As Influenza Season Unfolds, COPAN Diagnostics Offers Free Educational Respiratory Sample Collection Videos for Healthcare Providers

MURRIETA, Calif., Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, has reported that "influenza activity began relatively early compared to recent seasons during the 2012-2013 season[i]".  As the 2012-2013 influenza season outbreak unfolds, questions about proper sample collection for respiratory specimens arise.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130104/LA37125)

COPAN Diagnostics, Inc. understands the importance of a sample collected properly and has worked with infection control and point-of-care providers to develop training videos and specific collection guides demonstrating proper technique for collection of respiratory specimens. Among the educational resources produced by COPAN Diagnostics, Inc., a set of videos was created for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and The Joint Commission to be used in a web based course on influenza diagnosis and treatment in ambulatory settings for healthcare providers.  The educational videos show proper technique for collecting respiratory specimens for influenza using swabs, aspirates and washes. Demonstrations of Nasal and Nasopharyngeal swab sample collection use FLOQSwabs™ by COPAN and COPAN's Universal Transport Media (UTM).  Additional videos demonstrate proper technique for Nasal Aspirates and Nasal Washes.

These videos are a free resource available on COPAN Diagnostics' website: http://www.copanusa.com/index.php/education/videos/. 

About COPAN Diagnostics, Inc.
With a reputation for innovation, COPAN is the leading supplier of collection and transport systems in North and South America.  COPAN distributes Flocked Swabs, ESwab, Universal Transport Medium and laboratory automation, WASP® and WASPLab.  COPAN carries a range of microbial sampling products, inoculation loops, and pipettes.  For more information, visit www.copanusa.com

[i] What You Should Know for the 2012-2013 Influenza Season; Questions & Answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm

SOURCE COPAN Diagnostics

RELATED LINKS
http://www.copanusa.com