DEVICES AND METHODS FOR THE COLLECTION AND DETECTION OF SUBSTANCES

• US 20100129922A1
• Filed: 11/08/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Martin, David M., Goldberger, Bruce A., Gold, Steven T., Gold, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/025 Displaying results or values with integrated means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0663 Whole sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0683 mechanically breaking a wall or membrane within a channel or chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5029 using swabs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5457 for container closures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54388 based on lateral flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/948 Sedatives, e.g. cannabinoids, barbiturates opiates G01N33/9486
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/9486 Analgesics, e.g. opiates, aspirine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/145555 Hetero-N

Abstract

The present invention provides a single self-contained device for collecting, extracting, on-site testing, and transferring for forensic confirmatory analysis, a wide variety of substances including, but not limited to, drugs of abuse, explosives, weapons of mass destruction, food toxins and industrial wastes. Samples can be obtained from a surface by swabbing a suspect area or the testing of solid materials (pills, capsules, powders), air samples and biological and non-biological fluids by placing the substance in the device. The device includes a swab, a retention well including a wash, and analysis technologies that can be, for example, a lateral flow testing system. The swab is rinsed with a wash prior to testing thereby not compromising the chemistry of the detection technologies and allowing for a wide variety of applications under a number of field conditions. Also, the device is a single self-contained unit instead of having a separate reagent droppers or sprays, making it compact and easy to use. Moreover, the device is designed to not only collect and test samples but to seal the originally target analyte, not affected by testing procedures, in a specially designed cap for shipping under chain of custody documentation to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory testing.

Claims

1. A device for collecting, extracting, testing and identifying an analyte from a sample, wherein the device can, optionally, be sealed and the original untested material sent under forensic chain of custody to a laboratory for confirmation;

the device comprising;

a main body comprising a hollow interior;

at least one swab positioned at a first end of the main body for obtaining a sample;

at least one sealed receptacle disposed within the main body and having therein a wash for dissolving an analyte;

a release mechanism within the housing capable of being engaged with the sealed receptacle to release the wash;

a cap removably attached to the first end of the main body and having hollow depression therein for receiving released wash;

a cap that is removable and can be sealed and, optionally, secured with forensic evidence tape to ship the original material collected to a laboratory for confirmatory testing

at least one analysis strip disposed within the main body having thereon at least one conjugate zone and at least one reaction zone, whereby the presence or absence of an analyte within the wash triggers at least one reaction zone to exhibit a noticeable signal;

a button operably engaged with the main body that can in one position engage the release mechanism and expose the swab to the wash so as to dissolve the analyte thereon and in another position can expose the analysis strip to the dissolved analyte.

2. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the sample is obtained from a surface, powder, liquid, capsule, pill or air.

3. The device, according to claim 1, wherein more than one analyte can be tested for in the wash.

4. The device, according to claim 1, further comprising a lid for sealing the cap.

5. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the noticeable signal is visible or audible.

6. The device, according to claim 5, further comprising a results area on the main body for observing a visible signal.

7. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the release mechanism is an inner ring having a prong fixedly attached thereon for puncturing the sealed receptacle.

8. The device, according to claim 7, wherein the sealed receptacle is a fluid tube disposed within an inner tube to which the button is operably engaged.

9. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the analysis strip is a lateral flow analysis strip.

10. The device, according to claim 9, further comprising a control zone on the analysis strip.

11. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the swab comprises polyester treated with sodium tetraborate 0.1M in TRITON™

×

100 1.0% adjusted to pH 8.6.

12. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the wash comprises distilled sterile water or a buffer solution, TRITON™

×

100 0.1% adjusted to pH 7.4, and 10% ETOH.

13. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the analyte is selected from the group consisting of:

amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine and their metabolites.

14. The device, according to claim 1, wherein the analyte is the parent compound of THC (Δ

⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol), cocaine or heroin.

15. The device, according to claim 1, further comprising a platform for supporting the analysis strip and operably engaging the analysis strip with the button.

16. A method for detecting an analyte comprising the steps of:

a) utilizing a device having

a main body comprising a hollow interior;

at least one swab affixed to a first end of the main body for obtaining a sample;

at least one sealed receptacle disposed within the main body and having therein a wash for dissolving an analyte;

a release mechanism within the housing capable of being engaged with the sealed receptacle to release the eluent;

a cap removably attached to the first end of the main body and having hollow depression therein for receiving released eluent;

at least one analysis strip disposed within the main body having thereon at least one conjugate zone and at least one reaction zone, whereby the presence or absence of the analyte within the wash triggers the reaction zone to exhibit a noticeable signal; and

a button operably engaged with the main body that can, when aligned in one position and activated, engages the release mechanism and expose the swab to the wash so as to dissolve the analyte thereon and, when aligned in another position and activated, can expose at least a portion of the analysis strip to the dissolved analyte,

b) removing the cap on the main body;

c) bringing the swab on the device into contact with the surface or medium to be sampled;

d) replacing the cap on the device so that it covers the swab and seals the end of the main body;

e) aligning the button to the first position;

f) activating the button so that the wash is released and washes over the swab to dissolve any analyte thereon in the cap;

g) agitating the device several times to facilitate dissolving of the analyte into the eluent;

h) aligning the button to the second position;

i) activating the button to expose at least a portion of the analysis strip to the dissolved analyte in the cap, so as to cause the reaction zone to exhibit a noticeable signal; and

j) determining whether the analyte is present by observing the signal.

17. The method, according to claim 16, further comprising:

removing the cap with the dissolved analyte therein;

sealing the cap with a lid; and

transporting the cap to a facility for further testing of the analyte.

18. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the device further comprises a results area on the main body for observing the signal.

19. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the sample is obtained from a surface, powder, liquid, or air.

20. The method, according to claim 16, wherein more than one analyte is dissolved in the wash, such that more than one signal is exhibited by the reaction zone on the analysis strip.

21. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the analysis strip of the device is a lateral flow analysis strip.

22. The method, according to claim 21, further comprising a control zone on the analysis strip.

23. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the swab of the device comprises polyester treated with TRITON™

×

100 0.1% adjusted to pH 7.4.

24. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the wash comprises distilled sterile water or a buffer solution.

25. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the analyte is selected from the group consisting of:

amphetamines, methamphetamine, MDMA (a.k.a., Ecstasy), barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, fentanyl, LSD, methaqualone, opiates, phencyclidine, propoxyphene, and their metabolites.

26. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the analyte is the parent compound of THC (Δ

⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol), cocaine or heroin.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein the analyte is one or more explosives selected from the group consisting of HMX, RDX, NG, TATB, Tetryl, PETN, TNT, DNT, TNB, DNB, and NC

28. The method, according to claim 16, wherein the analyte is a pain killer or erectile dysfunction drug.