Provided herein are devices and methods for extracting blood plasma from ultra-low volumes of blood. In some cases, the devices and methods use positive pressure to force a blood sample through a filter or a membrane. In some cases, the devices and methods use centrifugation to force a blood sample through a filter or a membrane. The devices and methods disclosed herein are suitable for the preparation of high-quality samples containing cell-free nucleic acids.

A syringe-based device includes a housing, a pre-sample reservoir, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume between a substantially open proximal end portion and a distal end portion that includes a port couplable to a lumen-defining device. The pre-sample reservoir is fluidically couplable to the port to receive and isolate a first volume of bodily fluid. The actuator is at least partially disposed in the inner volume and has a proximal end portion that includes an engagement portion and a distal end portion that includes a sealing member. The engagement portion is configured to allow a user to selectively move the actuator between a first configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to the pre-sample reservoir, and a second configuration such that bodily fluid can flow from the port to a sample reservoir defined at least in part by the sealing member and the housing.

A blood collection apparatus comprising: (i) a test tube for storing blood extracted from a patient, the test tube comprising a vacuum facilitating an extraction of blood; (ii) a heat transfer element encapsulating the test tube and storing at least two reagents capable of initiating a heat transfer process contemporaneously with the extraction of the blood, the heat transfer element further comprising a fracturable element that when fractured enables the at least two reagents to initiate the heat transfer process; and (iii) an insulation element encapsulating the heat transfer element, the insulation element inhibiting a loss of a temperature change of the blood, wherein test tube is removable, contemporaneously with an initiation of a blood test, from the insulation element encapsulating the heat transfer element, and wherein the apparatus comprises a circumference suitable to be mated with a general purpose test tube needle holder.

The invention provides devices that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification for highly sensitive testing. The invention does not require washing steps and thus allows sensitive and specific detection while simplifying manual operation and lowering costs and complexity in automated operation. In short, the invention provides devices that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests.

A medical utility device, including a unitary body having a base surface, an upper surface, and an intermediate surface, and a plurality of receptacles configured to removably engage a portion of a collection tube in connection with a venipuncture procedure.

A funnel-shaped extension attachment is provided for a blood collection device. The attachment provides a larger area for collecting a fingertip blood sample from a patient than the collection device itself would otherwise provide. The funnel is preferably easily removable from the collection device after the blood sample is taken. Optional trenches running down one or more corners of the attachment may be used to encourage pulling blood drops from the finger tip through capillary action. A tube may also provide another location to encourage pulling blood drops from the finger tip through capillary action. The funnel attachment may be mated with the collection device at a point of manufacture, or separately shipped and installed over the collection device at a point of use.

A system, mixing-enhanced microfluidic container, and methods for small volume sample collection and/or analysis is disclosed. Namely, the invention is directed to a small volume sample collection system that includes a mixing-enhanced microfluidic container and a durable reusable actuation chuck. The mixing-enhanced microfluidic container is used to collect small volumes of sample fluid and includes a means for mixing the sample fluid with reagents disposed within the microfluidic container. The mixing means utilize an array of surface-attached structures (e.g., a micropost array). The application of an “actuation force,” such as a magnetic or electric field, actuates the surface-attached structures into movement, wherein the actuation chuck in close proximity to the mixing-enhanced microfluidic container provides the “actuation force.”

A blood-viscosity measurement method uses a collection tube includes a bottomed tube having an opening at one end in a length direction and a bottom at the other end in the length direction. A sealing plug includes a sealing part fitted in the opening of the bottomed tube in a hermetically sealed state, a cap part, and a thin connecting part. The sealing part includes a vertically penetrated insertion hole and fitted in the opening of the bottomed tube. The method includes collecting blood using a negative pressure state of the inner space, applying an external force to the cap portion to break the connecting part and removing the cap part to expose the insertion hole at an upper surface of the sealing part, and obtaining blood viscosity by causing a viscosity-measurement falling body to fall from the insertion hole, and measuring a fall terminal velocity of the falling body.

A device for collecting, preserving and storing a sample of biological fluid comprising a porous medium for collecting and maintaining the membrane integrity of the eukaryotic cells contained in the sample, and their constituents is disclosed, the medium comprising at least 80% by weight of artificial components, advantageously at least 85%, preferably at least 90% of a total weight of the medium; and having a mean flow pore size (MFP) of at least 3 μm.

A blood sample collection and/or storage device includes a two-piece housing that encompasses a port at which a fingertip blood sample is collected. After the sample is taken, the two-piece housing is moved to a closed position to protect the sample for storage and optionally process the sample within the housing. The housing may also be opened to access the stored sample for further processing.