BD 220131 - CultureSwab Liquid Amies Specimen Collection and Transport System, Flexible Aluminum Wire, Rayon Single Swab, 50/PK (Temp Sensitive; Non-Returnable) (Continental US Only)

BD 220131 - CultureSwab Liquid Amies Specimen Collection and Transport System, Flexible Aluminum Wire, Rayon Single Swab, 50/PK (Temp Sensitive; Non-Returnable) (Continental US Only)

The BD 220131 CultureSwab Liquid Amies, Flexible Aluminum Wire, Single Swab is a sterile specimen collection and transport system designed for professional microbiology workflows. It is used to collect, transport, and help preserve compatible clinical specimens for bacteriological examination until they can be processed by the laboratory.

This system includes Liquid Amies transport medium and a single nontoxic rayon-tipped swab with a 5.25 inch shaft. Fisher Scientific lists the BD BBL CultureSwab Liquid Amies Flexible Aluminum Wire system as a collection and transport system for the collection, transport, and preservation of clinical specimens for bacteriological examination. The product includes a round-bottom tube, security cap for a water-tight seal, preattached label, and tamper-evident seal. ([fishersci.com](https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/bd-bbl-cultureswab-transport-systems-liquid-amies-flexible-aluminum-wire/B4320131))

The flexible aluminum wire shaft provides added reach and maneuverability compared with rigid swab shafts, supporting collection from anatomical sites where a more flexible applicator is preferred. BDs CultureSwab collection and transport system family is available with liquid Amies and liquid Stuart media and is designed to support collection and transport of compatible clinical specimens. ([bd.com](https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/bd-cultureswab-collection-and-transport-systems))

Key Benefits

• Liquid Amies medium supports transport and preservation of compatible clinical specimens for bacteriological examination.
• Flexible aluminum wire shaft supports specimen collection from sites where flexibility and controlled positioning are important.
• Rayon-tipped single swab supports routine microbiology collection workflows.
• 5.25 inch shaft provides a practical length for professional specimen collection procedures.
• Round-bottom tube supports secure specimen containment during transport to the laboratory.
• Security cap helps create a water-tight seal for safer specimen handling.
• Tamper-evident seal and preattached label help support specimen identification and handling integrity.
• Sterile format supports safe clinical use when handled according to aseptic technique.
• 50 per pack packaging supports inventory planning for clinics, laboratories, and high-volume collection sites. ([mfimedical.com](https://mfimedical.com/products/bd-specimen-collection-transport-system))

Compatibility and Applications

The BD 220131 is designed for clinical microbiology specimen collection and transport workflows. It is compatible with laboratory protocols that accept Liquid Amies transport systems and flexible aluminum wire rayon single swabs for bacteriological specimen handling.

This product is commonly used in hospitals, outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, diagnostic laboratories, physician offices, womens health clinics, wound care facilities, and specialty care settings where specimens must be collected and transported to a laboratory for organism recovery.

The flexible aluminum wire configuration may be especially useful for collection sites that require a more adaptable shaft than a standard rigid swab. Typical applications include compatible throat, nasopharyngeal, wound, urogenital, and other bacteriology collection workflows when accepted by the laboratory and appropriate for the ordered test.

Usage Guidelines

• Inspect the package before use and do not use if the sterile barrier is damaged, opened, expired, or compromised.
• Confirm that Liquid Amies medium and a flexible aluminum wire rayon single swab are appropriate for the ordered test and laboratory protocol.
• Use aseptic technique and follow facility procedures for patient identification, collection site preparation, specimen collection, labeling, and transport.
• Collect the specimen from the correct anatomical site according to the ordered test and laboratory instructions.
• Avoid touching the swab tip or allowing it to contact non-target surfaces before or after collection.
• Place the swab into the transport tube immediately after collection and secure the cap fully.
• Label the specimen with required patient identifiers, collection site, collection date and time, and other facility-required information.
• Transport the specimen promptly to the laboratory under the required time and temperature conditions.
• Dispose of used or contaminated materials according to facility biohazard and infection control procedures.

Certifications, Safety Standards, and Regulatory Approvals

The BD 220131 is supplied as a sterile specimen collection and transport system for professional laboratory and clinical use. Fisher Scientific lists the product type as a collection and transport system, format as liquid, media type as Liquid Amies, swab configuration as single applicator, and application as collection, transport, and preservation of clinical specimens for bacteriological examination. ([fishersci.com](https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/bd-bbl-cultureswab-transport-systems-liquid-amies-flexible-aluminum-wire/B4320131))

Distributor listings identify BD 220131 as CultureSwab Liquid Amies, Flexible Aluminum Wire, Single Swabs, 50 per pack, with continental US-only and drop-ship requirements depending on supplier availability. ([mfimedical.com](https://mfimedical.com/products/bd-specimen-collection-transport-system)) Healthcare facilities should verify current product labeling, instructions for use, expiration dating, storage requirements, lot information, and regulatory status directly through BD, CIA Medical, or an authorized distributor before clinical implementation.

Comparison with Competitor Products

The BD 220131 is best compared with specimen collection and transport systems from manufacturers such as Copan, Puritan, Hardy Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher, and other microbiology collection suppliers. Compared with dry swabs, the BD 220131 includes Liquid Amies transport medium, helping preserve compatible specimens during transport to the laboratory.

Compared with regular-shaft swabs, the flexible aluminum wire design provides added maneuverability for collection sites where a standard rigid shaft may be less suitable. Compared with soft aluminum wire variants, the flexible wire option provides a different balance of flexibility and handling control, so facilities should select the shaft type that matches their collection protocol and user preference.

Compared with double-swab systems, the single-swab format provides a simpler collection system for tests that require only one applicator. Compared with CultureSwab Plus Amies gel systems, BD 220131 uses Liquid Amies medium rather than gel, making it appropriate for laboratories that standardize around liquid transport media for specific bacteriology workflows.

Typical User Profile and Application Scenarios

The typical users of the BD 220131 include nurses, physicians, medical assistants under supervision, laboratory technicians, microbiology staff, wound care clinicians, womens health clinicians, urgent care teams, and other trained healthcare professionals responsible for specimen collection and transport.

This product is especially useful in clinical scenarios requiring sterile swab collection, flexible shaft access, secure transport, and compatibility with bacteriological culture workflows. Common use cases may include throat swab collection, wound specimen collection, urogenital specimen collection, nasopharyngeal or other flexible-shaft collection applications, and approved collection scenarios that match Liquid Amies rayon single-swab transport requirements.

Best Practices for Use and Maintenance

• Store the product according to manufacturer and facility storage requirements.
• Rotate inventory by expiration date to avoid use of expired collection systems.
• Keep swabs in original sterile packaging until ready for specimen collection.
• Confirm with the laboratory whether Liquid Amies and flexible aluminum wire swab format are appropriate for the ordered test.
• Do not use the swab if the tube is leaking, the cap does not secure properly, or the transport medium appears compromised.
• Avoid excessive bending or force that could damage the wire shaft or compromise collection quality.
• Collect an adequate specimen according to laboratory procedure and avoid contamination from adjacent tissue or surfaces.
• Secure the cap fully after collection to help prevent leakage or specimen drying.
• Send specimens to the laboratory promptly and document collection details accurately.
• Train staff on correct specimen collection technique because poor collection can affect test quality even when the transport device is appropriate.

Regulatory and Safety Information

The BD 220131 is intended for professional clinical specimen collection and transport use. It should be used only by trained personnel following manufacturer instructions, laboratory requirements, infection control procedures, and facility policy.

Do not use the product if packaging is damaged, if the device is expired, if the transport medium appears compromised, if the cap does not close properly, or if the configuration does not match the ordered test. Clinical specimens should be treated as potentially infectious and handled with appropriate personal protective equipment, biohazard precautions, and regulated medical waste procedures.

How to Order

Select the BD 220131 CultureSwab Liquid Amies, Flexible Aluminum Wire, Single Swabs and add it to your cart. Complete checkout with your preferred shipping and payment options. For bulk orders, quotes, availability confirmation, temperature-sensitive shipping questions, or further assistance, contact CIA Medical customer service at (312) 275-5850 or use the contact form on this page.