A kit comprises: (i) one or a plurality of collection containers, each comprising a cap and, attached to the cap, an applicator, wherein the applicator is configured to fit within the collection container when closed by the cap; (ii) an aqueous fluid comprising a nucleic acid preservative; and (iii) solid particles adapted for lysing cells, such as bacteria, by bead beating. Upon receipt in a facility, the contains are placed onto a bead beating instrument without aliquoting samples from the collection container into another in bead beating container, or adding solid particles for bead beating.

Disclosed are devices, kits, compositions, and methods for collecting, transporting, and detecting toxicants, pathogens, and biomarkers in a biological sample. The devices, kits, compositions and methods may be utilized to collect and transport dried blood samples from a skin prick and detect toxicants, pathogens, and biomarkers in the dried blood samples.

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.

A container may include a storage volume configured to store a payload. A thermal insulation layer may surround the storage volume. A thermoregulation layer may surround the thermal insulation layer. There may be activation of a chemical reaction in the thermoregulation layer. The thermal insulation layer may have R-value per inch configured to expose the payload to a desired temperature to ensure viability of the payload and dampen a temperature spike of the chemical reaction. A system of containers may include a system storage volume with N containers in the system storage volume, wherein N is a whole number of 2 or more. A method of making an insulated container may include preparing an outer skin barrier layer, stacking a thermoregulation layer on the outer skin barrier layer, stacking a thermal insulation layer on the thermoregulation layer, and stacking an inner skin barrier layer on the thermal insulation layer.

A diagnostic and prognostic method and system for sequentially analyzing in a biological fluid or tissue extract the presence of an antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; an antibody response to the antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; one or more biomarkers formed during infection in response to a communicable disease; and one or more biomarkers to assess the severity of the disease and to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy or vaccination.

Tamper-resistant and tamper-evident sample bottles for the transport of pressurized well fluid include sensor packages and data recording devices to characterize and track properties of the sample bottle and its contents.

A sensor device for detecting transport parameters representative of those experienced by a sample during transportation is provided. The sample is stored in a container. The sensor device includes a housing with a configuration that generally matches the configuration of the container, a hardened substrate portion formed from a substrate material, and a sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor for detecting at least one transport parameter (e.g. acceleration, orientation, temperature, etc.). The sensor assembly is secured within the housing by the hardened substrate portion. Optionally, a weight of the device approximates a combined weight of the container and the sample stored therein. The weight of the sensor device can be adjusted. When the device is positioned proximate to the container during transportation, the at least one transport parameter detected by the at least one sensor is analogous to that at least one transport parameter experienced in the container.

A diagnostic and prognostic method and system for sequentially analyzing in a biological fluid or tissue extract the presence of an antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; an antibody response to the antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; one or more biomarkers formed during infection in response to a communicable disease; and one or more biomarkers to assess the severity of the disease and to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy or vaccination.

Disclosed herein, inter alfa, are systems and methods for contactless evaluation of a biological sample.

A diagnostic and prognostic method and system for sequentially analyzing in a biological fluid or tissue extract the presence of an antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; an antibody response to the antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; one or more biomarkers formed during infection in response to a communicable disease; and one or more biomarkers to assess the severity of the disease and to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy or vaccination.