Swabs
National NHS prescribing (Prescription Cost Analysis) · Swabs
Swabs was ranked 412th of 1,794 medicines by items in March 2026, with 18,987 items, little changed on a year earlier.
18,987items
Dispensed in March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
£86,529
Net ingredient cost · March 2026
NHSBSA PCA
234,094items
Dispensed in the last 12 months
NHSBSA PCA
Figure 1. Swabs: national items dispensed by month
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026
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Top presentations, March 2026
The individual products dispensed under Swabs, by items this month.
| Presentation | Items | Net ingredient cost |
|---|---|---|
| Non-woven fabric swab 4ply non-sterile 10cm x 10cm | 8,293 | £21,884 |
| Gauze swab type 13 light BP 1988 8ply non-sterile 10cm x 10cm | 4,443 | £12,158 |
| Non-woven fabric swab 4ply sterile 7.5cm x 7.5cm | 2,833 | £24,328 |
| Gauze swab type 13 light BP 1988 8ply sterile 7.5cm x 7.5cm | 2,675 | £22,106 |
| Non-woven fabric swab 4ply sterile 10cm x 10cm | 331 | £2,963 |
| Gauze swab type 13 light BP 1988 8ply sterile 10cm x 10cm | 288 | £2,257 |
| Gauze swab type 13 light BP 1988 8ply non-sterile 7.5cm x 7.5cm | 62 | £38 |
| Non-woven fabric swab 6ply sterile 10cm x 10cm | 34 | £434 |
| Filmated non-woven fabric swab 8ply non-sterile 10cm x 10cm | 28 | £362 |