Swab (Nasal)
Private Nasal Swab testing in London for £130.99, investigating one nasal microbiology marker with clinic-only collection and results in around 2–4 days.
Turnaround time
2-4 business days
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Swab (Nasal) Test
The Nasal Swab test collects a microbiological specimen from inside the nose, helping identify bacteria associated with nasal infection or colonisation.
The test assesses 1 specialist microbiology marker: Swab (Nasal).
The nasal passages naturally contain bacteria.
This means a positive culture does not automatically indicate active infection.
One of the most clinically important reasons for nasal microbiology is assessment of Staphylococcus aureus carriage, although the exact culture findings depend on the laboratory request.
Nasal bacterial colonisation can be clinically relevant in people with recurrent skin or wound infections, before selected procedures or where a clinician specifically wants to assess bacterial carriage.
A standard Nasal Swab culture differs from an MRSA Rapid PCR test.
Routine culture can identify bacterial growth and may allow susceptibility assessment where appropriate.
MRSA PCR is designed specifically to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rapidly.
The choice between these tests depends on the clinical question.
A Nasal Swab is also different from respiratory viral PCR.
Influenza, RSV, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses require dedicated molecular testing rather than routine bacterial culture.
Where symptoms suggest sinusitis, the organisms recovered from a superficial nasal specimen do not always represent what is occurring within the sinuses themselves.
The result therefore needs to be interpreted alongside symptoms, examination findings and the reason the swab was requested.
What Does the Swab (Nasal) Test Check?
The test cultures material collected from the nasal passages to identify clinically significant bacterial organisms or colonisation. This test measures 1 specialist microbiology marker.
Swab (Nasal)
Cultures a professionally collected nasal specimen to identify significant bacterial growth or colonisation within the nasal passages.
Who May Benefit From the Swab (Nasal) Test?
A Nasal Swab can be useful when nasal bacterial infection or colonisation needs to be assessed.
People with recurrent Staphylococcus aureus infections - The nose can act as an important colonisation site.
People with recurrent boils or wound infections - Nasal carriage can occasionally contribute to repeated Staphylococcal infection.
People requiring bacterial carriage assessment - Nasal culture may be requested before selected procedures or treatment pathways.
People with persistent nasal discharge where bacterial infection is suspected - Culture can provide microbiological information in selected cases.
People with previous abnormal nasal cultures - Repeat testing can establish whether colonisation remains present.
People who have completed a decolonisation programme - Follow-up testing may occasionally be requested.
People with immune suppression and recurrent nasal infection - Direct culture can provide additional information.
People specifically referred for nasal microbiology - Professional collection helps obtain a suitable specimen.
How to Prepare
There is no home or hotel collection option for this swab test.
The specimen is collected in clinic using the appropriate microbiology swab and transport medium.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Swab (Nasal) Test
A Nasal Swab is usually requested because of colonisation concerns or persistent local symptoms rather than routine cold symptoms.
Persistent purulent nasal discharge - Bacterial infection is one possible explanation when symptoms are prolonged or clinically significant.
Recurrent crusting or localised nasal infection - Culture can identify organisms from the affected area.
Repeated Staphylococcal skin infections - Nasal carriage may be investigated as a potential reservoir.
A previous positive nasal culture - Repeat testing can determine whether colonisation persists.
A requirement for bacterial screening - Selected clinical or occupational pathways can request nasal microbiology.
Recurrent wound infection with suspected Staphylococcal carriage - Nasal culture can provide complementary information.
Symptoms not responding to initial treatment - Culture can help clarify bacterial involvement.
A routine Nasal Swab does not test for influenza, COVID-19, RSV or other respiratory viruses.
It also does not comprehensively diagnose bacterial sinusitis because organisms within a superficial nasal specimen may differ from those within the paranasal sinuses.
Severe facial swelling, significant breathing difficulty or rapidly worsening infection requires clinical assessment.
How to Book Your Swab (Nasal) Test
The Nasal Swab can be booked privately for professional in-clinic microbiological collection.
Choose the Swab (Nasal)
Select the individual Nasal Swab test online.
Select your collection option
This swab is collected in clinic only; home and hotel visits are not available for this test.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the specimen from the appropriate nasal site.
Laboratory analysis
Your swab undergoes microbiological analysis for Swab (Nasal).
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted according to whether the test was requested for infection or colonisation assessment.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The specialist laboratory turnaround for Swab (Nasal) is approximately 2–4 days after laboratory receipt.
The specimen undergoes bacterial culture, organism identification where relevant, quality-control procedures and result authorisation.
Further susceptibility testing can occasionally extend the reporting period.
Turnaround begins when the correctly collected clinic swab reaches the laboratory.
Understanding Your Results
A negative or no-significant-growth result means no clinically significant bacterial organism was identified under the laboratory culture conditions.
A positive result means bacterial growth has been identified.
The meaning depends on the organism and reason for testing.
Staphylococcus aureus can colonise the nose without causing acute infection.
A positive result can therefore indicate carriage rather than disease.
Where antimicrobial susceptibility is performed, the report may indicate which antibiotics the organism is sensitive or resistant to.
If MRSA specifically needs to be excluded, a dedicated MRSA culture or PCR pathway may be more appropriate.
The result should therefore be interpreted with the clinical purpose of the test.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private in-clinic Nasal Swab collection for targeted bacterial culture.
Site-specific nasal collection - The specimen is collected directly from the nasal passage.
Useful for bacterial carriage assessment - Nasal Staphylococcus colonisation can be clinically relevant.
Can investigate recurrent infection patterns - Culture can contribute where repeated Staphylococcal infection is suspected.
Can complement MRSA testing - Dedicated MRSA PCR is available where specifically required.
Can provide susceptibility information - Further antimicrobial testing may be performed where appropriate.
Clinic-only collection - Home and hotel visits are not available for this swab test.
Specialist microbiology analysis - Samples undergo laboratory culture and authorisation.
Clear pricing - The Nasal Swab test costs £130.99.
Private Swab (Nasal) Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Nasal Swab testing for people requiring site-specific bacterial culture or colonisation assessment.
The test costs £130.99 and assesses 1 specialist microbiology marker.
Collection is in clinic only. Home and hotel visits are not available.
Results are expected approximately 2–4 days after laboratory receipt.