Abstract
An apparatus for testing for streptococcal pharyngitis includes a tube having an open first end and a second end, and an opening on a side thereof, a dipstick inserted into the tube through the side opening, and an insert with a hole that can receive the dipstick and sized to nest the dipstick into the side opening of the tube. A swab at the end of the dipstick inside the tube receives microbes in a breath exhaled by a patient holding the first end of the tube to the patient's mouth. After being exhaled upon by the patient, the dipstick is removed for testing for the presence of microbes that cause streptococcal pharyngitis.
Claims
1. An apparatus for testing for streptococcal pharyngitis, comprising: a tube having an open first end and a second end, and an opening on a side thereof; a dipstick inserted into the tube through the side opening; and an insert with a hole that can receive the dipstick and is sized to nest and secure the dipstick into the side opening of the tube, wherein a swab at an end of the dipstick inside the tube receives microbial secretions in a breath forcibly exhaled by a patient whose mouth is sealed around the first end of the tube, wherein after being forcible exhaled upon by the patient, the dipstick is removed for testing for the presence of microbes that cause streptococcal pharyngitis.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end is closed off.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the closed second end includes a plurality of air holes.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second end is closed off by a face mask filter.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cup inserted into the second end, the cup including include a plurality of holes through which a patient's breath is discharged from the tube.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cup further includes a filter that restricts microbes.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tube is made of cardboard, and the cup and the insert are made of plastic.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dipstick includes a line indicative of where the dipstick is positioned.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of a strep throat test apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a strep throat test apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0018] FIGS. 3-10 illustrate steps in the use of a strep throat test apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure to detect strep throat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure as described herein generally provide an apparatus and method for testing for streptococcal pharyngitis. While embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 1 is an orthographic projection of a strep throat test apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure that shows product views and cutaway section views, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the same. A strep throat test apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be referred to as a strepalyzer. Referring to FIG. 1, a top view of the strep throat test apparatus 10 is shown in the upper left, an end view looking though the strep throat test apparatus 10 is shown at the lower left, a side view cut away along section B-B is shown second from the lower left, a side view is shown second from the lower right, and an end view cut-away along section A-A is shown at the lower right.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the strep throat test apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a disposable tube 14, a dipstick 11 with a swab 13 at one end that is wider than the shaft of the dipstick 11. The dipstick 11 can be inserted into the tube 14 through a hole 17 in the side of the tube 14, and the strep throat test apparatus 10 further includes an insert 12 that surrounds the dipstick 11 and seals and secures the dipstick into the hole 17. The swab 13 may be covered with a material that can absorb the patient's throat secretions. The insert 12 slides on from the end of the dipstick 11 to below a line 22 and nests into the hole 17 in the tube 14 to hold the dipstick 11 in place. The tube also includes an open first end 18, and a second end 19 opposite the first end 18. In some embodiments, the second end 19 is closed, but has a plurality of air holes 21 to allow air to pass through, while in other embodiments, the second end 19 is open into which an end cup 15 is inserted. The end cup 15 also includes a plurality of air holes 21 to allow air to pass through, and includes a filter 16 to restrict microbes from escaping. An exemplary, non-limiting number of air holes is two (2). The filter can be made from any suitable material as is known in the art. If the tube 14 has a closed second end 19, the filter 16 may also be inserted into the tube 14 to be positioned between the hole 17 and the second end 19. In other embodiments, the filter may be made of a material such as is used for face masks. In this embodiment, the filter 16 itself can be used to close off the second end 19. The tube 14, the end cup 15, the filter 16, and the insert 12 are intended to be disposable. For example, the tube 14 can be made of cardboard, and the insert 12 and end cup 15 can be made of plastic.
[0022] FIGS. 3-10 illustrate steps in using a strep throat test apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure to detect strep throat.
[0023] FIG. 3 depicts, from left to right, the plastic insert 12 sliding onto the dipstick 11 in the direction of the arrow, and the insertion of the dipstick 11 and insert 12 into the cardboard tube 14 in the direction of the arrow securely for testing. FIG. 4 shows a patient 25 blowing or forcibly exhaling into the tube 14, coating the swab 13 with microbes from the patient's throat secretions. The air holes 21 in the end cup 15 allow the air received from the blowing patient to be discharged, while the filter 16 traps microbes in the patient's secretions. FIG. 5 shows the dipstick 11 and insert 12 being removed in the direction of the arrow for testing. FIG. 6 shows the placement of two reagents to into a clean test tube 30, for testing purposes. An exemplary, non-limiting test tube 30 is compressible. According to an embodiment, three (3) drops of Reagent A and three (3) drops of Reagent B are added into a clean test tube 30. Reagents A and B are well known in the art of testing for strep throat. This solution should turn green. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the patient dipstick 11 and sample is added to the test tube 30.
[0024] According to an embodiment, the dipstick 11 is rotated a number of times, as indicated by the spiral, and after a period of time, the bottom of the test tube 30 should be squeezed in the direction of the arrows to compress the swab 13. The period of time may be about one minute. According to an embodiment, the swab may be rotated a minimum of five (5) times. Then all liquid is expressed from the swab 13 against the inside of the test tube 30, as indicated by the arrows and shown in FIG. 8, and the dipstick 11 is removed from the test tube 30 while squeezing the swab 13 firmly. The dipstick 11 may now be discarded. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, a test strip 35 as is known in the art is placed in the tube 30, and the test strip 35 is rotated. After a short duration of time, the test strip 35 can be read. According to an embodiment, the test strip result can be read after 5 minutes, although some positive results may appear sooner. FIG. 10 shows some examples of test results, including a positive results and a negative result. The test strip includes a blue control line C, and a test line T. The test line will initially be substantially invisible, and will turn pink if the group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus that causes strep throat is present. The test strips under the “+” block show a visible, pink test line. The test strip under the “−” block shows a negative result, in that no test line appeared. The test strips under the “Ø” symbol are invalid, as there is no control line in these strips.
[0025] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
