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.

An apparatus includes a pre-sample reservoir, a diversion mechanism, and a flow metering mechanism. The diversion mechanism has an inlet port couplable to a lumen-defining device to receive bodily-fluids from a patient, a first outlet port fluidically couplable to the pre-sample reservoir, and a second outlet port fluidically couplable to a sample reservoir. The diversion mechanism defines a first fluid flow path and a second flow path that are configured to place the first outlet port and the second outlet port, respectively, in fluid communication with the inlet port. The flow metering mechanism is configured to meter a flow of a predetermined volume of bodily-fluid through the first fluid flow path into the pre-sample reservoir, to meter a flow of a second volume of bodily-fluid through the second fluid flow path into the sample reservoir, and to display a volumetric indicator associated with the predetermined volume and the second volume.

A swab for taking biological samples which has a support rod having an end portion coated with a layer of fibres is provided. Each of the fibres extends in length orthogonally to a surface of the support rod with a respective free end portion. The layer of fibres has hydrophilic properties to allow absorption of biological samples. Each of the fibres is mechanically anchored at a bottom portion thereof to a textile substrate fixed to a surface of the end portion of the support rod.

A system and method is provided for health management, for performing a parameter measurement in a fluid sample, including a mobile communications device with an application adapted to perform health management for one or more health related conditions; a strip adapted to absorb a fluid sample and to produce a signal indicative of the parameter level in the sample; and a fluid testing apparatus for obtaining an analog measurement of the fluid parameter, the fluid testing apparatus including an adaptor adapted to connect the strip to the mobile communications device to thereby allow delivery of the produced signal or a correlated signal to the mobile communications device for obtaining a measurement of the fluid parameter displayed on the mobile communications device, wherein the fluid testing apparatus relies on the mobile communications device for at least one of power supply and display means, and wherein the system includes a power level adjustment means associated with the device audio jack and/or the adaptor, for providing a suitable power output to operate the fluid testing apparatus.

A robot system includes a robot including an arm disposed in a first space , an operator that receives an operation on a test instrument in a second space , and a controller that operates the test instrument by controlling the robot in response to the received operation.

A collection container for biological samples is described. In one embodiment, the collection container includes a receptacle and a lid with a sampling port. The sampling port is coupled to an aspiration tube and allows access to the contents of the receptacle. A needle-free fitting allows a mating device to be coupled to the sampling port. A valve automatically closes to prevent the sample from escaping through the sampling port when a mating device is not coupled.

Liquid sample collection devices, systems, and methods. In one example, the system includes a liquid collection device, a cap for the liquid collection device, and a sealed reagent liquid container installed in the cap, in which depressing the cap relative to the liquid collection device unseals the reagent liquid container. In another example, the system includes a liquid collector and a collection chamber in which the collection chamber holds a reagent in a sealed condition and the liquid collector is actuable to disrupt a sealing membrane associated with the collection chamber. In another example, the system includes a liquid collector and a collection chamber in which the liquid collector holds a reagent in a sealed condition and in which the liquid collector is actuable to drain the reagent from the liquid collector into the collection chamber.

An oral sample collection system configured to draw and deliver an oral sample to a first analyte testing device (such as a local dry reagent test), and then allow the same sample to then be retested at a remote laboratory. The system uses a swab holder with a hollow tubular handle, an outer swab mounted at one end of the handle, and an inner swab mounted on a carriage positioned inside the hollow handle. Sample is collected in both swabs, the outer swab sample used for immediate testing, and the inner swab sample retained for later retesting as needed. This device may be used with a collection container configured to accept the swab holder and conduct immediate tests on the outer swab sample. Various applications, including utility for drugs of abuse testing, are also discussed.

The present invention provides a catheter for use in delivering and/or recovering materials to and/or from a tissue site in the body, the catheter comprising one or more macroporous regions adapted to selectively deliver molecules and/or recover cells from the tissue site, based on one or more physical-chemical-biological characteristics. The macroporous region can be provided in the form of a helical hollow wires, and can be adapted to both recover cells from the tissue site (e.g., bacterial or other cells present in interstitial fluid) and optionally to permit the infusion of medicament to the site, under corresponding conditions.

An apparatus includes a pre-sample reservoir, a diversion mechanism, and a flow metering mechanism. The diversion mechanism has an inlet port couplable to a lumen-defining device to receive bodily-fluids from a patient, a first outlet port fluidically couplable to the pre-sample reservoir, and a second outlet port fluidically couplable to a sample reservoir. The diversion mechanism defines a first fluid flow path and a second flow path that are configured to place the first outlet port and the second outlet port, respectively, in fluid communication with the inlet port. The flow metering mechanism is configured to meter a flow of a predetermined volume of bodily-fluid through the first fluid flow path into the pre-sample reservoir, to meter a flow of a second volume of bodily-fluid through the second fluid flow path into the sample reservoir, and to display a volumetric indicator associated with the predetermined volume and the second volume.