Hazardous contaminant collection kit and rapid testing

Abstract

Contamination detection systems, kits, and techniques are described for testing surfaces for the presence of hazardous contaminants, while minimizing user exposure to these contaminants. Even trace amounts of contaminants can be detected. A collection kit provides a swab that is simple to use, easy to hold and grip, allows the user to swab large areas of a surface, and keeps the user's hands away from the surface being tested. The kit also provides open and closed fluid transfer mechanism to transfer the collected fluid to a detection device while minimizing user exposure to hazardous contaminants in the collected fluid. Contamination detection kits can rapidly collect and detect hazardous drugs, including trace amounts of antineoplastic agents, in healthcare settings at the site of contamination.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of testing a test surface for the presence of a hazardous contaminant, the method comprising:
 wiping the test surface with an absorbent material coupled to a handle to collect particles of the hazardous contaminant from the test surface;   inserting the absorbent material into an open end of a fluid-tight container containing a volume of buffer solution, wherein a first portion of the fluid-tight container is shaped to receive the absorbent material and a second portion of the fluid-tight container is shaped to receive at least a portion of the handle;   sealing the fluid-tight container with a cap;   agitating the fluid-tight container to release at least some of the collected particles of the hazardous contaminant into the buffer solution;   transferring at least a portion of the volume of the buffer solution from the fluid-tight container to an assay test strip;   inserting the assay test strip into an assay reader device; and   based on an output of the assay reader device, identifying that the hazardous contaminant is present on the test surface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising opening a sealable orifice of the cap. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least a portion of the volume of the buffer solution is transferred through the sealable orifice. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising resealing the sealable orifice after transferring the at least a portion of the volume of the buffer solution. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising compressing an interior volume of the fluid-tight container to expel the at least portion of the buffer solution. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein agitating the fluid-tight container comprises inverting the fluid-tight container. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising applying a volume of buffer solution to the test surface. 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 a collection device comprising:
 an absorbent material coupled to a handle, the absorbent material configured to contact a test surface to collect a hazardous contaminant, and 
 a container having a first portion shaped to receive the absorbent material and a second portion shaped to receive at least a portion of the handle, the container having a nozzle including an orifice configured to release a volume of buffer solution from the container; 
   an assay test strip configured to receive the volume of the buffer solution released from the container, the assay test strip comprising at least one reaction zone configured to produce an optically-detectable change in appearance in the presence of the hazardous contaminant;   an image sensor configured to receive light reflected from the at least one reaction zone and configured to generate signals representing an intensity of the received light; and   control electronics configured to analyze the signals and determine the presence of the hazardous contaminant in the at least one reaction zone.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising a demarcation guide configured to specify an area of the test surface to be tested for contamination by the hazardous contaminant. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the control electronics are configured to determine a concentration of the hazardous contaminant based at least partly on the intensity of the signals and an area of the test surface. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the assay test strip comprises:
 a sample receiving zone for receiving the volume of the buffer solution released through the orifice of the nozzle; and   a length of material extending between the sample receiving zone and the at least one reaction zone and configured to wick at least the received buffer solution from the sample receiving zone to the at least one reaction zone.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the container is flexible such that an interior volume of the container can be compressed to expel the volume of the buffer solution from the interior volume through the orifice of the nozzle. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising a network connection interface, and wherein the control electronics are configured to send data representing whether the hazardous contaminant is present in the at least one reaction zone to at least one remote computing device over a network via the network interface. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion the absorbent material is wrapped around one or more sides of the handle. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the absorbent material is mechanically fastened to the handle. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the absorbent material is adhered to the handle. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the container comprises:
 an open end having an aperture into the interior volume; and   a releasable portion of the container including:
 an attachment mechanism configured to releasably couple to the container over the open end to provide a fluid-tight seal with the interior volume of the container with the handle and the absorbent material and the buffer solution sealed within the interior volume, 
 the nozzle, and 
 a cap releasably coupled to the nozzle. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the length of the handle exceeds a width of the handle. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the width of the absorbent material exceeds the width of the handle. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the absorbent material extends generally perpendicular to at least a portion of the handle.