Fluid-specimen collecting and testing device and method for recording chromatographic assay test results

Abstract

A fluid specimen testing device having a removable lid which carries at least one testing strip behind a transparent top viewing window. Testing is initiated by tilting the device into a stable sideways orientation to allow the specimen to contact the sampling pad portion of the strip. The device is adapted to provide stability in the upright, tilted and inverted orientations. A roll-inhibiting feature also acts as an indicator for proper roll positioning in the tilted configuration. The strips are also oriented in the lid so that they are substantially vertical when the device is in the tilted position thereby enhancing a condition for proper capillarity. The strip is carried close to the upper surface which allows it to be copied on a flat glass copier providing for more objective recordation of the test results.

1 . A device for collecting and testing a fluid specimen, said device comprises: 
 a receptacle having an inner chamber having an opening;    a lid shaped and dimensioned to seal said opening;    said lid being shaped and dimensioned to have a first cavity for carrying at least one test indicator strip;    said cavity having an aperture;    a first position stabilizer carried on said device for stabilizing said device in a first non-test-initiating orientation;    a second position stabilizer carried on said device for stabilizing said device in a second test-initiating orientation;    wherein said second test-initiating orientation is tilted with respect to said first non-test-initiating orientation;    wherein said aperture is located on said lid so that said fluid specimen is prevented from flowing through said aperture when said device is oriented in said first non-test-initiating orientation, and wherein an amount of said fluid specimen flows through said aperture when said device is oriented in said second test-initiating orientation.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises an indicator for properly orienting said device in said second test-initiating orientation.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said second position stabilizer comprises said indicator.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said second position stabilizer comprises a radial disuniformity.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said radial disuniformity comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of: a pair of ears, and an indentation.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said second test-initiating orientation has a unique angular orientation.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 said device having an arcuate outer surface portion formed to cause said device to have a rolling motion capability; and,    said second position stabilizer having a rolling motion inhibiting radial disuniformity formed upon said outer surface portion, said disuniformity being positioned to stabilize said device exclusively in said second test-initiating orientation; and,    wherein said disuniformity forms a readily perceivable indicator for distinctively indicating said second test-initiating orientation.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said lid has at least three upper portions spaced apart and lying substantially within a first plane wherein said portions are sized and positioned to create bearing points in which to stabilize said device in an inverted orientation.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said test strip is mounted substantially parallel to and proximal to said first plane.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein a shortest distance between said strip and said first plane is between about 1 millimeter and about 5 millimeters.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises said cavity having at least one oblong pocket suitable for mounting said strip, said pocket having a closed end and an opposite end terminating in said aperture in communication with said chamber, said aperture being sized and shaped to encircle a first end of said strip.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein a substantially transparent, fluid-impermeable window separates said pocket from an upper surface of said lid.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said pocket is formed by a channel formed in said device and located proximate to said lid and wherein said channel is partially covered by a layer of fluid impermeable sheet material having a chemically inert lower surface.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said sheet material comprises a layer selected from the group consisting of vinyl, foil, plastic, and Teflon.  
     
     
         15 . A device for collecting a fluid specimen and testing said specimen when said device is placed in a particular, optimum test orientation, said device comprising: 
 a receptacle having an inner chamber and a top opening;    a lid shaped and dimensioned to seal said opening and having at least one cavity shaped and dimensioned for mounting a test indicator strip;    said device having a position stabilizer consisting essentially of: 
 an arcuate outer surface portion formed to cause said device to have a rolling motion capability; and,  
 a rolling motion inhibiting radial disuniformity formed upon said outer surface portion, said disuniformity being positioned to stabilize said device exclusively in said position and orientation; and,  
   wherein said disuniformity forms a readily perceivable indicator for distinctively indicating said test orientation.