Australia’s Rhinomed makes first nasal swab for children

Australian firm Rhinomed has completed development of the world’s first nasal swab designed specifically for children. The Rhinoswab Junior has been designed to deliver all the benefits of the existing Rhinoswab but with several novel features that reduce the fear, anxiety and trauma associated with the use of the existing standard of care nasal swabs. The company has received Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approval to commence a clinical trial of the Rhinoswab Junior at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

The trial, known as The Diagnosis of Respiratory Disease in

Children with Rhinoswab Study (DIY Rhinoswab Study), will investigate the diagnosis of respiratory viruses in children with Rhinoswab Junior, which is designed to collect a nasal sample from children without the discomfort and distress often associated with the combined throat and deep nasal (CTDN) swabs. The study will aim to recruit 250 children at the Respiratory Infection Clinic at the RCH for a SARS-CoV-2 test. The CTDN sample will be collected by a healthcare worker (HCW); however, children will self-collect the Rhinoswab sample under the supervision of a healthcare worker.