A method is provided to facilitate the collecting and preserving a piece of physical evidence. The method includes the steps of providing a collection card with inner and outer layers laminated to each other and removing a first portion of the inner layer to expose an adhesive on a first portion of the outer layer. The piece of physical evidence is positioned between a second portion of the inner layer and the first portion of the outer layer. Thereafter, the first portion of the outer layer is folded over the second portion of the inner layer so as to capture the piece of physical evidence therebetween.

A method of classifying sample data for robotically extracted samples is disclosed. A specimen is received from a human subject with a potential infection of a first disease agents or a plurality of disease agents. The specimen includes genetic material collected from a human subject using a collection device and stored in a collection carrier. The specimen includes a unique identifier on the collection carrier. The unique identifier contains human subject descriptive data. The method classifies the human subject descriptive data to identify a second disease agent. The method extracts a sequence of genetic material from the specimen using an automated robot. The method determines a test result for the first disease agent as a function of the sequence of genetic material. A system comprising a computer device configured to classify sample data for robotically extracted samples is also disclosed.

This invention relates to an evidence collection and storage apparatus for use in forensic examination and sample collection processes. The apparatus consists of a container and a swab, the swab including a handle portion, shaft portion and a removable head portion, wherein the container includes a cavity adapted to store an object or substance, a lid including a portion of nanomesh and a swab head portion removing means that engages the head portion of the swab within the cavity, enabling the head portion of the swab to be removed or partially removed from the shaft portion of the swab and stored in the container.

A specimen tube comprises a tubular body having a first end that is open, a second end that is closed and at least one side extending axially between the first end and the second end. The side and the closed end define an interior of the tube. In sonic implementations, the specimen tube comprises a plurality of foot members protruding from the second end of the tube, wherein at least a first foot member and a second foot member have different shapes from each other. In some implementations, at least one internal wall positioned within the interior of the tube defines a sample carrier holding space between at least one surface of the internal wall and an adjacent surface of the side of the tube, the sample carrier holding space being sized to store a swab inserted from the open end of the tube.

Certain examples of the present invention relate to a protective cover 100, and method of using the same, for protecting forensic evidence 104 and/or a forensic scene 604. The cover 100 comprises a covering member 101 for at least partially covering forensic evidence 104 and/or an entry way to a forensic scene 604, wherein the covering member 101 is configured to be breathable 106 and waterproof 107; a fixing means 102 for affixing the cover 100 to a surface 105 in an affixed condition 100, wherein the affixing means 102 is provided at each peripheral edge 101a-101d of the covering member 101; and tamper indicating means 103 for indicating tampering of the cover in the affixed condition 100, wherein the tamper indicating means 103 is provided at each peripheral edge 101a-101d of the covering member 101.

Disclosed is a biological sample receiver (100) comprising: a planar substrate (10) for receiving a biological sample including a surface area (11) for accepting a biological sample; an envelope (25) substantially surrounding the substrate, said envelope including an opening (34) for facilitating the deposit of a biological sample onto said surface area (11); and a protective cover (40,50,60) formed around the envelope said protective cover including a closure panel (60) moveable at least to a first position where the opening (34) of the envelope is at least partially concealed, and to a second position where the opening (34) is exposed at least sufficiently to allow said deposit, the protective cover (40,50,60) being arranged further to allow the slidable separation of the envelope from the cover; the device being characterised in that said envelope and said cover are formed from a single sheet (15) of folded material.

A biopsy tracking kit includes a trocar, a stylet, a biopsy needle, a biopsy tracking cassette, and a fiducial marker. The trocar has a cannula with a blunt first end and a second end with a cup. The stylet has a conical tip at a first end and a cap on a second end that engages the cup of the trocar and prevents the stylet from falling through the trocar. The biopsy needle is used to obtain biopsy specimens when inserted through the trocar. The biopsy tracking cassette comprises an internal surface with a plurality of coded zones in a single column, and is used to differentiate the biopsy specimen into smaller regions. The fiducial marker is oriented to mark the position where the biopsy specimen was taken. Other systems, devices, and methods of use are also described.

The present invention provides improved methods for maintaining the physical separation and identity integrity of a biological cellular sample from a patient during processing. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.

An analyzing apparatus is disclosed that is capable of preventing an intentional or negligent interventional action on an analysis. An analyzing apparatus 1 is connected to a controlling computer 2 and performs a predetermined analysis according to a control instruction given through the controlling computer 2. The analyzing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 11 for enabling a user to perform an input operation for controlling the analyzing apparatus 1. When the analyzing apparatus 1 is under control of the controlling computer 2, the input operation performed through the operation unit 11 is disabled.

A non-contact aerodynamic sampling tool for collecting particles and vapors from the surfaces. Opposing planar jets or planar jet arrays are used to liberate material from surfaces so that particulate matter and vapors can be collected for analysis in real time. High-speed valves may be triggered to create pressure waveforms for high velocity pressurized planar jet bursts, or continuously operated opposing wall jets may be angularly directed toward a target surface, permitting sampling from large standoff distances. The wall jets traverse the surface and exhibit significant drag forces to lift particles into a suction intake. Unlike axisymmetric jets, the wall jets sustain the flow momentum over the target surface for a greater distance, dislodging particles submerged in the boundary layer and significantly improving particle resuspension and vapor collection. Real-time analysis and detection of target analytes are achieved by efficient sample liberation from the surface in the sampling tool and the efficient sample delivery to an analytical module.