Last updated: May 7, 2020

Manufacturing NP swabs

Large-scale virological testing for SARS-CoV-2, causative agent of COVID-19, has resulted in an acute shortage in NP swabs across the United States. Ad hoc groups from academia and industry have formed to address this crisis. This repository organizes output from these efforts.

The purpose is to update medical professionals and manufacturers.

Note the location of the repo has changed.

Several groups have been testing various materials and geometries using various protocols. Details:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) Udated May 7 | University of Southern Florida (USF) | University of Washington (UW) | Stanford University | United States Army

For those with in-house 3D printing capacity who are in the direst need, USF has graciously made an STL file available, along with instructions that you should read first. However, we strongly caution that NP swabs are a serious undertaking that can carry risk to patients if not carefully evaluated, by professionals, at multiple steps of development and use (e.g. design, materials), as the groups listed here have been doing. If you can work with a known manufacturer, you are strongly encouraged to do so instead of printing your own swabs.

All readers are reminded that swabs are an FDA Class 1 exempt medical device not suitable for "garage testing." ENT, ER, and ID personnel do not need more work removing foreign bodies from/repairing damage to/treating infections in nasal cavities.

At this point we discourage randomly printing/testing STL files; instead please see results from testing sites above (esp. USF, if you have your own printing capacity).

The content here is not medical advice.

Progress has been possible only because of the extraordinary openness and sharing of everyone involved, an inspirational and selfless victory over ego and related temptations.

As we move closer to large-scale manufacturing, contracts, etc. participants are asked to involve their respective communications offices before using each others' names in any promotional materials.

We are driven by a single, common goal: stopping this pandemic.

Anything is this repo is provided freely and openly in the spirit of cooperation for the free use for all.

Disclaimer

The information and designs in this repository are being made available for research and informational purposes only. The products described in this repository may be regulated as medical devices depending on their intended use. The information and designs are made available without any representations or warranties of any kind, including that the designs do not infringe any third-party rights or are appropriate for use in the manufacturing of medical devices. Any product feedback offered by any medical professional or employee of a hospital provided through this repository does not constitute medical advice or an endorsement of any particular design. Any use of the information or designs in this repository is at the sole risk of the user.

Contact

BIDMC: Ramy Arnaout, MD, DPhil rarnaout at-sign bidmc dot harvard dot edu 617-538-5681

rarnaout/Covidswab

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