A sample collection device

Abstract

A sample collection device 2 comprising a liquid or liquid-based sample collection portion and a sample storage portion 11. The sample storage portion is in liquid communication with the liquid or liq

Description

Abstract A sample collection device 2 includes a liquid-based or liquid-based sample collection section and a sample storage section 11. The sample storage section is in liquid communication with the liquid-based or liquid-based sample section and at least temporarily stores at least a portion of the liquid-based or liquid-based sample as a stored liquid-based or liquid-based sample. The sample storage section is actuable to release at least a portion of the stored liquid-based or liquid-based sample. The sample collection device also includes a testing section 12 having at least two separate sample chambers to receive at least a portion of the released liquid-based or liquid-based sample upon actuation of the sample storage section, and each sample chamber contains at least one electrode.

Claims

1. A sample collection and storage device comprising:a. a liquid or liquid based sample collection portion to collect a liquid or liquid based sample; andb. a sample storage portion in liquid communication with the liquid or liquid based sample collection portion, the sample storage portion at least temporarily storing at least a portion of the liquid or liquid-based sample as a stored liquid or liquid-based sample and actuablc to release at least a portion of the stored liquid or liquid-based sample.

2. A sample collection and storage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sample storage portion is sized to at least temporarily store a fixed volume of the liquid or liquid-based sample as a stored liquid or liquid-based sample and release the fixed volume of the stored liquid or liquid-based sample.

3. A sample collection device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a test portion to receive at least a portion of a released liquid or liquid-based sample upon actuation of the sample storage portion.

4. A sample collection device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the test portion comprises at least one electrode.

5. A sample collection device as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the test portion comprises at least two separated sample chambers to receive at least a portion of a released liquid or liquid-based sample upon actuation of the sample storage portion, each sample chamber housing at least one electrode.

6. The sample collection device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the liquid or liquid-based sample collection portion comprises a wick configured to transfer the liquid or liquid-based sample from the sample collection portion to the sample storage portion.

7. The sample collection device of any preceding claim wherein the liquid or liquidbased sample is at least one of urine, saliva, or blood.

8. The sample collection device of claim 7 wherein the liquid or liquid-based sample comprises at least one target (from the list of: Glucose, Creatinine,Haemoglobin, Total Protein and Target Protein (for example, Cytokeratin Fragment CYFRA21 -1) or similar, Potassium, Sodium and pH).

9. The sample collection device of any preceding claim wherein the sample storageportion comprises an absorbent material configured to retain the liquid or liquidbased sample at least temporarily.

10. The sample collection device of claim 9 wherein the sample storage portion comprises an expandable foam provided within a fixed size receptacle, the fixed size receptacle being sized according to a maximum size of expansion of the foam and to allow a fixed volume of sample to be collected.

11. The sample collection device of any preceding claim wherein the sample storageportion is provided between the sample collection portion and the test portion and the sample storage portion is in liquid communication with the test portion.

12. The sample collection device of claim 11 further comprising a barrier provided between the sample storage portion and the test portion wherein the barrier is moveable from a first position to a second position wherein in the first position, the barrier blocks liquid communication between the sample storage portion and the test portion and in the second position, the barrier allows liquid communication between the sample storage portion and the test portion.

13. The sample collection device of any preceding claim further comprising an actuator configured to actuate the sample storage portion to release at least a portion of the stored liquid or liquid-based sample and to move the barrier from the first position to the second position.

14. The sample collection device of claim 13 wherein the actuator comprises a wedge which is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the wedge is configured to release a fixed portion of the liquid or liquid-based sample.

15. The sample collection device of any preceding claim wherein the test portion comprises a flow channel in liquid communication with the sample storage portion.

16. The sample collection device of any preceding claim wherein the test portion comprises a plurality of sample chambers wherein the number of sample chambers is selected in accordance with the specific test to which the sample collection device is directed.

17. The sample collection device of claim 16 wherein each sample chamber is directed towards a specific target within the sample and each sample chamber is configured to produce a response indicating whether the target is present within the sample when the sample enters the sample chamber.

18. The sample collection device of claim 16 or 17 wherein the test portion comprises between two and twenty sample chambers.

19. The sample collection device of claim 18 wherein the test portion comprises between five and fourteen sample chambers.

20. The sample collection device of any one of claims 16-19 wherein each sample chamber extends from the flow channel.

21. The sample collection device of any one of claims 16-20 wherein each sample chamber houses at least one electrode.

22. The sample collection device of any one of claims 16-21 wherein each sample chamber comprises a reagent selected in accordance with the specific test to which the sample collection device is directed.

23. The sample collection device of claim 22 wherein each reagent is a material configured to produce a specific indicator based on the specific target present within the sample.

24. The sample collection device of claim 22 or claim 23 wherein each reagent comprises at least one of the following: at least one enzyme, at least one ionophore, at least one buffer, at least one additive, at least one stabiliser, at least one oxidant, at least one mediator, and at least one surfactant.

25. The sample collection device of any one of claims 16-22 wherein each sample chamber has a depth in the range of 50-500 pm.

26. The sample collection device of claim 25 wherein each sample chamber has a depth in the range of 100-125 pm.

27. A test reader configured to read a test portion of a sample collection device, the test reader comprising a sensing portion having at least one complementary 5 sensor configured to read at least one electrode of a test portion of a samplecollection device.

28. The test reader of claim 27 wherein the number of complementary sensors is selected in accordance with the specific test to which the sample collection device is directed.10 29. The test reader of claim 27 or claim 28 wherein the test reader is configured toread the at least one electrode and indicate whether a target is present within a sample in the sample collection device.

30. A system for collecting and testing a liquid or liquid based sample, the system comprising:15 a. the sample collection device of any one of claims 5-26; andb. the test reader of any one of claims 27-29.

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