Products

A viral transport media (VTM) is a nutrient substance used to carry and maintain the viability of specimens (viruses) to a laboratory for the identification and further processing of the sample. Transport media for viruses are especially important as they are more labile than other infectious agents.

In modern microbiology transport media is one of the most important things used in the transport of specimens from one place to another. For a successful analysis, The samples need to be in a stable environment that is not detrimental to the organisms or the environment. Transport media have diverse functions depending on the type of organism they are used for, and the time organism has to spend in it. A VTM is a non-nutritive ready to use media that contains various antibiotics and antimycotics to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. These mixtures can stabilize the sample for 2 to 3 days under normal conditions and even when proper refrigeration is not available. However, the specimen must not be exposed to environmental extremes. Transport media are called so because they have special ingredients that keep the clinical specimen to be transported in a stable condition and prevent degradation.

As mentioned above VTM is used for the transport of clinical specimens and viral clinical samples that are to be tested. During this COVID-19 pandemic, VTM has been one of the most widely used and demanded chemical mixtures. Nasal swabs were taken from the CVID-19 patients are saved in the VTM solutions for stability until the testing is done. As the VTM prevents temperature-related degradation, drying of the sample, and also discourages the growth of the bacteria and fungi that comes with the sample so it is an essential requirement also prescribed by WHO and CDC.