Sample Transport Media Composition for Viscous Swab Specimens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biological samples containing solid or viscous matter, such as mucus or clots, complicate specimen transfer and analysis due to viscosity issues and precipitate formation during storage, leading to difficulties in automated processing and pipetting.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising degradative enzymes, detergents, and optional buffers and divalent cation chelators is used to reduce viscosity and dissolve or liquefy such samples, facilitating efficient processing and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If sample transport media is used to stabilize nucleic acids and inactivate pathogens, then nucleic acid stability is improved, but viscosity reduction and dissolution of solid matter is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The sample transport media is formulated as a composite composition containing multiple components: a buffer system for pH control, a reducing agent to break disulfide bonds, a detergent to solubilize membranes and proteins, and a protease enzyme to digest proteins. This composite approach addresses both nucleic acid stability and viscosity reduction simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition modifies physical-chemical parameters of the sample including pH (through buffer), redox state (through reducing agent), surface tension (through detergent), and protein structure (through protease). These parameter changes collectively reduce viscosity while maintaining nucleic acid stability.
2Productivity
If automated specimen transfer is performed, then processing efficiency is improved, but clogging from viscous samples occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The composition performs preliminary actions on the sample before automated processing: the protease begins protein digestion, the reducing agent breaks disulfide bonds, and the detergent solubilizes membranes. These preliminary actions reduce viscosity and prevent clogging during subsequent automated transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sample transport media acts as an intermediary substance between the viscous sample and the automated processing system. It mediates the interaction by chemically modifying the sample to reduce its viscosity and prevent clogging, enabling reliable automated handling.
3Ease of operation
If degradative enzymes and detergents are added to reduce viscosity, then liquid handling is improved, but sample complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sample transport media composition is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: stabilizing nucleic acids, inactivating pathogens, reducing viscosity, and facilitating automated processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate processing steps despite the complexity of the composition.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition effectively reduces sample viscosity, preventing clogging and improving liquid handling, thereby enhancing the efficiency of automated processing and analysis of biological samples.
Implementation Method 1
A biological sample from a subject may be prepared using a variety of methods such that the sample is suitable for storage, processing, and analysis. Samples containing solid or viscous matter (e.g., mucus; clots) can be particularly challenging.
Implementation Method 2
Sample transport media can also serve to disrupt the ability of infectious pathogens to replicate or infect a host.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for processing a biological sample. Exemplary methods comprise transferring a swab associated with an aliquot of the biological sample into a sample transport media. The methods can provide efficient transfer of a target material such as cells or nucleic acid into the sample transport media for extraction, amplification, and detection of the target material.