Abstract: A swab, and a substance to be applied thereby, are contained within a sleeve which can readily be opened by use of manual force. The sleeve provides a handle portion that conforms closely to that of the swab stick, thus offering a secure and natural grip for manipulation of the swab while, at the same time, minimizing the amount of the contained substance that can seep along the length of stick, and an element of the sleeve that remains after opening of the unit also serves a protective function. Because of the form of the sleeve it is easy and inexpensive to fabricate as a fully functional article, using only an internal mold member, and it lends itself to facile assembly with the swab.