A self-sampling device used for collecting a homogenized sample of cells from different areas within the vaginal canal by a user. The device, comprises a hollow, cylindrical elongated tubing, a cell collecting area which is covered by an adhesive collecting element is disposed at one end, a channel disposed along the length of the cell collecting area for collecting the cells from different areas along length of the vaginal canal via one insertion, so as to mix the cells within the channel resulting in the homogenized collection of cells, further the collecting element has plurality of organized ridges arranged along the length of the cell collecting area to facilitate cell collection and a handle comprising an ergonomically shaped finger grip, wherein one end of the finger grip having a design or marking to facilitate easy counting of the complete rotations of the device, the handle and the tubing is designed to form a unitary structure.

A vaginal insert device and method of use for improving and preventing symptoms associated with pelvic organ prolapse and urinary and/or fecal incontinence, administer medication or topical treatment, and/or collect a sample when the device is inserted, or any combination thereof. The vaginal insert device may be cone-shaped, may have a removal portion, may have external ridges, may have internal ribs, may have an open or closed top, or combinations thereof. The device may include cavities, diagnostic devices, and/or microchips.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for restoring normal microbiota in pre-term newborns or newborns delivered by Cesarean section and methods for preventing or ameliorating diseases associated with delivery by Cesarean section or pre-term birth comprising administering to said newborns at the time of birth or shortly thereafter an effective amount of a vaginal microbiota inoculum obtained from the newborn's mother or a donor or an effective amount of a probiotic composition. The invention also relates to a device for collecting maternal vaginal microbiota from the vaginal canal of a patient. The device can have a housing forming a cavity, an absorbent material removable disposed within the cavity, and a deployment element disposed in the housing and movable along a length of the housing. The movement of the deployment element can displace the absorbent material out of the cavity and in to the vaginal canal.

The present invention provides a device for collecting a fluid specimen. The device comprises a water-absorbing end part formed by bonding a first porous water-absorbing film and a second porous water-absorbing film. Preferably, the second porous water-absorbing film and the first porous water-absorbing film are sponge films.

Examples relate to systems, devices, and methods utilizing means for securing a protruding portion of a fluid permeable body disposed between a wearer's labia in position during use. The protruding portion is formed from fluid permeable material that allows urine or other fluids to pass therethrough. The fluid permeable body is disposed at least partially within a fluid impermeable barrier to prevent leakage of the fluid. The fluid is removed through a conduit disposed in a chamber within the fluid impermeable barrier.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to fluid collection devices, systems, and methods utilizing retention components for retaining the fluid collection device in position during use. In an embodiment, a fluid collection device is disclosed. The fluid collection device includes a fluid impermeable barrier at least partially defining an interior chamber and an opening through which the interior chamber is exposed to an external environment. The fluid collection device includes a fluid permeable body positioned at least partially within the interior chamber to extend across at least a portion of the opening and configured to wick fluid away from the opening. The fluid collection device includes one or more retention components for retaining the fluid collection device on labia of a wearer by engaging with one or more of legs, pelvis, or buttocks of the wearer. The fluid collection device includes a conduit extending into the interior chamber.

The present disclosure relates to methods of collecting and testing bacteria containing samples from within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The methods may include disposing an ingestible device in the GI tract, collecting a bacteria-containing sample from the GI tract, selectively lysing eukaryotic cells in the sample by combining the sample with a dried reagent, exposing bacteria in the sample to resazurin in the ingestible device to produce resorufin, emitting light from the ingestible device, the emitted light being filtered through an optical filter to control for scatter so that the light interacts with the resorufin to produce fluorescence, and measuring a total fluorescence from the resorufin; or a rate of change of fluorescence from the resorufin as a function of time within the GI tract of the subject; and correlating the measured parameter to a number of viable bacterial cells in the sample.

Provided herein are methods and a device for collecting biological samples. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a device designed to specifically capture samples within the target areas of a patient for specific cell collection for particular diagnosis.

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a sampling device with a rod and a swab and a transfer tool for detaching the swab from the rod and transferring the detached swab to a container. The transfer tool comprises a housing enclosing a closed chamber having a swab-member passage and configured for receiving the swab-member. The housing comprises a first housing part and second housing part hinged to the first housing part. The first housing part and second housing part define an entry opening to a channel delimited by the first and second housing part. This channel extends from outside the housing to the passage. The first housing part and second housing part are rotatable around the hinge between a holding condition and a non-holding condition. The swab-member passage is configured to prevent, in holding and non-holding condition, the base from entering the passage whilst allowing, in non-holding condition, the swab member to pass through the passage. The channel and swab are configured to allow, in non-holding condition, inserting the swab-member and the base through the entry opening into the channel, advancing the swab-member to and through the passage into the chamber until the passage prevents the base from entering the passage, and to prevent, in holding condition whilst the passage blocks the base in the insertion direction and the swab-member projects through the passage into the chamber, the base from movement opposite to the insertion direction.

Samples, systems for collecting samples, and methods of preserving samples from menstrual fluid are provided.