Storage container, sample collection set and method for creating sample-containing liquid

Abstract

To enable samples collected using a sample collection instrument to be stored hygienically.SOLUTION: A storage container has a first space and a second space, and when a sample collection instrument is inserted from an insertion port on the first space side and the sample collection instrument is pushed toward the second space in a state where a collection unit of the sample collection instrument is inserted through a fine hole interposed between the first space and the second space, the sample collection instrument is held inside a container body with the collection unit housed in the second space, and in that state, the insertion port of the container body can be sealed with a cap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage container for storing a sample collection device that has collected a sample such as plaque, a sample collection set including the storage container, and a method for preparing a sample-containing liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] In some cases, samples such as plaque and excrement are collected using a sampling tool with a brush-like collection part, such as an interdental brush, and then tested or analyzed using PCR, etc. In order to increase the quantitative accuracy of the samples used for testing or analysis, it has been proposed to pass the collection part through a hole whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the collection part of the sampling tool, thereby peeling off excess sample adhering to the collection part (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6589037 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the test or analysis of the sample collected with the sample collection device cannot be performed on the spot, the sample must be transported to a testing institution. To do so, the sample collected with the sample collection device must be stored in a hygienic manner.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to make it possible to hygienically store samples collected with a sample collecting tool. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The storage container according to the present invention is a storage container for storing a sample collection tool holding a collected sample at its tip, the sample collection tool having a handle part having a length equal to or less than a specified length and a collection part extending from the tip of the handle part, the collection part having a thin shaft thinner than the tip of the handle part, and the sample is collected by adhering it to the periphery of the thin shaft of the collection part, The storage container includes a container body having an insertion port at one end for inserting the sample collection tool from the collection portion side, Inside the container body, a first space located on the one end side for accommodating the handle portion of the sample collection device; a second space that is separate from the first space and is located on the other end side of the first space, and is for accommodating the sampling portion of the sample sampling device; A pore is provided between the first space and the second space, and has an inner diameter large enough to pass the thin shaft of the sample collecting device, and communicates the first space with the second space; When the sampling device is pushed into the second space from the first space toward the second space by passing the sampling portion through the pore, the sampling portion of the sampling device is accommodated within the second space and the sampling device is held inside the container body.

[0007] The sample collection set according to the present invention includes the above-mentioned storage container and a dedicated sample collection device designed to fit the above-mentioned storage container.

[0008] The method of the present invention includes a method for preparing a sample-containing liquid for analysis using a sample collection device and a storage container, the method comprising the steps of: The sample collection device includes: The handle and A collection portion having a thin shaft extending from the tip of the handle, The storage container is the storage container described above, The method comprises: A sample collection step of attaching a sample to the periphery of the thin shaft of the collection part of the sample collection device to hold the sample in the collection part; a storage step of inserting the sampling portion of the sample sampling device holding the sample into the storage container from an insertion port provided at one end of a container body of the storage container after the sample sampling step, passing the sampling portion through a fine hole provided in the container body and pushing the sample sampling device into the other end side of the container body, so that the handle portion is accommodated in the first space of a first space at the one end side and a second space at the other end side provided in the container body across the fine hole, and holding the sample sampling device in the container body with the sampling portion accommodated in the second space; a preparation step of preparing the sample-containing liquid by mixing the sample held in the collection portion of the sample collection device with the liquid by stirring the second space while the liquid is present in the second space after the storage step; a removing step of removing the sample-containing liquid in the second space from the second space after the creating step; It is equipped with: Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the storage container and sample collection set of the present invention, the storage container has a first space and a second space, and when a sample collection device is inserted from the insertion opening on the first space side and the sample collection device is pushed into the second space side through the collection part of the sample collection device into a fine hole between the first space and the second space, the sample collection device is held inside the container body with the collection part housed within the second space, and in this state, the insertion opening of the container body can be sealed with a cap, making it possible to store samples collected with the sample collection device in a hygienic manner.

[0010] According to the method of the present invention, a sample collection device holding a sample in its collection portion is inserted into the above-mentioned storage container to hold the sample collection device within the storage container, and then sample-containing liquid can be created by stirring the second space within the storage container while liquid is present in the second space, thereby making it possible to create sample-containing liquid simply and hygienically. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a sample collection set and storage container. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the storage container of the same embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the sample collecting device is stored in the storage container in the same embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state in which a sample and a liquid are mixed in the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state in which a sample is taken out of a storage container in the embodiment. [Figure 7] 13 is a graph showing the results of verification regarding the reproducibility of sample-containing liquid prepared using the sample collection set of the same embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a graph showing the results of verification of PCR reproducibility of a sample-containing liquid prepared using the sample collection set of the same embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a storage container and a sample collection set according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the sample collection set includes a storage container 1 and a sample collection tool 100. The storage container 1 is a container for housing and storing the sample collection tool 100 therein. The sample collection tool 100 is a tool having a handle portion 102 and a collection portion 104. The collection portion 104 is a brush-like portion having a thin shaft 106 provided to extend from a tip portion 102a of the handle portion 102, and a plurality of bristles 108 provided to extend radially in the radial direction of the thin shaft 106.

[0014] The sample collection tool 100 has a handle 102 having a specified length (for example, 50 mm) or less. The sample collection tool 100 is a dedicated or general-purpose tool such as an interdental brush that has dimensions, shape, etc. that fit the storage container 1.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, the storage container 1 comprises a container body 2, a first cap 4, and a second cap 6. The container body 2 has a first space 12 at one end (the right side in the figure) and a second space 14 at the other end (the left side in the figure), with an insertion opening 8 at one end (the right end in the figure) and an ejection opening 10 at the other end (the left end in the figure). A fine hole 16 is provided between the first space 12 and the second space 14 in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the container body 2, and the first space 12 and the second space 14 are in communication with each other via the fine hole 16.

[0016] The first space 12 of the container body 2 has an insertion port side portion 12a close to the insertion port 8 and a fine hole side portion 12b close to the fine hole 16. The insertion port side portion 12 has a cylindrical shape, and the fine hole side portion 12b has a conical shape whose inner diameter becomes smaller as it approaches the fine hole 16. The inner diameter of the insertion port 8 and the insertion port side portion 12a is, for example, about 10 mm. The inner diameter of the insertion port 8 and the insertion port side portion 12a may be large enough to accommodate the handle portion 102 of the sample collection tool 100.

[0017] The second space 14 of the container body 2 includes an outlet side portion 14a close to the outlet and a fine hole side portion 14b close to the fine hole 16. The outlet side portion 14a has a cylindrical shape, and the fine hole side portion 14b has a conical shape whose inner diameter becomes smaller as it approaches the fine hole 16. The inner diameter of the outlet 10 and the outlet side portion 14a is, for example, about 10 mm.

[0018] The pore 16 has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the thin shaft 106 of the sampling portion 104 of the sample sampling tool 100 and smaller than the outer diameter of the brush portion (the diameter is from the tip of the bristles 108 to the tip of the opposite bristles 108). The pore 16 has an inner diameter of, for example, about 0.5 mm and a length of about 5 mm.

[0019] The first cap 4 is attached to one end of the container body 2 to seal the insertion port 8. A screw 18 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of one end side of the container body 2, and a screw 20 that screws into the screw 18 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first cap 4. The first cap 4 can be attached to one end of the container body 2 by covering the one end of the container body 2 with the first cap 4 and rotating it relative to the container body 2.

[0020] A protrusion 26 is provided on the edge of the insertion opening 8 of the container body 2. A protrusion 28 is provided on the inner surface of the first cap 4, which engages with the protrusion 26 when the first cap 4 is tightened to the container body 2 by a specified amount. The protrusion 26 provided on the container body 2 and the protrusion 28 provided on the first cap 4 constitute a non-return mechanism that prevents the first cap 4, which has been tightened to the container body 2 by a specified amount, from being rotated in a direction to loosen it. The provision of this non-return mechanism prevents the first cap 4 from being accidentally removed after the sample collection tool 100 is housed in the storage container 1, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] The second cap 6 is a sealing member that is attached to the other end of the container body 2 to seal the outlet 10. A screw 22 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the other end side of the container body 2, and a screw 24 that screws with the screw 22 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the second cap 6. The second cap 6 can be attached to the other end of the container body 2 by covering the other end of the container body 2 with the second cap 6 and rotating it relative to the container body 2.

[0022] It should be noted that the structure for attaching and detaching the first cap 4 to one end of the container body 2 and the structure for attaching and detaching the second cap 6 to the other end are not limited to screw engagement.

[0023] Furthermore, if the fine hole 16 is curved, it becomes difficult for the sampling portion 104 of the sample sampling device 100 to pass through the fine hole 16. For this reason, a curve prevention structure 30 that prevents the fine hole 16 from curving is provided on the outer periphery of the fine hole 16 of the storage container 1 of this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the curve prevention structure 30 of this embodiment is composed of four beams that are provided radially from the center of the fine hole 16 in the radial direction.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, when the sample collecting tool 100 after collecting a sample is stored in the storage container 1, the collecting part 104 is inserted into the first space 12 from the insertion port of the container body 2 with the collecting part 104 at the front, and the collecting part 104 is passed through the fine hole 16. Since the inner diameter of the fine hole 16 is larger than the outer diameter of the thin shaft of the collecting part 104 but smaller than the outer diameter of the brush part, when the collecting part 104 is passed through the fine hole 16, the sample attached to the outer periphery of the collecting part 104 is peeled off at the edge of the fine hole 16 on the first space 12 side, and only the sample around the thin shaft 106 of the collecting part 104 passes through the fine hole 106 and is stored in the second space 14. This allows the sample stored in the second space 14 to be quantified.

[0025] The sample collection tool 100 used in this embodiment has a tip 102a that is thinner than the fine hole 16, and has a shape that gradually becomes thicker from the tip 102 toward the base end. Therefore, when the sample collection tool 100 is pushed into the second space 14, as shown in Fig. 1, the tip 102a of the handle 102 enters the fine hole 16, the base of the tip 102 comes into contact with the edge of the fine hole 16, and the handle 102 is held by the edge of the fine hole 16 due to frictional force. In this state, the base end of the handle 102 of the sample collection tool 100 does not protrude from the insertion opening 8 of the container body 2, and the first cap 4 can be attached to one end of the container body 2 to seal the insertion opening 8.

[0026] When the handle portion 102 is held at the edge of the fine hole 16, the opening of the fine hole 16 on the first space 12 side is sealed by the handle portion 102, and even if liquid is poured into the second space 14, the liquid is prevented from leaking through the fine hole 16 into the first space 12 side.

[0027] The manner in which the sample collecting device 100 is held inside the container body 2 is not limited to the above. For example, the sample collecting device 100 may be held by contacting the tapered inner peripheral surface of the pore side portion 12a of the first space 12 with the outer peripheral surface of the handle portion 102 of the sample collecting device 100.

[0028] The sample adhering to the sampling portion 104 of the sample sampling tool 100 in the storage container 1 can be taken out from the outlet 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the sample can be taken out by putting a liquid (selected according to the application, such as water, a buffer solution, or an enzyme solution) into the second space 14, and stirring the inside of the second space 14 by shaking the storage container 1 while sealing the outlet 10 with the second cap 6 to prepare a sample-containing liquid which is a mixture of the sample and the liquid, and then removing the second cap 6 from the container body 2 as shown in FIG. 6. Here, since the pore side portion 14b of the second space 14 has a conical shape, it becomes easy to collect the sample-containing liquid even if the amount of the sample-containing liquid prepared in the second space 14 is small.

[0029] The storage container 1 described above can handle not only plaque but also any substance that can be collected by a sampling tool such as an interdental brush, such as blood, soil, fruit, feces, and contaminants inside pipes. In the above embodiment, the sampling part 104 of the sampling tool 100 is brush-shaped, but it is not necessary to use a sampling tool having a brush-shaped sampling part, and the present invention can also be applied to a sampling tool having a rod-shaped sampling part without hairs.

[0030] The present inventors conducted verification data on the reproducibility of the sample-containing liquid prepared using the above-mentioned sample collection set.

[0031] In this verification, a water-soluble polymer (2-hydroxyethyl celluose, SIGMA-ALDRICH) was used as the simulated plaque, and 301.6 mg of the simulated plaque was added to 60 ml of ultrapure water (Milli-Q), and the solution was thoroughly stirred with a magnetic stirrer until the simulated plaque was completely dissolved in the ultrapure water and became transparent. In order to optically estimate the amount of simulated plaque, 1.02 g of a water-soluble marker (Carmine No. 11: a product of Pentel Co., Ltd.) was added to the simulated plaque solution and stirred continuously, and the simulated plaque solution in the stirred state was used.

[0032] Using a pipette, simulated plaque solution was measured multiple times into a 1.5 ml microtube (product of AS ONE Corporation) at different weights ranging from 3 mg to 40 mg. 250 μL of ultrapure water (Milli-Q) was added to each microtube and the tubes were shaken to mix. The absorbance of each solution at wavelengths of 273 nm, 527 nm, and 562 nm was measured using an absorption spectrophotometer, and a calibration curve of absorbance versus amount of simulated plaque solution was created.

[0033] The weights of the storage container 1 and the sample collection tool 100 (interdental brush) were measured in advance, the collection part 104 of the sample collection tool 100 was immersed in the simulated plaque solution to collect the simulated plaque solution, and the weight of the storage container 1 was measured again with the sample collection tool 100 inserted in the storage container 1, thereby measuring the weight of the simulated plaque solution collected by the sample collection tool 100 (hereinafter referred to as the actual measurement value). After that, 250 μL of ultrapure water (Milli-Q) was poured into the second space 14 of the storage container 1, the second cap 6 was attached, and the storage container 1 was shaken to mix the simulated plaque solution attached to the collection part 104 of the sample collection tool 100 with the ultrapure water, thereby preparing a sample-containing liquid in the second space 14. The second cap 6 of the storage container 1 was removed and the prepared sample-containing liquid was taken out from the outlet 10. The absorbance of the sample-containing liquid at wavelengths of 273 nm, 527 nm, and 562 nm was measured using an absorption spectrophotometer. The amount of simulated plaque solution adhering to the sampling portion 104 was calculated from the measured absorbance based on a calibration curve prepared in advance (hereinafter referred to as the calculated value).

[0034] As a result of the above verification, a high correlation was observed between the measured values ​​and the calculated values ​​as shown in Figure 7. In this way, it can be seen that the use of the storage container 1 not only makes it possible to safely store the sample collecting device 100 that has collected a sample, but also makes it possible to accurately prepare a sample-containing liquid that contains the sample collected by the sample collecting device 100.

[0035] Next, the present inventors verified the reproducibility of gene amplification (PCR) of the sample-containing liquid prepared using the above-mentioned sample collection set.

[0036] In this verification, human genomic DNA (a product of Takara Bio Inc.) was used as template DNA, and diluted with TE buffer at 10 ng / μL (3.3 × 10 3 copies / μL), 1ng / μL (3.3×10 2 copies / μL), 0.1ng / μL (3.3×10 1Each human genome DNA solution was transferred to a 1.5 mL microtube in the collection section 104, and the sample collection tool 100 (interdental brush) was inserted so that the brush part was completely immersed in the human genome DNA solution to collect the human genome DNA solution of each concentration in the collection section 104, and the sample collection tool 100 was then stored in the storage container 1. Thereafter, 250 μL of ultrapure water (Milli-Q) was poured into the second space 14 of the storage container 1, the second cap 6 was attached, and the storage container 1 was shaken to mix the human genome DNA solution attached to the collection section 104 of the sample collection tool 100 with the ultrapure water to prepare a sample-containing liquid in the second space 14.

[0037] 1 μL of the sample-containing liquid was collected three times using a micropipette, each of which was placed in a separate container, and 10 μL of KOD SYBR qPCR MIX (a product of Toyobo Co., Ltd.), FW primer (final concentration: 250 nM), RV primer (final concentration: 250 nM), and ultrapure water (milliQ) were mixed in each container to make a total volume of 20 μL. The primer used has a sequence that amplifies the human β-globulin gene. The amplified product was 1.3 kb. The PCR reaction was performed in a thermal cycler at 98°C for 2 minutes as initial denature, followed by 40 cycles of 98°C (10 minutes) and 68°C (100 seconds). The PCR conditions were as follows. RNase-free water was used as a negative control.

[0038] [Table 1] TIFF2025062556000002.tif107166

[0039] Figure 8 shows the results of electrophoresis using 1.5% agarose gel for each human genomic DNA solution after the above PCR. 1 and 5 are electrophoresis data for a marker (100 bp), 2 is a human genomic DNA solution with a concentration of 10 ng / μL, 3 is a human genomic DNA solution with a concentration of 1 ng / μL, and 4 is a human genomic DNA solution with a concentration of 0.1 ng / μL. From these results, it was confirmed that PCR of the target DNA was performed, and that the above sample collection device can be used to collect samples containing DNA and perform subsequent analytical processing including PCR.

[0040] The above-described examples are merely illustrative of the embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments of the storage container and the test kit according to the present invention are as follows.

[0041] One embodiment of a storage container according to the present invention is a storage container for storing a sample collection device having a collected sample held at a tip thereof, The sample collection tool has a handle portion having a length equal to or shorter than a prescribed length, and a collection portion extending from a tip of the handle portion, the collection portion having a thin shaft thinner than the tip of the handle portion, and the sample is collected by adhering the sample to the periphery of the thin shaft of the collection portion; The storage container includes a container body having an insertion port at one end for inserting the sample collection tool from the collection portion side, Inside the container body, a first space located on the one end side for accommodating the handle portion of the sample collection device; a second space that is separate from the first space and is located on the other end side of the first space, and is for accommodating the sampling portion of the sample sampling device; A pore is provided between the first space and the second space, and has an inner diameter large enough to pass the sampling portion of the sample sampling device, and communicates the first space with the second space; When the sampling device is pushed into the second space from the first space toward the second space by passing the sampling portion through the pore, the sampling portion of the sampling device is accommodated within the second space and the sampling device is held inside the container body.

[0042] In the aspect [1] of the above embodiment, the container further includes a cap attached to the one end of the container body for sealing the insertion opening.

[0043] In aspect [2] of the above embodiment, the portion of the first space closest to the pore has a conical shape with an inner diameter gradually decreasing toward the pore.

[0044] In aspect [3] of the above embodiment, the portion of the second space closest to the pore has a conical shape with an inner diameter gradually decreasing toward the pore.

[0045] In aspect [4] of the above embodiment, the pore is configured to be sealed when the inner surface of the pore or the inner surface of the first space holds the handle portion of the sample collection container.

[0046] In the aspect [5] of the above embodiment, an outlet for taking out the sample from the second space is provided on the opposite side of the insertion opening of the container body, The storage container includes a sealing member that seals the outlet of the container body and is detachable from the container body.

[0047] In the aspect [6] of the above embodiment, the collection portion of the sample collection device is provided with a plurality of bristles extending radially from the thin shaft in the radial direction of the thin shaft to form a brush portion for holding the sample, The pore has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the thin shaft and smaller than the outer diameter of the brush portion, and is configured such that when the collection portion passes through the pore, the sample adhering to the outer periphery of the brush portion of the collection portion is peeled off by the edge of the pore on the first space side.

[0048] In aspect [7] of the above embodiment, a bending prevention structure that prevents bending of the container body is provided on the outer periphery of the portion of the container body where the pores are provided.

[0049] In the aspect [8] of the above embodiment, the cap is configured to be attached to the one end of the container body by screwing a screw, The container body and the cap are each provided with a check mechanism that engages with each other when the cap is fastened to the container body by a specified amount to prevent the cap from being removed from the container body.

[0050] One embodiment of the sample collection set according to the present invention is a sample collection set including a sample collection tool and a storage container for storing the sample collection tool therein, The sample collection device includes: The handle and A collection section having a thin shaft extending from the tip of the handle section, for collecting the sample by attaching the sample to the periphery of the thin shaft, The storage container is the storage container according to the present invention described above.

[0051] One embodiment of the method of the present invention is a method of preparing a sample-containing liquid for analysis using a sample collection device and a storage container, comprising the steps of: The sample collection device includes: The handle and A collection portion having a thin shaft extending from the tip of the handle, The storage container is the storage container described above, The method comprises: A sample collection step of attaching a sample to the periphery of the thin shaft of the collection part of the sample collection device to hold the sample in the collection part; a storage step of inserting the sampling portion of the sample sampling device holding the sample into the storage container from an insertion port provided at one end of a container body of the storage container after the sample sampling step, passing the sampling portion through a fine hole provided in the container body and pushing the sample sampling device into the other end side of the container body, so that the handle portion is accommodated in the first space of a first space at the one end side and a second space at the other end side provided in the container body across the fine hole, and holding the sample sampling device in the container body with the sampling portion accommodated in the second space; a preparation step of preparing the sample-containing liquid by mixing the sample held in the collection portion of the sample collection device with the liquid by stirring the second space while the liquid is present in the second space after the storage step; a removing step of removing the sample-containing liquid in the second space from the second space after the creating step; It is equipped with: [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 Storage container 2 Container body 4 Cap 6 Mixing space 8 Insertion port 10. Extraction port 12 Second insertion slot 14 Extraction port 16 Opening the cap 18 Cap internal space 100 Sampling Equipment 102 Handle 104 Collection Department 106 Thin shaft 108 Hair

Claims

1. A storage container for storing a sample collection device having a collected sample held at its tip, The sample collection tool has a handle portion having a length equal to or shorter than a prescribed length, and a collection portion extending from a tip of the handle portion, the collection portion having a thin shaft thinner than the tip of the handle portion, and the sample is collected by adhering the sample to the periphery of the thin shaft of the collection portion; The storage container includes a container body having an insertion port at one end for inserting the sample collection tool from the collection portion side, Inside the container body, a first space located on the one end side for accommodating the handle portion of the sample collecting device; a second space that is separate from the first space and is located on the other end side of the first space, and is for accommodating the sampling portion of the sample sampling device; A pore is provided between the first space and the second space, and has an inner diameter large enough to pass the sampling portion of the sample sampling device, and communicates the first space with the second space; A storage container configured such that when the sampling device is pushed into the second space from the first space toward the second space by passing the sampling portion through the pore, the sampling portion of the sample sampling device is accommodated within the second space and the sample sampling device is held inside the container body.

2. The storage container according to claim 1 , further comprising a cap attached to the one end of the container body for sealing the insertion opening.

3. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first space closest to the aperture has a conical shape with an inner diameter gradually decreasing toward the aperture.

4. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second space closest to the aperture has a conical shape with an inner diameter gradually decreasing toward the aperture.

5. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the hole is configured to be sealed when an inner peripheral surface of the hole or an inner peripheral surface of the first space holds the handle portion of the sample collection container.

6. an outlet for taking out the sample from the second space is provided on the opposite side of the insertion opening of the container body; The storage container according to claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member for sealing the outlet of the container body, the sealing member being detachable from the container body.

7. The sampling portion of the sample sampling device has a plurality of bristles extending radially from the thin shaft in a radial direction of the thin shaft, and constitutes a brush portion for holding the sample, 2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the pore has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the thin shaft and smaller than an outer diameter of the brush portion, and the sample adhering to the outer periphery of the brush portion of the sampling portion is peeled off by the edge of the pore on the first space side when the sampling portion passes through the pore.

8. The storage container according to claim 1 , further comprising a warping prevention structure for preventing the container body from warping, the warping prevention structure being provided on an outer periphery of a portion of the container body where the fine holes are provided.

9. The cap is configured to be attached to the one end of the container body by screwing a screw; The storage container according to claim 2, wherein the container body and the cap are each provided with a non-return mechanism that engages with each other when the cap is tightened to the container body by a specified amount to prevent the cap from being removed from the container body.

10. A sample collection set including a sample collection tool and a storage container for storing the sample collection tool therein, The sample collection device includes: The handle and A collection section having a thin shaft extending from the tip of the handle section, for collecting the sample by attaching the sample to the periphery of the thin shaft, A sample collection set, wherein the storage container is a storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. 1. A method for preparing a sample-containing liquid for analysis using a sample collection device and a storage container, comprising: The sample collection device includes: The handle and A collection portion having a thin shaft extending from the tip of the handle, The storage container is a storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The method comprises: a sample collection step of attaching a sample to the periphery of the thin shaft of the collection portion of the sample collection device to hold the sample in the collection portion; a storage step of inserting the sampling portion of the sample sampling device holding the sample into the storage container from an insertion port provided at one end of a container body of the storage container after the sample sampling step, passing the sampling portion through a fine hole provided in the container body and pushing the sample sampling device into the other end side of the container body, so that the handle portion is accommodated in the first space of a first space on the one end side and a second space on the other end side provided in the container body across the fine hole, and holding the sample sampling device in the container body with the sampling portion accommodated in the second space; a preparation step of preparing the sample-containing liquid by mixing the sample held in the collection portion of the sample collection device with the liquid by stirring the second space while the liquid is present in the second space after the storage step; a removing step of removing the sample-containing liquid in the second space from the second space after the creating step; The method comprises:

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