A physician suspects herpes virus infection in a patient with genital lesions. She uses a cotton tipped swab to collect specimen from a vesicular lesion, places it in viral transport medium, and refrigerates it prior to transport. This specimen is unacceptable because

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct swab for collecting specimens for viral culture, especially for herpes virus, should be a Dacron or rayon swab, not a cotton tipped swab. Cotton fibers can contain substances that inhibit viral growth in culture, potentially leading to false-negative results.

A Physician Suspects Herpes Virus Infection in a Patient with Genital