COPAN UTM® Universal Transport Medium™ with FLOQSwabs®, 300/case

The COPAN UTM® (Universal Transport Medium™) System is a globally trusted solution for the collection, stabilization, and transport of unprocessed clinical specimens containing viral, chlamydial, mycoplasmal, and ureaplasmal pathogens. Designed to maintain viability and integrity of respiratory organisms, UTM® is widely used in clinical diagnostics, molecular testing laboratories, surveillance programs, and research applications.

Each kit (Catalog 321C) includes a 16 × 100 mm screw-cap tube prefilled with 3 mL of UTM® and two individually wrapped COPAN FLOQSwabs®—a regular tip swab and a flexible minitip swab—each with a molded breaking point for safe insertion into the transport tube after sampling. FLOQSwabs® are engineered with proprietary flocked fibers for superior sample uptake and release, ensuring higher sensitivity and reproducibility in downstream testing.

Key Features

High-Performance Transport Medium

• Formulated to preserve respiratory viruses and other fastidious organisms during transport.
• Suitable for long-distance transport, ensuring sample stability until processing.
• Maintains nucleic acid integrity for sensitive molecular assays.

Dual FLOQSwab® System

• Regular FLOQSwab® for standard nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal sampling.
• Flexible minitip FLOQSwab® for pediatric or narrow anatomical sampling.
• Molded breaking points allow seamless transition from collection to transport.

Optimized for Molecular and Traditional Diagnostics

Compatible with a wide range of downstream laboratory applications including:

• Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) such as PCR
• RT-PCR and molecular respiratory panels
• Shell vial cultures
• Rapid antigen tests*
• Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA/IFA) assays*

(*When compatible with the test manufacturer’s recommendations.)

Validated for Key Respiratory Pathogens

UTM® supports the transport of specimens suspected to contain:

• SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
• Influenza viruses
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and other URT viruses
• Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma species

Product Specifications

Applications

Ideal for clinical, diagnostic, and research uses requiring high-integrity respiratory specimen transport, including:

• Hospital and reference laboratories
• Public health surveillance
• Molecular diagnostics facilities
• Epidemiological studies
• Viral culture research

Suitable Specimen Types

The UTM® system is intended for collection and stabilization of specimens suspected of containing:

• Respiratory Viruses, including
  • SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
  • Influenza A & B
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Chlamydia spp.
• Mycoplasma spp.
• Ureaplasma spp.

Included FLOQSwabs®

Each kit includes two specialized swabs designed for optimal sample recovery:

• 1 Regular FLOQSwab®
  Suitable for standard nasopharyngeal or nasal sampling.
• 1 Flexible Minitip FLOQSwab®
  Ideal for narrow or sensitive anatomical sites, providing high patient comfort and superior cellular uptake.

Both swabs feature molded breaking points, enabling secure deposition into the transport tube without contamination.

Downstream Compatibility

The UTM® medium is validated for a wide spectrum of diagnostic applications, including:

• Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) – PCR, RT-PCR
• Rapid Antigen Tests*
• Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA/IFA) Tests*
• Shell Vial and Cell Culture Assays

*Use dependent on assay and laboratory validation requirements.

Key Advantages

• Maintains viability of viruses and atypical bacteria during transport.
• Ensures excellent molecular integrity for high-throughput PCR detection.
• FLOQSwab® technology provides superior sample uptake and release compared to traditional fiber swabs.
• Manufactured under stringent quality standards for consistent performance.

The COPAN UTM® Universal Transport Medium™ with 2 FLOQSwabs® is a comprehensive, high-performance collection and transport system designed to support accurate and reliable respiratory diagnostics. By combining UTM's proven stabilization chemistry with FLOQSwabs®’ industry-leading sample recovery, this system ensures that specimens arrive in optimal condition for molecular and antigen-based testing. Its versatility, reliability, and compatibility with modern diagnostic platforms make it an essential tool for clinical laboratories, public health surveillance, and research institutions committed to high-quality respiratory pathogen detection.