Method of collecting, identifying, and quantifying saliva
First Claim
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1. A method of collecting and identifying saliva for analysis, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting a first absorbent element into the mouth of a subject for application of a fluid saliva specimen thereto,(b) providing a second absorbent element which is separate from said first absorbent element and having a zone of application for transfer of saliva thereto, wherein said zone of application comprises an indicator which indicates the presence of said fluid saliva specimen when contacted with said specimen, said indicator is spaced a predetermined distance from said zone of application to require transfer of a predetermined quantity of saliva to said second absorbent element prior to said applied saliva contacting said indicator, said predetermined distance also provides for collection of a sufficient quantity of specimen which is uncontacted by said indicator to permit subsequent analysis of said specimen,(c) transferring the fluid saliva from said first absorbent element to said zone of application, and(d) observing said indicator for saliva contact therewith in order to determine that said predetermined quantity of saliva has been transferred to said second absorbent element.
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Abstract
A method is provided for rapidly determining during a saliva specimen collection procedure the presence of an amount of saliva, and for verifying that the sample obtained is in fact saliva. Color indication by dye markers and/or enzymatic activation of color indicators provides an indication that at least a predetermined amount of saliva has been applied to an absorbent and the enzymatic reaction indicates that saliva is contained in the sample collected.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method of collecting and identifying saliva for analysis, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting a first absorbent element into the mouth of a subject for application of a fluid saliva specimen thereto, (b) providing a second absorbent element which is separate from said first absorbent element and having a zone of application for transfer of saliva thereto, wherein said zone of application comprises an indicator which indicates the presence of said fluid saliva specimen when contacted with said specimen, said indicator is spaced a predetermined distance from said zone of application to require transfer of a predetermined quantity of saliva to said second absorbent element prior to said applied saliva contacting said indicator, said predetermined distance also provides for collection of a sufficient quantity of specimen which is uncontacted by said indicator to permit subsequent analysis of said specimen, (c) transferring the fluid saliva from said first absorbent element to said zone of application, and (d) observing said indicator for saliva contact therewith in order to determine that said predetermined quantity of saliva has been transferred to said second absorbent element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of collecting for analysis, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an absorbent element having a zone of application thereon for insertion into a subject'"'"'s mouth for absorption of saliva, said absorbent element being sized to extend out of the subject'"'"'s mouth to provide an exterior absorbent element portion, wherein said exterior absorbent portion has an indicating means thereon which indicates the presence of saliva when contacted with saliva, said indicating means is positioned on said exterior absorbent element in sufficient spaced relationship to said zone of application to require application of at least a predetermined amount of said specimen to said absorbent element prior to the presence of the saliva being indicated, said spaced relationship further providing for collection of a sufficient quantity of saliva which is uncontacted by said indicator to permit subsequent analysis of the collected saliva, (b) inserting said zone of application into the mouth of a subject, (c) collecting a fluid specimen of saliva on said zone of application, (d) allowing said saliva to migrate on said absorbent from said zone of application to said exterior portion, and `(e) observing said indicating means for saliva contact therewith for determination that said at least predetermined quantity of saliva has been absorbed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of collecting and identifying saliva for analysis, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a fluid specimen to an absorbent element having a sample portion and a separable test portion; (b) providing a means for testing that upon contact with said specimen gives an indication of the presence of saliva in said specimen; (c) following said step (a), removing said test portion from said sample portion; and (d) applying said testing means to said test portion to contact the applied specimen, whereby the presence of saliva therein results in said indication and analysis may proceed utilizing said sample portion. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of collecting from a subject a desired quantity of saliva sample for analysis comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a saliva collection absorbent comprising a zone for saliva application adapted for insertion into the subject'"'"'s mouth and an absorbent indicator portion sufficiently spaced from said zone to position said indicator portion outside the mouth, said collection absorbent is attached to a handle which allows for uncontaminated manipulation of the absorbent and permits insertion of said zone for saliva application into the subject'"'"'s mouth, said indicator portion has an indicator thereon which signals the presence of saliva on said indicator portion of said absorbent and said indicator spaced a predetermined distance from said zone to permit collection of a predetermined amount of saliva prior to contact of the collected saliva with said indicator, said predetermined distance providing for collection of a sufficient quantity of specimen which is uncontacted by said indicator for subsequent analysis of the collected saliva sample, (b) inserting said application zone into the subject'"'"'s mouth for saliva collection, (c) allowing saliva to absorb onto said zone and migrate toward said indicator, (d) observing said indicator during saliva collection to determine saliva contact with sad indicator, and (e) withdrawing said zone from the mouth upon indicator reaction with the saliva. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification