Biological Sample Collectors and Handling Thereof

Abstract

A biological sample collector 500 comprising a solid support 12 having plural discrete areas (22,24,26,28 FIG. 1) for accepting a biological sample, each area being chemically differentiated, for example by having a different chemical treatment sorbed onto the solid support. An envelope 530 encloses the solid support. A cover portion 520 can cover the biological sample after collection to prevent infection. UV light can be applied to the collected sample to reduce the risk of infection.

1 . A biological sample collector comprising a solid support having plural chemically differentiated sample receiving areas for accepting a biological sample. 
     
     
         2 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said chemically differentiated areas include: one or more chemically untreated area; one or more areas treated with a combination of a weak base, a chelating agent and an anionic surfactant; one or more areas treated with a protein denaturant; and/or one or more areas treated with a protein denaturant, a reducing agent, an anti-oxidant and a buffer. 
     
     
         3 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the chemically differentiated areas include an anti-oxidant. 
     
     
         4 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a first chemically differentiated area includes an FTA formulation, a second chemically differentiated area includes an FTA Elute or FTAe chemical formulation, a third chemically differentiated area includes an RSM chemical coating, and a fourth chemically differentiated area is uncoated. 
     
     
         5 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 1 , further including an envelope to protect said solid support in use, including a cover portion for covering said areas. 
     
     
         6 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said envelope includes a pressure sensitive adhesive for holding said cover in place in use. 
     
     
         7 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the envelope includes a transparent cover portion. 
     
     
         8 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the transparent cover portion is folded at a fold line. 
     
     
         9 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein once assembled, the collector and part of the transparent cover portion are sandwiched between an upper leaf and a lower leaf of a card support, leaving a flap of the transparent cover portion exposed and ready to fold over windows of the card support so as to cover them once a sample has been placed on one or more of the areas and dried. 
     
     
         10 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the lower leaf has windows, complementary to the windows of the card support, which allow a portion of the one or more areas to be removed. 
     
     
         11 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the flap is made from plastics material. 
     
     
         12 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the flap is made from PMMA or polycarbonate without modifiers which allow UV light to pass. 
     
     
         13 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the flap is 0.25 mm thick. 
     
     
         14 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sample receiving areas are delimited by perforations which limit the wicking of sample liquids. 
     
     
         15 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the solid support comprises solid support material comprising a cellulose fibre matrix. 
     
     
         16 . The sample collector as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the solid support comprises Whatman 903 or Whatman 31ETF paper.