NUS Designs Cheaper COVID-19 Swabs That Look Like Christmas Sticks in RCK

Remember those dreaded ‘christmas sticks’ you use to store in your army Rifle Cleaning Kit (RCK)?

Well they’re back. Kinda.

According to the National University of Singapore (NUS), two multidisciplinary research teams from the school have successfully developed a total of three swab designs, which are reportedly comparable to the current ‘gold standard’ swabs.

And though their availability and commercial value have since come under praise, one other aspect has piqued our interest:

Their designs look just like the little devils we use to scrub our gun barrels with.

NUS Designs Cheaper COVID-19 Swabs That Look Like Christmas Sticks in RCK

As the ongoing epidemic persists in its ‘tyranny’, global demand for nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs – a key element in testing for SARS-CoV-2 – has continued to surge in terms of numerical figures.

But here’s the thing; due to constant supply disruptions, commercially available NP swabs are often out of stock.

Leaving human beings, and Singaporeans, ‘stranded’,

To help solve the issue, and to ensure a sustainable supply of these swabs for Singaporeans, two multidisciplinary research teams from NUS have created a total of three swab designs to circumvent the lack of supplies…

Including a 3D-printed swab named ‘Python’.

One team worked with the respective authorities to perfect the design and clear pre-clinical testing and clinical validation, while the other introduced two new designs, ‘IM2’ and ‘IM3’, that can be produced using injection moulding.

The python swab was created in less than two months and offers commendable accuracy and performance that would not pale in comparison with the standard swab.

To increase the production of NP swabs, an injection moulding process was adopted in the manufacturing process. According to Professor Freddy Boey, NUS Deputy President (Innovation & Enterprise), hundreds of swabs can be produced in a few minutes using the moulding process.

“The use of injection moulding ensures a secure source to supply high volumes of swabs at a low cost, to meet the needs of our community and beyond. This is crucial in our continued fight against the pandemic. The NUS IP for the injection moulded designs will also be available free for use in Singapore,” shared Prof Boey.

Millions Of Swabs To Be Produced

Around 40 million pieces of the IM2 and IM3 swabs are expected to be produced over the next few months; these locally-produced swabs are set to be priced lower than the current commercially available imported swabs.

“As countries progressively emerge from lockdowns and reopen their economies, mass, repeated, testing is being widely adopted as a key public health strategy to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 infections. This has resulted in a global shortage of commercial nasopharyngeal swabs,” said NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye.

“We are proud that our researchers have stepped forward at this time of need. They have worked very hard, under great time pressure, to design, test and clinically validate three types of nasopharyngeal swabs within a few short months, so that these swabs can be mass-manufactured locally and affordably to meet Singapore’s needs.”

Well, looks like it’s one small step for the anti-pandemic campaign…

And one giant step for the sustainability value of Singapore.

Though one thing’s for sure;

These swabs, if anything else, have certainly been incorporated with a little… local flavour.

Now that you know about Singapore’s giant step for the battle against Covid-19, you might as well just watch our latest video whereby we simplify what TraceTogether is here: