (screen includes Adenovirus, Bocavirus, Coronavirus, Influenza A and B, Human metapneumovirus, Parainfluenza (1-4) virus, Respiratory syncytial virus, Pan-Rhino/Entero virus,Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae). More information is available here on Product Information and How-to-Use.

Please note: While the Copan UTM swabs state they are suitable for Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma testing, Chlamydia trachomatis testing is performed only on samples taken using Aptima collection devices (Hologic); Molecular Mycoplasma pneumoniae testing is performed on respiratory samples only. Ureaplasma testing is not currently provided by the NVRL.

Faecal Swabs

Faecal swabs are now available for ordering.

Stool sample collection guide

Rectal sample collection guide

Product Insert and How to use guide

Fecal swab brochure;