Common viral transport media uses

Viral transport media is used for the preservation of a wide range of viral specimens, including infections that are difficult to diagnose on the spot and instances where knowing a specific viral strain can support diagnosis or population health efforts. Common viral transport media uses include:

Influenza virus: Universal viral transport media help maintain viral respiratory swab sample viability at room temperature for a number of days, allowing for health experts to diagnose specific strains of influenza.
SARS-CoV-2: According to the FDA, not all transport media are compatible with SARS-CoV-2 testing platforms due to the risk of cyanide gas exposure. This gas is produced as a byproduct of a reaction between certain chemicals used in some transport media and sodium hypochlorite, which is used in some SARS-CoV2 testing platforms or laboratory processes. As a result, it is critical to use viral transport media that has been cited for use in coronavirus testing or has been approved by the FDA for this purpose.

Enterovirus D68: This non-polio enterovirus has proven to be challenging to test for because on-the-spot tests cannot always perform the analysis necessary to attribute the virus to a particular strain of enterovirus or altogether different respiratory illnesses.