Comparison of nasopharyngeal aspirates with swabs for culture of Bordetella pertussis.

Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 117 children by aspiration from one nostril and by swab from the other one and cultured for Bordetella pertussis. Among 33 culture-positive specimens, there were 30 positive aspirates and 26 positive swab specimens. Aspirates are easily divided and saved for investigations with other assays which may further improve diagnostic sensitivity. As the aspiration technique was also preferred by nurses and parents, it was recommended and chosen for a planned pertussis vaccine efficacy trial to take place in Sweden from 1992 to 1995.