Swab assembly for specimen collection

A method for collecting a specimen from a patient using a swab assembly comprising a sheath having a lumen, an elongated shaft disposed within the sheath lumen, and a collection tip coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a notch configured to cause the elongated shaft to preferentially break at the notch when a force is applied to the elongated shaft, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the swab assembly into a body lumen of the patient until the collection tip is adjacent to a target collection site;
• obtaining the specimen by contacting the target collection site with the collection tip;
• removing the swab assembly from the body lumen, wherein the elongated shaft is disposed within the sheath lumen such that the notch is positioned in the sheath lumen during the inserting, obtaining, and removing steps;
• sliding the sheath relative to the elongated shaft, or sliding the elongated shaft relative to the sheath, such that the shaft notch is disposed outside of the sheath lumen;
• and
• breaking the elongated shaft at or proximate the notch.