Since the pandemic began, our noses have been poked, prodded and invaded by foreign objects. Swabs have become the new nose candy. Next year, the modern swab turns 100. Here’s a brief history of the evolution of this specimen collection tool. (Image: News18 Creative)
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Leo Gerstenzang credited as the father of the swab in 1923. He conceived the idea of a ready-to-use cotton swab as he watched his wife cleaning a child with a cotton wad around a toothpick. (Image: News18 Creative)
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A medical swab is vastly different from the Q-tip. Swabs, critical in specimen examination, have gone through many technological advancements. One swab no longer fits all purposes. (Image: News18 Creative)
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Here's a look at the types of swabs in coronavirus testing. (Image: News18 Creative)