A device for collecting contaminants from water samples is provided. The device includes a solid sorbent that collects and stores the contaminants from water samples. The solid sorbent is configured to allow for the preservation of the stored contaminants. The concentrations of the contaminants in the water samples are determined via analysis of the solid sorbent or via elution of the stored contaminants from the sorbent and analysis of the eluate solution.

A kit or set including a planar sample carrier having an absorbent membrane layer suitable for absorbing liquid blood components is provided, and wherein at least a portion of the blood components is able to dry in the membrane layer, wherein the sample carrier is additionally provided on an outer side with an optically readable code, additionally including a closable cuboidal box having a bottom surface that has a rectangular base surface and that additionally has a first opening, additionally including a planar receiving element having a base surface that corresponds to the base surface of the bottom surface, wherein the receiving element has a second opening and a holder that together are designed such that, on mounting the sample carrier in the holder and subsequently inserting the receiving element into the box on the bottom surface of the box, the optical code is visible through the first opening in the bottom surface and also through the second opening in the receiving element.

Provided herein are methods and related devices for preprocessing a biological sample during transit. The method may comprise the steps of: storing a biological sample in a storage container having walls that defines a storage volume; transporting the storage container with the stored biological sample to a sample processing facility; controlling one or more storage container parameters during the transporting step to initiate preprocessing of the biological sample; wherein the controlling step improves a processing parameter at the sample processing facility.

Disclosed herein are cellular cassettes for the storage, collection, and analysis of biological samples. The cellular cassette can enable easy sample collection and sealing of microwell arrays with semi-permeable membrane for stable storage and future processing of single cells. Also disclosed herein are systems and kits comprising one or more described cassettes. The described cassettes, systems, and kits can be used to create barcoded, single-cell sequencing libraries. Further described herein are methods of using the cassettes, systems, and kits.

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.

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and kits for collecting and storing a sample from a subject. A system can comprise a cartridge assembly for separation of the blood. The cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge port configured to couple to a sample acquisition device that is usable to collect the blood from the subject. The cartridge assembly can comprise at least one blood separation membrane that is configured to separate plasma or serum from the blood. In some cases, the cartridge port can comprise a pathway that is configured to direct the blood to flow from the sample acquisition device, through the pathway, and towards the cartridge assembly. In some cases, a direction of flow of the blood through the at least one blood separation membrane can be different from a direction of flow of the blood through the pathway and towards the inner portion of the cartridge assembly.

The present invention provides methods for rapid and efficient isolation and characterization of nucleic acid, particularly RNA, from small volume and self-collected samples, particularly saliva samples, to determine the presence or absence of infectious agent RNA, particularly viral RNA, particularly infectious viral RNA, particularly coronavirus. The invention provides methods for isolation and evaluation of infectious agent RNA from saliva samples, particularly viral agents, particularly coronavirus. The invention further provides methods and strategies for pooling samples and RNA to determine the presence or absence of infectious agent RNA, particularly viral RNA, particularly infectious viral RNA, particularly coronavirus, with regard to large numbers of samples at one time and in a single pooled test format.

Sampling systems and techniques that increase pickup efficiency and shedding efficiency of an analyst of interest collected from a surface are provided. In one aspect, an absorbent swab collects an analyte of interest, such as a hazardous contaminant, from a test area demarcated by a template. The sampling techniques can include swab speed and force protocols specifying how fast and how hard the user should apply the swab across the surface to improve pickup efficiency. The sampling techniques can include instructions for inverting a container enclosing the swab and collected contaminant to improve shedding efficiency from the swab.

A lateral flow testing device includes a main body adapted to support an element for collecting a sample. The element is supported at a distal end of the testing device and is in fluid communication with one or more testing components having an analyte detection zone for detecting one or more analytes present in said sample. The testing components produce visual information related to said sample, thereby informing the user of the outcome of a test. The device incorporates a handle reconfigurable with respect to said main body such that in a first handle configuration, the handle hinders sight of the visual information to improve privacy of the test, and in a second handle configuration, the handle facilitates the collection of said sample by increasing a distance between a proximal end of the testing device and the element.

A specimen collection kit includes a specimen transport medium tube, a transport medium and a swab for collecting a sample. The transport medium compartment of the specimen transport medium tube has a reduced inner diameter and contains a reduced volume of the transport medium compared to conventional transport medium tubes. The tip of a swab containing a collected sample which is stored in the specimen transport medium tube can remain immersed in the transport medium during transport to a testing facility, preventing drying of the swab tip and degradation of the sample. In addition, the relatively small volume of transport medium in the tube reduces the dilution of analytes from the sample in the a transport medium.