144:, it would appear that the first commercial producer of cotton tipped applicators was a Mrs. Hazel Tietjen Forbis, who manufactured them in her home. She also owned a patent on the article, numbered 1,652,108, dated December 6, 1927, and sold the product under the appellation Baby Nose-Gay. In 1925, Leo Gerstenzang Co., Inc. purchased an assignment of the product patent from Mrs. Forbis. On January 2, 1937, Q-Tips, Inc's president, Mr. Leo Gerstenzang, and his wife Mrs. Ziuta Gerstenzang formed a partnership and purchased from Mrs. Forbis "All merchandise, machinery and fixtures now contained in the premises 132 W. 36th Street and used by said Q-Tips, Inc., for the manufacture of Q-Tips or medicated swabs together with the accounts receivable of said Q-Tips, Inc." The contract recited that Q-Tips, Inc. was the owner of patents covering the manufacture of applicators.
148:
was changed to read "Q-Tips Baby Gays", and in 1927 an application was made to register the mark "Q-Tips Baby Gays". Sometime after 1926, the words "Baby Gays" were dropped and the concern began to develop "Q-Tips" as its identifying mark, applying for registration of it on
September 14, 1933. Packages were made up using blue paper with pictures of double tipped applicators upon them, features which have been the basis for the Q Tips packaged sign since that time. The design of the crossed applicators was made by dropping them and then photographing the resulting pattern. The "Q" in Q-Tips stood for "quality", although some believed that it was meant to make it sound like "cute tip".
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276:, where bacteria from the swab may grow. They are also used to take DNA samples, most commonly by scraping cells from the inner cheek in the case of humans. They can be used to apply medicines to a targeted area, to selectively remove substances from a targeted area, or to apply cleaning substances like
329:
The importance of swab technology in medical diagnostics is immense. Swabs are a primary tool for collecting patient specimens, vital for accurately detecting pathogens, DNA sampling, and disease diagnosis. The collection's precise nature and the swab's quality are critical in ensuring reliable test
230:
Cotton swabs manufactured for home use are usually shorter, about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) long, and usually double-tipped. The handles were first made of wood, then made of rolled paper, which is still most common (although tubular plastic is also used). They are often sold in large quantities, 100
222:
The traditional cotton swab has a single tip on a wooden handle, and these are still often used, especially in medical settings. They are usually relatively long, about 4 inches (10 cm). These often are packaged sterile, one or two to a paper or plastic sleeve. The advantage of the paper sleeve
147:
Originally, when cotton tipped applicators were made by Mrs. Forbis, they were sold under the name of Baby Nose-Gays. In 1925, after The Leo
Gerstenzang Co., Inc. purchased an assignment of the product patent from Mrs. Forbis, the packages of applicators were labelled Baby-Gays. In 1926, the legend
383:
in children and should be avoided." Instead, wiping wax away from the ear with a washcloth after a shower almost completely cleans the outer one-third of the ear canal, where earwax is made. In the US between 1990 and 2010, an estimated 263,338 children went to hospital emergency rooms for cotton
124:
to clean their infant's ears. His product was originally named "Baby Gays" in recognition of them being intended for infants before being renamed "Q-tips Baby Gays", with the "Q" standing for "quality". The product eventually became known as "Q-tips", which went on to become the most widely sold
372:, a buildup or blockage of cerumen in the ear canal, which can cause pain, hearing problems, ringing in the ear, or dizziness, and may require medical treatment to resolve. The use of cotton swabs in the ear canal is one of the most common causes of
261:. This use is usually against manufacturer instructions. Cotton swabs are also commonly used for cosmetic purposes such as applying and removing makeup and touching up nail polish, as well as for household uses such as cleaning and arts and crafts.
287:. Once taken, the swab can be streaked onto an agar plate, or the contents of the tip removed by agitation or dilution into the broth. The broth can either then be filtered or incubated and examined for microbial growth.
298:, for various applications during the application of decals or painting. Special brands of cotton swabs exist for this purpose, characterised by sturdier cotton heads and varied shapes of those heads.
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Nasopharyngeal swabs for respiratory virus detection swabs for efficient DNA material collection swabs to assess the presence of microbial infection in sterility and prevention of contamination.
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320:. Similarly, they are used for cleaning larger computer parts such as video cards and fans. They were also widely used in the past to clean video game cartridges.
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396:. Some manufacturers and retailers have stopped the production and sale of plastic swabs and are only selling biodegradable paper versions.
305:. This use is problematic, as manufacturers differ in the binders they use to fix the cotton to the stem, affecting the outcome of the test.
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Plastic swab stems exist in a wide variety of colors, such as blue, pink or green. However, the cotton itself is traditionally white.
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70:. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although this is not recommended by physicians. Other uses for cotton swabs include
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Sandle, T. (July 2011). "A study of a new type of swab for the environmental monitoring of isolators and cleanrooms".
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Smith, Matthew; Darrat (February 2012). "Otologic complications of cotton swab use: One institution's experience".
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956:"Pediatric Cotton-Tip Applicator-Related Ear Injury Treated in United States Emergency Departments, 1990–2010"
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A 2004 study found that the "use of a cotton-tip applicator to clean the ear seems to be the leading cause of
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The use of cotton swabs in the ear canal has no associated medical benefits and poses definite medical risks.
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1004:"Johnson & Johnson will stop selling plastic cotton buds in half the world to help cut marine pollution"
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1094:"Combating Plastics in Monaco: On 1 January, Plastic Cotton Buds, Cups, Cutlery and Plates wereBanned"
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and cleaning functions, and provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, insects, and water.
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280:. They are also used as an applicator for various cosmetics, ointments, and other substances.
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had previously instated a ban in 2019 and Monaco in 2020. England, Scotland, Wales, and the
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swab injuries, accounting for an estimated annual hospitalization of 13,167 children.
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cultures. The swabs are rubbed onto or into the infected area, then wiped across the
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brand name of cotton swabs in North
America. The term "Q-tip" is often used as a
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for a cotton swab in the United States and Canada. The Q-tips brand is owned by
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Plastic cotton swabs are often flushed down the toilet, increasing the risk of
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and had over $ 200 million in US sales in 2014. "Johnson's buds" are made by
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Cotton swabs are also often used outside of the field of personal hygiene:
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to be sterilized (plastic sleeves or handles would melt in the autoclave).
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487:"How a household staple became the source of doctor's office swab stories"
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929:"Don't use cotton-tipped swabs to clean inside your ears, experts urge"
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519:"Q-Tips, Inc. v. Johnson & Johnson, 108 F. Supp. 845 (D.N.J. 1952)"
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67:
86:. Some countries have banned the plastic-stemmed versions in favor of
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258:
142:
Q-Tips, Inc. v. Johnson & Johnson, 108 F. Supp. 845 (D.N.J. 1952)
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63:
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at the
American Hearing Research Foundation. Chicago, Illinois 2008.
599:"Why are they called q-tips when they don't look like the letter Q"
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instated a ban on the use of plastic-stemmed cotton swabs in 2021.
728:"Information from Your Family Doctor—Earwax: What You Should Know"
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1063:"Italy to ban microplastics used in rinse-off cosmetics products"
536:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
667:"Taking the measure of surface treatment is a learning process"
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140:
However, according to the United States Patent Case (C-10,415)
1108:"Ban on plastic straws in England pushed back to October 2020"
155:
1032:"European Parliament Approves Law To Ban Single-Use Plastics"
884:"Cotton-tip applicators as a leading cause of otitis externa"
110:
The first mass-produced cotton swab was developed in 1923 by
758:"Why You Really, Truly Should Not Put Q-Tips Into Your Ears"
648:
European
Journal of Parenteral & Pharmaceutical Sciences
376:, a condition which sometimes requires surgery to correct.
368:
Attempts to remove cerumen with cotton swabs may result in
1152:"Wales unveils plans to ban single-use plastics from 2021"
66:
wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or
361:
that protects the skin inside the ear, serves beneficial
551:"Patent filed : No: 1,652,108 : H. T. Forbis"
283:
A related area is the use of swabs for microbiological
888:
International
Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
556:. Patentimages.storage.googleapis.com. 6 December 1927
1170:"Manx government proposes ban on single-use plastics"
253:
The most common use for cotton swabs is to clean the
1134:"Plastic-stemmed cotton buds now banned in Scotland"
577:"How we got addicted to using Q-tips the wrong way"
120:after he watched his wife attach wads of cotton to
1061:
726:American Academy of Family Physicians (May 2007).
622:"What Exactly Does the 'Q' in 'Q-tips' Stand For?"
223:and the wooden handle is that the package can be
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301:They can be used in the dyne test for measuring
882:Nussinovitch, Moshe; et al. (April 2004).
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782:McCarter, Daniel F.; et al. (May 2007).
353:(ear wax) is a naturally occurring, normally
8:
30:"Q-Tip" redirects here. For other uses, see
411:each instated a ban between 2019 and 2021.
294:They are often used in the construction of
190:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
308:They are frequently used for cleaning the
264:Medical-type swabs are often used to take
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210:Learn how and when to remove this message
669:. PFFC: Paper, Film & Foil Converter
38:
721:
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472:"About: A Q-Tips® Cotton Swabs History"
437:
485:Fitzgerald, Dennis (24 January 2016).
601:. Why Guy. abc10.com. 24 October 2018
575:Meyersohn, Nathaniel (25 June 2022).
7:
691:Q-Tips – Weapons of Ear Destruction?
474:. Unilever United States. 2007–2018.
188:adding citations to reliable sources
620:Benson Smith, Sam (29 March 2021).
1002:Johnston, Ian (13 February 2017).
25:
1074:from the original on 19 July 2018
707:"Something Evil in the Ear Canal"
665:Edward Boyle (1 September 1996).
345:Cotton swabs in a round container
90:alternatives over concerns about
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954:Ameen, Zeenath S. (1 May 2017).
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1030:Moore, Darrel (28 March 2019).
688:Moser, Rod (13 November 2006),
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973:10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.03.049
325:Role in medical diagnostics
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960:The Journal of Pediatrics
788:American Family Physician
732:American Family Physician
445:Schueller, Randy (1996).
825:10 February 2013 at the
285:environmental monitoring
231:or more to a container.
359:external auditory canal
78:application, cleaning,
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32:Q-Tip (disambiguation)
451:How Products are Made
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135:Johnson & Johnson
127:genericized trademark
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1207:at Wikimedia Commons
388:Environmental impact
316:in conjunction with
184:improve this section
1231:Disposable products
1221:American inventions
1036:CIWM Journal Online
784:"Cerumen Impaction"
106:A pack of 54 Q-tips
1140:. 12 October 2019.
853:10.1002/lary.22437
457:on 31 August 2011.
374:perforated eardrum
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296:plastic model kits
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27:Personal care item
1246:Polish inventions
1203:Media related to
1096:. 6 January 2020.
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1015:26 November
966:: 124–130.
913:5 September
805:5 September
654:(2): 42–48.
409:Isle of Man
363:lubrication
312:lens of an
310:laser diode
152:Description
56:cotton buds
1215:Categories
939:10 January
498:24 January
432:References
421:Cotton pad
274:agar plate
225:autoclaved
122:toothpicks
82:care, and
18:Cotton bud
869:206199065
330:results.
255:ear canal
171:does not
76:cosmetics
72:first aid
1180:1 August
1174:BBC News
1156:Edie.net
1138:BBC News
1118:16 April
1112:Edie.net
1072:Archived
1046:28 March
982:28473166
933:CBC News
908:15013609
861:22241624
823:Archived
800:17555144
744:17555145
673:20 March
426:Ear pick
415:See also
355:extruded
278:Betadine
131:Unilever
1078:19 June
767:6 March
694:, WebMD
560:23 July
525:20 July
351:Cerumen
192:removed
177:sources
98:History
68:plastic
1226:Cotton
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84:crafts
80:infant
64:cotton
865:S2CID
554:(PDF)
405:Italy
54:) or
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