Step 1: Swab sample collection v1

One of the most critical innovations within STRIP is the collection of samples in small tubes (0.8 ml compared with 5–15 ml in standard diagnostics) with virus-inactivating and RNA-stabilizing lysis buffer (InActiv Blue) spiked with a control RNA (PDV). The use of small tubes enables the collection of sample tubes in small 96-tube boxes at sample collection sites. These 96-tube boxes are directly compatible with automated sample processing in the lab without slow and often laborious transfer of samples from collection tubes to plates that are compatible with robotics.