Provided herein are devices, kits, systems, and methods for collecting samples for analytical analysis and the safe disposal of sample collection devices after their use. The devices, kits, systems, and methods find use, for example, for disposing of biohazard materials by users in settings that may not be equipped with the professional biohazard disposal systems of laboratories, hospitals, and medical clinics.

The present invention includes a method of obtaining a biological sample from the nose, nasal cavities, nasal pharynx, oral mucosa, or saliva of a subject to be used for detection of a virus (e.g., a SARS-Co V-2 virus), and kits for performing the method.

The collection kit 1 according to the present invention comprises a collection tool 10 for collecting saliva, a container body for housing the collection tool 10 and a preservation solution for saliva, and a cap for closing the container body. The collection tool 10 comprises a saliva absorbent 12 for collecting saliva, a housing body 14 for housing the saliva absorbent 12, and a pressing body 16 for pressing a collection body 12 and forming a suction space S that is for sucking the saliva and the preservation solution from the outside of the container body 22.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a liquid collector including: an absorber including an elastic material and capable of absorbing liquid in contact with the absorber; a support that supports the absorber; and a tank that receives the liquid discharged from the absorber when the absorber is compressed.

A testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (22). The testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) includes a liquid container (30, 730) for containing the liquid (22); a filter (32, 132, 732), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (30, 730); a liquid-pressure source (34, 734), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid (22) contained in the liquid container (30, 730) through the filter (32, 132, 732); and a filter chamber (36, 136, 236, 336, 736) that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (30, 730), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (38, 138, 238, 738, 838), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (32, 132, 732). Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is provided for testing a biological fluid for presence of a biological particulate. The apparatus includes a tube, a plunger sized and shaped to be inserted into and advanced within the tube, and a filter. The apparatus is configured such that as the plunger is advanced within the tube while the biological fluid is within the tube, the biological fluid in the tube is pushed through the filter, thereby trapping, by the filter, the biological particulate present in the biological fluid. The apparatus is shaped so as to define at least one enclosed cavity containing a biological particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution configured to test for the presence of the biological particulate trapped by the filter. The enclosed cavity is configured to open while the plunger is inside the tube, so as to release the biological particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution within the tube. Other embodiments are also described.

An apparatus that monitors information associated with an oral cavity is provided, the apparatus comprising: a three-dimensional oral appliance; a data collection device having at least one sensor and/or hydrogel like material configured to sense the information associated with the oral cavity; an interface device cooperatively coupled to the data collection device, the interface device configured to transfer the information from the sensor device to a receiving device external to the oral cavity or the entire device is analyzed.

Described is a swab comprising a rod having a longitudinal axis and a tip. The tip includes a proximal region at a distal end of the rod, a distal region opposite the proximal region, and a plurality of straight blades extending from the proximal region to the distal region, parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Methods and kits are provided for collecting samples for assessment of circadian timing in a non-clinical environment. The methods include monitoring light exposure of a subject and placing a first biological sample in a first sample vial, wherein the first biological sample is obtained in the non-clinical environment in dim light comprising light less than about 50 lux and monitoring the use of the first sample vial with a monitoring device. The methods include placing a second biological sample from the subject in a second sample vial, the second biological sample being taking at a time interval after the first biological sample and monitoring the use of the second sample vial with the monitoring device. Kits include a photosensor, a plurality of sample vials free from labels, a label system for labeling the plurality of sample vials, and a monitoring device for monitoring use of the plurality of sample vials.

An apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume and has an inlet port that can be fluidically coupled to a patient and an outlet port. The fluid reservoir is disposed in the inner volume to receive and isolate a first volume of a bodily-fluid. The flow control mechanism is rotatable in the housing from a first configuration, in which a first lumen places the inlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a second configuration, in which a second lumen places the inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port. The actuator is configured to create a negative pressure in the fluid reservoir and is configured to rotate the flow control mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration after the first volume of bodily-fluid is received in the fluid reservoir.