Method and kit for collecting samples of liquid specimens for analytical testing

• US 5,935,864 A
• Filed: 10/07/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saliva Diagnostic Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Saliva Diagnostic Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Haisley, Charles, Burgess-Cassler, Anthony, Schramm, Willfried
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/726,663
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/61, 436/164, 436/167, 436/169, 436/174
• US Class Current: 436/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0663 Whole sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation

Abstract

A sample kit and a method for collecting a sample of a liquid specimen for analytical testing comprises a sample container and a reagent vial. The sample container includes an open end and a capillary end with a chamber disposed therebetween which includes analytical testing strips and the like within the chamber. The reagent vial is provided with a penetrable foil seal over an open end and a reagent therein for receipt of the capillary end of the sample container. The method for collecting a sample of a liquid specimen for analytical testing includes the steps of bringing the capillary end in contact with the liquid specimen to be analyzed and then penetrating the penetrable foil seal over the open end of the reagent vial wherein the sample container fits within the opening in the penetrable foil seal in an air-tight manner forcing the reagent within the reagent vial into the chamber in the sample container and thereby in contact with the analytical testing strips.

Claims

1. A method for collecting a sample of a liquid specimen for analytical testing consisting essentially of the steps of:

bringing into contact with a liquid specimen to be tested an open capillary end of a sample container, and drawing said specimen into said capillary end, said sample container having an open top with a chamber disposed between said capillary end and said open top, said chamber including means therein for analytical testing;

placing said capillary end into a vial containing an analytical testing reagent and forcing said reagent into said open end;

mixing said liquid specimen with said reagent in said capillary; and

drawing said liquid specimen and said reagent through said capillary end into said chamber whereby said liquid specimen and said reagent contact said means for analytical testing and said liquid specimen is analyzed.

2. The method of claim 1, said liquid specimen being bodily fluids.

3. The method of claim 1, said placing said capillary into a vial including penetrating a penetrable foil seal on said vial, said sample container fitting within said vial in an air-tight arrangement.

4. The method of claim 3, said sample container having an inwardly extending portion, said inwardly extending portion fitting within said seal at said penetrating.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said vial contains a penetrable foil seal over an opening in a top thereof and said sample container includes means to provide an air tight seal when said capillary is received in said penetrable foil.

6. A sample collecting kit consisting essentially of a sample container having a capillary with an open end and an open top with a chamber disposed there between, said chamber including means therein for analytical testing;

and, a vial having an open end for receiving said capillary therein, said vial including an analytical testing reagent therein, said open end including means for forcing the reagent into the capillary and means to mix liquid with the reagent.

7. The sample kit of claim 6, said vial having a penetrable foil over said open end of said vial.

8. The sample kit of claim 7, said sample container including means to form an air tight seal with said penetrable foil upon receipt of said capillary.

9. The sample kit of claim 8, said sample container having an inwardly extending portion, said inwardly extending portion engageable with an opening in said penetrable foil to form an air-tight seal between said sample container and said vial.

10. The sample kit of claim 6, said chamber having a capillary disposed therein.

11. The sample kit of claim 6, said chamber having a funnel-shaped opening in a lower end, said funnel-shaped opening opening outwards from said chamber and opposite said opening a capillary extending inwardly into said chamber.