Specimen collection package

• US 4,749,655 A
• Filed: 06/01/1987
• Issued: 06/07/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Monthony, James F., Corasaniti, Virginia M., Gosnell, C. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAMEN, NOAH P
• Application Number:
  US07/056,081
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 128/759, 128/749, 604/1, 435/287, 435/292, 435/295, 435/296, 435/299, 435/300
• US Class Current: 600/572
• 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: C12M 33/02 by impregnation, e.g. using swabs or loops fluid transport using swabs B01L3/5029
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/22 Means for packing or storing viable microorganisms casings for storing cell samples A61B10/0096, preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02

Abstract

A self-contained specimen collecting and transporting unit is provided which has all of the advantages of the known specimen collecting and transporting units and which is characterized by the ability to preserve microorganisms during the transporting thereof in the transporting unit. The improved specimen collecting and transporting unit has a pledget composed of carbon fiber. The use of a carbon fiber pledget has been found to have a synergistic effect in preserving the viability of microorganisms which are obtained by use of the swab of the specimen collecting and transporting unit.

Claims

1. In a microorganism collecting and transporting unit including a tube having an open outer end and a closed inner end, a cap adapted to close said tube, a swabbing device located within said tube including a stem and a swabbing tip on the inner end of said stem, a culture sustaining media located within said tube and a pledget disposed within said tube, said pledget being adapted to keep said swabbing tip moist with said media after a specimen has been collected on said swabbing tip, the improvement comprising utilizing fiber made of carbon or graphite to form at least a portion of one of the members of said transporting unit selected from the group of said pledget and said swabbing tip.

2. A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carbon fiber is a graphite fiber.

3. A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carbon fiber is a carbon fiber.

4. A unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said graphite fiber is in the form of a woven cloth.

5. A unit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said carbon fiber is in the form of a woven cloth.