Fully Integrated Portable Screening System

Abstract

A fully integrated portable screening system includes a main housing and a contact pad. The contact pad is removably positioned in the main housing and covered by at least one sample sheet. The contact pad is preferably constituted by a cylindrical baton which carries a roll of sample collection sheets. A test subject interacts with the contact pad, leaving a trace sample on the sample collection sheet. The contact pad is then placed within the main housing and the trace sample is exposed to a test medium designed to interact with a specific analyte of interest potentially present in the trace sample. After exposure to the test medium, the sample sheet is subjected to a testing mechanism which exposes any interaction between the test medium and the analyte of interest to produce a test result.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of screening for trace compounds employing a fully integrated screening system that is readily portable so as to be easily carried by an individual operator comprising:
 obtaining a sample from a subject through interaction of a sample sheet and the subject, said sample sheet being positioned upon the contact pad;   inserting the contact pad into a main housing of the screening system;   exposing the sample to a test medium adapted to react with a particular analyte of interest potentially present in the sample;   exposing the sample sheet, test medium and sample to a testing mechanism, said testing mechanism revealing a test result; and   visually interpreting the test result to determine if the sample contains the analyte of interest.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sample sheet is wrapped about a baton, said interaction of the sample sheet and the subject being constituted by the subject grasping the baton. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sample sheet is coated with the test medium. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the sample sheet is sprayed with the test medium. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: rotating the contact pad as the sample sheet is sprayed with the test medium. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: drying the sample sheet following application of the test medium. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein exposing the sample sheet to the testing mechanism is constituted by bathing the sample sheet in light. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: visually cueing an operator that the portable screening system requires calibration. 
     
     
         24 . A method of screening for trace compounds employing a fully integrated and readily portable screening system including a main housing, a contact pad removably positioned in the main housing, at least one container positioned within the main housing and carrying a test medium adapted to react with an analyte of interest, a test mechanism mounted in the housing, and a view port, the method comprising:
 collecting a sample from a test subject on a sample sheet of the contact pad;   inserting the contact pad and sample sheet into the main housing of the screening system;   exposing the sample to a test medium adapted to interact with the analyte of interest potentially present in the sample;   exposing the sample sheet, the test medium and the sample to the testing mechanism to reveal a test result;   viewing the sample sheet through the view port; and   visually interpreting the test result to determine if the sample contains the analyte of interest.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 providing the sample sheet wrapped about a baton; and   collecting the sample by the subject grasping the baton.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: coating the sample sheet with the test medium. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: applying the test medium to the sample sheet utilizing an application system. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: rotating the contact pad as the sample sheet is sprayed with the test medium. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: drying the sample sheet following application of the test medium. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: visually cueing an operator that the portable screening system requires calibration. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: directing a light source provided in the main housing onto the contact pad to review the test result. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein directing the light source onto the contact pad constitutes directing an ultraviolet light onto the sample sheet to cause the analyte of interest to luminesce or quench luminescence when subjected to the test medium. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising: providing the ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 380 nm.