Rapid, atraumatic method for obtaining nasal mucus samples.

Disposable cellulose acetate sponges, properly placed in the nose, provide a rapid method of stimulating the production of nasal mucus to be obtained for study. There is little trauma to the nasal mucosa, thus minimizing the risk of contamination of samples with serum or cells. The mucus is not diluted, and therefore, quantitative measurements of immunoglobulins and other substances can be made.