COPAN awarded Japanese patent for invention of flocked swabs

COPAN announced this week that it has received the Japanese patent for the invention of flocked swabs, FLOQSwabs, for collection and transfer of biological samples. The Japanese flocked swabs patent (2007-523663) is the latest addition to a growing number of patents held by COPAN across the world for the use of flocked swabs for collection and transfer of biological samples, including the Australian patent (2004226798) granted earlier this year, a European patent that covers several countries (1608268), a Canadian patent (2515205), and New Zealand patent (541560).

Innovative FLOQSwabs comprise of a solid molded plastic applicator shaft with a tip that can vary in size and shape to serve different anatomical needs. The tip of the applicator is coated with short Nylon fibers that are arranged in a perpendicular fashion. This perpendicular arrangement results from a process called flocking, where the fibers are sprayed onto the tip of the swab, while it is held in an electrostatic field. COPAN's application of flocking technology has revolutionized the way biological swab samples are perceived. Now demonstrated in many scientific studies COPAN FLOQSwabs absorb a greater volume of sample and more importantly release the entire sample into all assay platforms.

"The patent granted by Japan for the invention of flocked swabs for collection and transfer of biological samples strengthens COPAN's position as a true innovator in the field of pre-analytics and COPAN's commitment to enhancing collection and transport devices to ultimately improve patients' care," concludes Norman Sharples, COPAN Diagnostics' Executive Vice-President.