Difference Between VTM and ITM FOR Covid-19 PCR TEST

08 Apr Difference Between VTM and ITM FOR Covid-19 PCR TEST

Viral Transport Medium (VTM) is a medium used to store virus specimens. During this COVID-19 pandemic, the need for VTM is very important for PCR testing purposes.

PT Arkan Indoplast Utama began producing VTM in 2020 and has achieved ISO 9001: 2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certifications. There are two types of VTM, namely Activated and Inactivated (ITM). The two types have differences, especially in the composition of the basal medium, for example Hank’s Balanced Saline Solution. The activated type has a stable osmotic pressure making it suitable for storage and transport of specimens for the purposes of genetic testing, PCR, and others.

Another difference in VTM, because it is activated, the virus in the specimen remains active with a stability period of up to 24 hours at a storage temperature between 2-8℃. Meanwhile, ITM inactivates the virus in the specimen and has a stability period of up to 7 days with a storage temperature of 0 – 35℃.