The pharynx includes nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharyngeal. The mucous membranes of the three are continuous and belong to the upper respiratory tract. Nasopharyngeal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs only have different sampling paths. Oral sampling is oropharynx Swab, nasal sampling is nasopharyngeal swab. However, because the oropharyngeal swab can be operated by opening the mouth, it is relatively simple, so it is more commonly used clinically, but the risk of exposure of the sampler is higher.
The new coronavirus pneumonia nucleic acid test can take the patient's nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum and other lower respiratory secretions, blood, feces and other samples for testing. For the new coronavirus nucleic acid, if the nucleic acid of the sample is positive, the virus infection can be confirmed.The new coronavirus infection mainly affects bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells. Lower respiratory tract specimens, such as sputum and airway extracts, should be used as much as possible to more accurately reflect the virus infection.