Sampling collection tool for collecting samples from large surfaces and method of transfer into a test tube

Abstract

The invention relates to a sampling collec- tion tool which comprises a cylindrical swab part (1) for collecting samples from a surface and a handle part (2) for grabbing the sampling collection tool which is con- nected with the cylindrical swab part (1). The cylindri- cal swab part (1) and the handle part (2) form a T-shaped or L-shaped structure. The sampling collection tool is configured such that the handle part (2) can be decoupled from the swab part (1) by rotating the handle part with respect to the swab part for transferring the cylindrical swab part (1) into a test tube for further processing and analysis.

Description

[0001] Sampling collection tool for collecting samples from large surfaces and method of transfer into a test tube

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a sampling collection tool with a cylindrical swab part for collecting samples from a surface and a handle part for grabbing the sampling collection tool . The handle part is connected to the cylindrical swab part and both parts form together a T-shaped or L-shaped structure .

[0004] Background Art

[0005] Sampling collection tools are typically used for collecting samples of bio-related substances and particles from surfaces , and in particular for collecting microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts , molds and viruses or abiotic substances and particles having biological ef fects such as active pharmaceutical compounds or toxins . Such tools are used for monitoring safe operation of medical institutions and manufacturing plants for food, medicines and the like . In the case of microorganisms , typically, such samples are collected using contact plates , dipslides , swabs , sponges or wipes . Contact plates and dipslides are simple to use and colonies of bacteria can be counted directly on the device . However, contact plates and dipslides are only suitable for small , relatively flat and well accessible sampling spots and they potentially contaminate the sampling surface with the enrichment medium often containing nutrients for the target organism and selective agents ( e . g . antibiotics ) . Therefore , those tools are not suited for detecting microorganisms in demanding manufacturing environments .

[0006] Swabs are the preferred method for sampling small surfaces up to 100 cm2. The main advantage of swabs is that the sample can easily be trans ferred to a test tube for further processing and analysis of the sample . However, with a normal swab it is di f ficult to swab larger surfaces , which can make it di f ficult to collect samples that are widely scattered or to collect suf ficient material for the analysis , which can lead to false negative results . Therefore , sponges and wipes are typically recommended and used for sampling of larger surfaces of 1 ' 000 cm2or more .

[0007] Some sponge models also come with a handle in order to avoid cross-contamination by the user and to facilitate sampling of hard-to-reach areas and various models exist where the handle can also be removed from the sponge with a release mechanism or simply by breaking it of f , because the handle is potentially disturbing further processing due to its si ze and because it can introduce contaminants . However, like with the swabs , the handles often used in conj unction with sponges , do not allow to apply suf ficient pressure on the surface to remove ef ficiently biofilms . This is because such handles are typically designed to release the sponge or the swab i f force is applied and with most known designs , this releaseforce points in a similar direction as the force required for applying pressure on the surface , which limits the applicable force during sampling and therefore makes the sampling collection process inef fective .

[0008] Also , analysis of sponges and wipes typically requires complicated and labour-intensive procedure involving large quantities of enrichment media, trained personnel and a biosafety laboratory . Sponges and wipes cannot be analysed directly in a test tube of normal si ze ( typically about 16 mm in diameter and 100 mm long) . Furthermore , sponges and wipes typically hold substantial volumes of wetting solutions and must be resuspended in relatively high volumes ( 20 to 100 ml ) of enrichment medium or extraction solution in order to achieve good analyte recovery . This leads to substantial sample dilution . Disclosure of the Invention

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a sampling collection tool which is easy to use and suitable for sampling larger surfaces with relatively high pressure and which allows to trans fer the sample directly into a test tube , containing a low volume of enrichment medium or extraction solution, for further processing and analysis on site , without requiring a laboratory .

[0010] This problem is solved by the subj ect of the independent device claim . According to this , a sampling collection tool comprises ,

[0011] - a cylindrical swab part for collecting samples from a surface , in particular samples of bio-related substances and particles , and in particular microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts , molds and viruses or other ( e . g . radioactive ) substances and particles important in the context of safe operation of medical institutions and manufacturing plants for food, medicines and the like . The cylindrical swab part is used to wipe a surface and to collect the samples .

[0012] - a handle part for grabbing the sampling collection tool . The handle part is connected to the cylindrical swab part . The handle part can have an elongated shape and is suitable to take the sampling collection tool out of its packaging, to move the swab part over the surface to sample and to trans fer the swab part together with the collected sample into a test tube used for further processing and analysis of the sample .

[0013] The cylindrical swab part and the handle part form together a T-shaped or L-shaped structure and the sampling collection tool is configured such that the handle part can be decoupled from the swab part with little ef fort . The T-shaped or L-shaped structure allows to easily grab the sampling collection tool at the handle part and wiping it with a comparably large swab part over a surface . Samples can be collected easily from a large surface , a uni form and high pressure can be applied while sampling .

[0014] In particular, the cylindrical swab part comprises a surface layer for collecting samples . The surface layer can extend over a part of the surface of the swab part . In particular, the surface layer extends over the whole length of the swab part , and / or the surface layer covers at least most of the area opposite to the handle part . The surface layer can be made of flocked nylon fibers , in particular with a fiber length between 0 . 3 and 3 . 0 mm, or cotton, rayon, synthetic sponge , gauze , or cloth .

[0015] Such a surface layer is optimi zed for collecting samples from a surface . Collection is ef ficient and the analysis result is reliable .

[0016] The sample collection tool can comprise a coupling mechanism, in particular a mechanical coupling mechanism, for decoupling the handle part from the swab part . In particular the coupling mechanism is configured for coupling and decoupling the handle part with the swab part . A mechanical coupling mechanism means , that the swab part is form-locked and / or friction-locked with the handle part . This definition excludes that the handle part needs to be broken away for disconnecting the swab part from the handle part .

[0017] In particular, the coupling mechanism is configured to couple and decouple the handle part with the cylindrical swab part reversibly, i . e . , the handle part and the swab part can be coupled and decoupled multiple times , in particular the handle part can be cleaned and re-used with a new swab part . Such a mechanism has the advantage to easily drop the swab part from the handle part without exerting great forces on the swab part , i . e . the swab part can be removed from the handle part with little ef fort . The swab part can be dropped into a test tube safely and in a controlled manner .

[0018] The coupling mechanism can comprise a locking mechanism for locking the handle part with the cylindrical swab part in a coupled state . This avoids an unintended decoupling of the swab part from the handle part while collecting samples . In particular, the locking mechanism can be a clamping, clipping or snapping mechanism .

[0019] In particular the cylindrical swab part has a C-shaped cross-section and acts itsel f as the spring element of such a clamping mechanism while the corresponding counterpart of the clamping mechanism on the handle part can be designed with a rigid geometry . In particular the clamping mechanism comprises a recess arranged inside the C-shape of the swab part and a clamp is arranged at the handle part extending into the recess in the coupled state . Apart from its relative simplicity, such a clamping design has the benefit that the clamping force increases when force is applied via the handle towards the surface during sampling and an unintentional decoupling of the swab part from the handle part during sampling can therefore be ef fectively avoided .

[0020] The coupling mechanism can comprise a j oint for rotating the handle part with respect to the swab part . In particular, the j oint is part of the coupling mechanism and the rotation is part of the coupling and decoupling process .

[0021] The j oint can be configured to rotate the handle part with respect to the cylindrical swab part within the plane spanned by the T-shaped or L-shaped structure .

[0022] The cylindrical swab part can comprise an inner channel , in particular an inner pipe , and the handle part can comprise a matching sliding element that can slide along the inner channel of the swab part . In particular, the inner channel and the sliding element are part of the coupling mechanism, wherein the handle part is decoupled from the swab part by moving the sliding element through the inner channel and through an outlet at a first end of the inner channel . In particular, the inner channel extends at least over 10% , in particular at least over 25% , in particular at least over 35% , of the whole length of the swab part .

[0023] The coupling mechanism can be configured such that the handle part can be decoupled from the swab part by rotating the handle part with respect to the swab part in a first step, and moving the handle part along a main axis of the swab part in a second step, and in particular by moving the handle part until an end of the swab part in a third step .

[0024] Such a decoupling mechanism has the advantage that the swab part can slide away from the handle part into a test tube in a controlled manner .

[0025] Alternatively, the handle part can be decoupled from the swab part by fissuring, ripping, breaking or tearing-of f .

[0026] The swab part can be shaped as a hollow cylinder, in particular with a C-shaped cross section . In particular, the swab part comprises an elongated shape with two ends , wherein one or both of the end' s tapers .

[0027] The shape of a cylinder has the advantage to collect the samples on a relatively small , but long contact surface of the cylinder . The tapering ends can be used to collect samples from uneven or di f ficult to access surfaces in grooves .

[0028] Both the handle part and the swab part can have an elongated shape , wherein the swab part is at least 0 . 5 times , in particular at least 0 . 6 times , in particular at least 0 . 75 times , as long as the handle part . Such a long swab part allows to ef ficiently collect samples from a large surface . In particular, the swab part comprises at least one indentation or at least one protruding element , in particular a blade-shaped element , for scratching biofilms or otherwise simpli fy the removal of sticky samples from the surface .

[0029] Furthermore , the initially mentioned problem can be solved by designing the swab part in such a way that it fits into a test tube , in particular wherein the test tube has a diameter between 10 mm and 20 mm and / or a length between 50 mm and 150 mm .

[0030] In particular, the swab part is hollow, in particular grooved or contains a notch or an inner channel , such that a substance , in particular a reagent , released into the test tube can pass through this structure to the bottom of the test tube and to enter in contact with a medium ( i . e . a buf fer or an enrichment medium) already present inside the test tube .

[0031] Another obj ect of the present invention is to provide a method for easily and reliably trans ferring the sample to a test tube for further processing and analysis . This problem is solved by a method with the following steps :

[0032] - providing a sampling kit as described above with a sampling collection tool and a test tube ,

[0033] - swabbing the swab part over the surface ,

[0034] - decoupling the swab part from the handle part and dropping the swab part into the test tube .

[0035] The swab part can be decoupled from the handle part and the swab part can be dropped into the test tube without touching the swab part with something else than an inner surface of the test tube . This method allows to trans fer the collected sample with minimal ef fort and risk of contamination .

[0036] In particular,

[0037] - in a first step, the swab part is moved partially into the test tube , - in a second step, the swab part is released from the handle part , and

[0038] - in a third step, the swab part falls into the test tube by help of the gravity force .

[0039] In particular, during the second and the third step, the swab part and the test tube are arranged vertically with respect to gravity .

[0040] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0041] The invention will be better understood and obj ects other than those set forth above will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof . Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings , wherein :

[0042] Fig . 1 shows a sampling collection tool with a handle part and a cylindrical swab part in 3D-view;

[0043] Fig . 2 shows the side-view of the sampling collection tool of Fig . 1 ;

[0044] Fig . 3 shows the sampling collection tool wherein the inner structure of the swab part is visible ;

[0045] Fig . 4a shows only the cylindrical swab part in side view;

[0046] Fig . 4b shows a sectional view of the head of the handle part , wherein the section line is shown in Fig . 4d;

[0047] Fig . 4c shows the cylindrical swab part from top view;

[0048] Fig . 4d shows the handle part of the sampling collection tool in side view; and

[0049] Fig . 5a to 5g show the method of releasing the swab part from the handle part into a test tube without touching the swab part with something else than an inner surface of the test tube .

[0050] Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Fig . 1 until Fig . 4c illustrate the structure of the sampling collection tool . The sampling collection tool comprises a cylindrical swab part 1 and a handle part 2 . The handle part 2 is used for grabbing the sampling collection tool and the swab part 1 is used for collecting samples from a surface . The sampling collection tool forms a T-shaped structure . The handle part 2 forms the stem of the T-shape and the swab part 1 forms the head of the T-Shape .

[0051] The swab part 1 has a length Lx and the handle part 2 has a length L2. Length L2is 1 . 5 times larger than L2, or with other words , the swab part 1 is 0 . 66 as long as the handle part 2 . Length L2is approximately 5 cm and length L2is approximately 7 . 5 cm .

[0052] Both the swab part 1 and the handle part 2 are manufactured by inj ection moulding or 3D-printing .

[0053] The swab part 1 is mainly shaped as an elongated hollow cylinder with an elongated opening 18 extending over the entire length of the swab part , i . e . the swab part 1 forms a hollow cylinder with a C-shaped cross section as shown in Fig . 4b .

[0054] The swab part 1 has a first end 11 and a second end 12 . The first end 11 forms a taper and the second end 12 forms a flat end . The swab part 1 comprises a protruding blade-shaped element 13 extending along nearly the whole length of the swab part 1 . The taper at the first end 11 and the blade-shaped element 13 can be used for scratching samples from the surface or from other di f ficult to access surfaces .

[0055] The swab part 1 , shaped as a hollow cylinder, forms an inner channel 44 with a length L3extending over approximately one third of the length L2of the swab part 1 and the inner channel 44 has an outlet 14 at the second end 12 of the swab part 1 .

[0056] The swab part 1 comprises a surface layer 15 for collecting samples . The surface layer 15 extends over the whole length L2of the swab part 1 . It is not required that the surface layer 15 extends over the whole circumference of the cylinder shape . It is suf ficient , i f the surface layer is arranged opposite to the handle part 2 , wherein the opposite side 16 is indicated by several arrows .

[0057] The surface layer is made of flocked nylon fibers , which have an average length of approximately 1 . 0 mm . With respect to this , the swab part 1 is produced by dipping it into an adhesive in a first step and by flocking the nylon fibres on the outer surface of the swab part 1 in a second step . The flocked nylon fibers are then aligned in an electromagnetic chamber to stand perpendicular to the cylinder surface creating a felt-like surface . Due to their properties , flocked swabs are reported to be very ef fective to collect microorganisms .

[0058] The sampling collection tool comprises a coupling mechanism 3 for coupling the swab part 1 with the handle part 2 . It is a mechanical coupling mechanism, i . e . , the swab part 1 is form-locked and / or friction- locked with the handle part 2 .

[0059] The coupling mechanism 3 comprises a locking mechanism 4 for locking the handle part 2 with the swab part 1 in the coupled state . The locking mechanism 4 comprises a clamp 41 arranged at handle part 2 and a recess 42 arranged inside the hollow part of the swab part 1 . The clamp 41 and the recess 42 lock the handle part 2 against all degrees of freedom except for moving in the direction of the main axis 17 . A protrusion 45 of the handle part 2 attaching against a curvature 46 of the swab part 1 in the coupled state locks the handle part 2 against moving in direction of the main axis 17 towards the second end 12 . Additionally, the coupling mechanism comprises a j oint 43 for rotating the handle part 2 with respect to the swab part 1 . The j oint 43 is configured to rotate the handle part 2 with respect to the swab part 1 within the plane spanned by the T-shaped structure of the sampling collection tool and it locks the handle part 2 against moving in direction of the main axis 17 towards the first end 11 .

[0060] The j oint 43 is arranged inside an inner channel 44 of the swab part 1 . The inner channel 44 has the shape of a pipe and forms together with the remaining part of the swab part 1 a hollow, C-shaped cylinder . As already mentioned, the inner channel 44 has a length L3and extends only over approximately one third of the length Lx of the swab part 1 .

[0061] The j oint 43 is formed as a sliding element which can slide inside the inner channel 44 . The j oint 43 can slide from the coupled position as shown in Fig . 3 until the second end 12 of the swab part 1 and leave the inner channel 44 through the outlet 14 of the swab part 1 .

[0062] Fig . 5a until 5g show the method of releasing the swab part 1 from the handle part 2 into a test tube 5 . The swab part 1 can be dropped into the test tube 5 without touching the swab part 1 with something else than an inner surface of the test tube 5 .

[0063] The swab part 1 can be decoupled from the handle part 2 reversibly, i . e . the swab part 1 and the handle part 2 can be decoupled and coupled multiple times .

[0064] Fig . 5b shows how the swab part 1 is inserted into the test tube 5 with the first end 11 . The swab part 1 and the test tube 5 are vertically aligned . The test tube is made of plastic or glass and is completely shown in Fig . 5e to 5g .

[0065] In a next step, the sampling collection tool is slightly rotated such that the swab part 1 pushes against the inner wall of the test tube 5 at positions 51 and 52 . Due to the inability of the swab part 1 to rotate further inside the test tube 5 , the user can unlock the locking mechanism 3 by simply continuing to rotate the handle part 2 counter clockwise with respect to the swab part 1 . The direction of rotation is illustrated by the arrow referenced by number 53 . The rotation is guided by the j oint 43 arranged inside the inner channel 44 . Unlocking the locking mechanism 3 means clamp 41 is moved out of the recess 42 . The rotation of the handle part 2 is illustrated by Fig . 5c, 5d and 5e .

[0066] After having rotated the handle part 2 over a certain angle , the handle part 2 is aligned more vertically, such that the swab part 1 starts moving downwards the bottom of the test tube by help of gravity while the j oint 43 slides inside the inner channel 44 along the main axis 17 of the swab part 1 through the whole inner channel 44 . Finally, the j oint 43 leaves the inner channel 44 through the outlet 14 at the second end 12 of the swab part 1 and the handle part 2 completely decouples from the swab part 1 . The swab part 1 falls vertically to the bottom 54 of the test tube 5 .

[0067] Later a reagent can be released into the test tube 5 either as tablet , powder or as liquid and the reagent can pass through the hollow swab part 1 , i . e . through the elongated opening 18 , to the bottom 54 of the test tube 5 where it enters into contact with a medium that was already present in the test tube .

[0068] The sampling collection tool is packaged in a pouch equipped with a gas-permeable membrane . The pouch and the sampling collection tool inside the pouch are sterili zed with ethylene oxide . The sampling collection tool can also be packed in an air- and water-tight , sealed pouch which in addition can contain a wetting solution, in this case the sampling collection tool can be sterili zed by irradiation (UV or X-ray) .

[0069] Test Results

[0070] Di f ferent tests were performed to confirm the functionality and the reliability of the described sampling collection tool . One exemplary test procedure is as follows : - An overnight culture of Salmonella Typhi- murium ATCC 14028 was diluted in Tryptic Soy Broth to approximately 1 . 0E+ 05 cfu / ml .

[0071] - The exact concentration of viable cells in the cell suspension spotted on the stainless-steel plates was determined by plating an approptiate dilution on plate count agar ( PCA) and counting colonies after 24 h incubation at 37 ° C .

[0072] - A 10 x 10 pl of the resulting cell suspension was spotted at random positions scattered over the whole surface area of stainless-steel plates si zed 11 x 11 cm .

[0073] - Spotted cell suspensions on stainless steel plates were dried for one to two hours at room temperature in a sterile bench with an active air flow . The spots were completely dry after 20-30 min .

[0074] - The sampling collection tool was unpacked from its sterile pouch and the swab part was fully immersed in sterile NEMIS N-Light™ Neutrali zer (wetting solution) which had been filled into a standard sterile , disposable reagent reservoir for multichannel pipets .

[0075] - The surface with the dried bacteria was swabbed in three directions (hori zontal , vertical , diagonal ) with the wetted sampling collection tool , wherein the handle part was inclined to both sides .

[0076] - The handle part was uncoupled from the swab part and the swab part was released into a standard sterile 15 ml screw cap tubes containing 5 ml buf fered peptone water as resuspension solution .

[0077] - The surface of the sampling tool was rinsed by inverting, rolling, shaking and vortexing the tubes for 30 sec, thereby resuspending the collected bacterial cells .

[0078] - 0 . 1 ml of the resuspension solution was spread on duplicate PCA plates which were then incubated at 37 ° C

[0079] After 24 h incubation colonies were counted The recovery rate of dried Salmonella cells from stainless steel was found to be on average 19 . 1 % , wherein the recovery rate is the percentage of cfu ( colony forming units ) recovered from cfu initially inoculated on the stainless steel plate sampled with the described collection device . The recovery rate of dried Salmonella cells determined in a similar experiment for a commercially available , pre-wetted sponge product was in the same range .

[0080] Reference Numbers

[0081] 1 Cylindrical swab part

[0082] 11 First end of the swab part

[0083] 12 Second end of the swab part

[0084] 13 Blade-shaped element

[0085] 14 Outlet at the first end of the swab part

[0086] 15 Surface layer

[0087] 16 The area of the surface layer opposite to the handle part

[0088] 17 Main axis of the swab part

[0089] 18 Elongated opening of the swab part

[0090] 2 Handle part

[0091] 3 Coupling mechanism

[0092] 4 Locking mechanism

[0093] 41 Cl amp

[0094] 42 Recess

[0095] 43 Joint

[0096] 44 Inner channel

[0097] 45 Protrusion

[0098] 46 Curvature

[0099] 5 Test tube

[0100] 51 First position where the swab part touches the inner wall of the test tube

[0101] 52 Second position where the swab part touches the inner wall of the test tube

[0102] 53 Direction of rotation 54 Bottom of the test tube

Claims

Claims1. A sampling collection tool, comprising- a cylindrical swab part (1) for collecting samples from a surface,- a handle part (2) for grabbing the sampling collection tool which is connected with the swab part(1) , wherein the swab part (1) and the handle part (2) form a T-shaped or L-shaped structure, characterized in that the sampling collection tool is configured such that the handle part (2) can be decoupled from the swab part (1) .

2. The sampling collection tool according to claim 1, wherein the swab part (1) comprises a surface layer (15) for collecting the samples.

3. The sampling collection tool according to claim 2, wherein the surface layer (15) extends over a part of the surface of the swab part (1) , in particular wherein- the surface layer (15) extends over the whole length of the swab part (1) , and / or- the surface layer (15) covers at least the area (16) opposite the handle part.

4. The sampling collection tool according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the surface layer (15) is made of flocked nylon fibers, in particular with a fiber length between 0.3 and 3.0 mm, or cotton, rayon, synthetic sponge, gauze, or cloth.

5. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a coupling mechanism (3) , in particular a mechanical couplingmechanism, for decoupling the handle part (2) from the swab part ( 1 ) , and in particular for coupling the handle part (2) with the swab part (1) .

6. The sampling collection tool according to claim 5, wherein the coupling mechanism (3) is configured to couple and decouple the handle part (2) with the swab part (1) reversibly.

7. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the claims 5 to 6, wherein the coupling mechanism (3) comprises a locking mechanism (4) for locking the handle part (2) with the swab part (1) in a coupled state .

8. The sampling collection tool according to claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism (4) is a clamping (41,42) or clipping or snapping mechanism.

9. The sampling collection tool according to claim 8, wherein the swab part (1) has a C-shaped crosssection and acts itself as a spring element of the locking mechanism formed as a clamping mechanism.

10. The sampling collection tool according to claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a recess (42) arranged inside the C-shape of the swab part (1) and a clamp (41) is arranged at the handle part (2) extending into the recess (42) in the coupled state.

11. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the claims 5 to 10, wherein the coupling mechanism (4) comprises a joint (43) for rotating the handle part (2) with respect to the swab part (1) .

12. The sampling collection tool according to claim 11, wherein the joint (43) is configured to rotate the handle part (2) with respect to the swab part (1) within the plane spanned by the T-shaped or L-shaped structure .

13. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the claims 5 to 11, wherein the swab part (1) comprises an inner channel (44) , in particular an inner pipe, and the handle part (2) comprises a sliding element that can slide along the inner channel (44) of the swab part ( 1 ) , in particular wherein the sliding element is the oint ( 43 ) .

14. The sampling collection tool according to claim 13, wherein the inner channel (44) and the sliding element are part of the coupling mechanism (3) , wherein the handle part (2) is decoupled from the swab part (1) by moving the sliding element through the inner channel (44) and through an outlet (14) at a first end of the inner channel.

15. The sampling collection tool according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the inner channel (44) extends at least over 10%, in particular at least over 25%, in particular at least over 35%, of the whole length (Lx) of the swab part (1) .

16. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling mechanism (3) is configured such that the handle part (2) can be decoupled from the swab part (1) by- rotating the handle part (2) with respect to the swab part (1) in a first step, and- moving the handle part (2) along a main axis (17) of the swab part (1) in a second step,and in particular by moving the handle part(2) until an end of the swab part (1) in a third step.

17. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the handle part (2) can be decoupled from the swab part (1) by fissuring, ripping, breaking or tearing-off.

18. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the swab part (1) is a hollow cylinder, in particular with a C-shaped cross section.

19. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the swab part (1) comprises an elongated shape with two ends (11,12) , wherein one or both of the ends tapers.

20. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the claims 1 to 18, wherein both the handle part (2) and the swab part (1) have an elongated shape, and wherein the swab part (1) is at least 0.5 times, in particular at least 0.6 times, in particular at least 0.75 times, as long as the handle part (2) .

21. The sampling collection tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the swab part (1) comprises at least one indentation or at least one protruding element, in particular a blade-shaped element (113) , for scratching or otherwise simplify the removal of sticky samples from the surface to be sampled.

22. A sampling kit comprising- a sampling collection tool according to any one of the preceding claims, and- a test tube (5) for receiving the swab part (1) decoupled from the handle part (2) , in particularwherein the test tube has a diameter between 10°mm and 20°mm and / or a length between 50°mm and 150°mm, wherein the swab part (1) is formed to fit into the test tube (5) .

23. The sampling kit according to claim 22, wherein the swab part (1) is hollow, in particular grooved or contains a notch, such that a substance, in particular a reagent, released into the test tube (5) can pass through the hollow swab part (1) to a bottom (54) of the test tube (5) .

24. A method for collecting samples from a surface with the following steps- providing a sampling kit according to one of the claims 22 or 23,- swabbing the swab part (1) over the surface,- decoupling the swab part (1) from the handle part (2) and dropping the swab part (1) into the test tube .

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the swab part (1) is decoupled from the handle part (2) and dropped into the test tube (5) without touching the swab part (1) with something else than an inner surface of the test tube (5) .

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein- in a first step, the swab part (1) is moved partially into the test tube (5) ,- in a second step, the swab part (1) is released from the handle part (2) , and- in a third step, the swab part (1) falls into the test tube (5) by help of the gravity force.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein during the second and the third step, the swab part (1) with an elongated shape is arranged vertically with respect to gravity.

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