SPECIMEN RECEPTACLES FOR SWABBING SETS

Abstract: The invention relates to a specimen receptacle (5) for a swabbing set, having reduced diameter swab compartment (3) at its lower end. When a swab device is inserted into the receptacle (5), and the upper end (6) of the receptacle is closed by a stopper (4) carried by the stick (1) of the swab device, the specimen-containing swab (2) is compressed by, and closely confined in, the compartment (3), to hinder the access of air to the specimen absorbed in the swab and thereby protect the specimen.

Description: SPECIMEN RECEPTACLES FOR SWABBING SETS The present invention relates to a specimen receptacle for use, for example, as part of a swabbing set for collection and transport of a specimen required for microbiological examination. It is known to obtain specimens for microbiolog¬ ical examination by means of a swab stick which includes a swab of absorbant material which sucks up the specimen, which is located at one end of an elongate element, such as a stick or length of wire, by which the swab is handled and manipulated. The swab and absorbed specimen are transported to the laboratory where the examination is to be performed, either in a sterile, dry, closed receptacle in the form of a tube, or immersed in a sterile, watery, often partly solidified transport medium, in a similar closed tube. In the laboratory, the swab is removed from the tube, and the specimen is squeezed from the absorbant material and subjected to various procedures depending upon the specific purpose of the examination. Although such specimen tubes are closed in an air-tight manner, there is still a tendency for the specimens contained therein to deteriorate,and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved specimen tube which significantly reduces this tendency. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a specimen receptacle for a swab or the like, having a region of reduced internal cross- section for receiving and closely surrounding the swab or -the like. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a swabbing set including a specimen receptacle having a region of reduced internal cross-section, and a swab device including an absorbant swab which, in use of the receptacle, is located in and closely confined by said region. In one embodiment, a swab device or stick comprises a swab of absorbant material mounted at one end of a stick or other elongate element, the other end of the elongate element being connected to a stopper for the receptacle. The receptacle is in the form of a tube, for example basically similar to a test tube. The tube is provided, adjacent its lower closed end, with a longitudinally extending region having an internal diameter which is less than that of the remaining upper portion of the tube. The cross-sect¬ ional area of the lower region of the tube approximates, or is le than, hat of the swab when in an unrestrained condition. The relative lengths of the swab stick and tube are such that, when the swab stick is inserted into the tube to a position in which the stopper sealing closing the open upper end of the tube, the swab enters the reduced-diameter region, and is closely confined and also preferably compressed therein. This reduced-diameter region provides a tight fitting compartment which acts as a protection against loss of viability of the micro-organisms in the specimen absorbed in the swab, because the close confinement of the swab effectively isolates the sides and tip of the swab from the air in the tube above the compartment, significantly hindering evaporation and oxygenation of the specimen absorbed in the swab. In addition, any dissolved, protective compounds which may have initially dried up in absorbant material of the swab may be re-activated, for example squeezed out and re-associated with the micro-organisms. Thus, survival of cell structures and micro- organisms during transport is achieved, making detection of the latter in the laboratory possible. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accom¬ panying drawing, in which the single Figure is a dia- grammatic side view of a swabbing set embodying the invention. Referring to the drawing, a swab device comprises a swab 2 of absorbant material, such as specially prepared cotton or cotton-like material, cotton wool, etc., or a porous plastics sponge material such as polyethylene, etc., which is attached to, for example wound around, one end of an elongate element or carrier 1 of wire, plastics material, wood or rolled up paper, etc. To the other end of the carrier 1 is attached a closure member or stopper 4, for example of resilient plastics material, which is intended to sealingly. cooperate with the upper end 6 of a specimen receptacle or container in the form of a tube 5. The stopper 4 also serves as a handle by which the swab is intended to be handled and manipu- lated. The lower closed end of the specimen tube 5 is provided with a longitudinally extending region 3, the internal diameter of which is less than that of the remaining upper region of the tube 5. The upper end of the region 3 terminates in an inverted conical guide surface 3a. The region 3 defines a compartment for receiving and closely confining the swab 2 when the swab device is fitted into the tube 5 as shown. The region or compartment 3 may be defined by a preformed member, for example an insert in the form of a tube or sleeve which may be moulded or otherwise formed from a plastics material, or glass. The insert may be press-fitted into the bottom of the tube 5, and/or may be anchored in other ways, for example by an adhesive. The bottom of the compartment in the insert may be closed, or the bottom ' of the compartment 3 may be defined by the bottom of the tube 5. The swab 2 in its free or unconfined state prior to insertion into the compartment 3, preferably has a cross-sectional area which generally approximates, or is greater than, that of the compartment 3. Thus, when the swab 2 is inserted longitudinally into the compartment 3 as shown, it is closely or tightly surrounded by the sides of the compartment, and may also be, slightly compressed between the sides, and engages or is adjacent the bottom of the compartment. Thus, as will be apparent from the drawing, the swab, and the specimen and/or protective compound(s), etc, with which the swab is impregnated will be effectively isolated from the air in the region of the tube 5 above the compartment 3. This isolation may be effected or enhanced by the formation of a bead of liquid above the swab in the compartment squeezed out of the swab due to its compression in the compartment. The conical or curved upper end of the compartment forms a gentle lead-in or guide surface for the swab as it enters the compartment. In one specific and non-limiting example, the elongate element or carrier 1 of the swab device is made of wood, plastics material or metal, and has a thickness or diameter of approximately 1mm. The swab of absorbant material may be of the order of 3 to 6 mm. and preferably 4 to 5 mm. thick, and 15 to 25 mm. long. The tube 5 may be manufactured from glass, metal or a plastics material. The swab compartment or region 3 may have an internal diameter of the order of 3 to 6 mm. and a length of the order of 20 to 30 mm. However, the proportions, dimensions and/or materials may be changed. It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The specimen receptacle is primarily intended to be disposable, i.e. used once and then discarded. For this reason, to minimise cost, it is envisaged that it will be preferable to employ conventional commercially available specimen tubes, fitted with preformed members or inserts defining the swab compartments as previously described. However, this is not essential, and, for example, the lower end of the tube 5 may be open, and the preformed member or insert defining the swab compartment 3 may be attached to the lower open end of the tube and close the latter. Alternatively, the compartment 3 could be formed integrally with the tube 5 by locally thickening the tube wall, or by necking-in the side wall of the tube without significantly increasing the thickness of the wall, or by a combination of the two. The tube and/or the swab compartment may be other than circular in cross-section, and/or may be tapered or stepped in a longitudinal direction. The swab compartment 3 may, if required, extend by a greater distance up to the tube, and/or may be spaced from the bottom of the tube. The specimen receptacle or container may be in the form of a bottle, vial, etc. instead of a tube, with the swab compartment or equivalent forming part of, or being attached to, the bottom of the receptacle, and, if required spaced from the side wall(s) of the receptacle. Although primarily intended for use with microbio¬ logical specimens, the receptacle, and/or the associated swab or other device, could be employed to contain, store and/or transport other substances for medical or non- medical purposes. The swab compartment 3 may be formed with one or more longitudinally extending grooves in its interior side wall, which serve to assist in insertion and release of the swab. In particular, during insertion of the swab, the grooves serve to permit air trapped in the bottom of the compartment to escape, and/or allow air to enter beneath the swab during withdrawal. The swab 2 and carrier 1 may be formed integrally. For example, the carrier may be formed from a plastics material which is capable of being expanded, and the tip of the carrier may be- locally treated to gas or expand it to form it into a porous swab.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 A specimen receptacle for a swab or the like, characterised in that the receptacle (5) has a region (3) of reduced internal cross-section for receiving and closely surrounding a swab or the like (2) . 2. A swabbing set including a specimen receptacle, and a swab device including an absorbent swab receivable in the receptacle, characterised in that the receptacle (5) has a region (3) of reduced internal cross-section, the absorb¬ ant swab (2), when the swab device (1,2,4) is inserted into the receptacle (5) in use of the latter, being located in and closely confined by said region (3) of reduced internal cross-section. 3. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1, or swabbing set as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receptacle (5) is a tube having an open end (6), a closed opposite end, and a longi¬ tudinally extending region (3) disposed at or adjacent the closed end and spaced from the open end, the region (3) defining a swab compartment which is elongate in the longi¬ tudinal direction of the tube, and has an internal cross-section which is smaller than that of the longitudi¬ nally extending region of the tube between the swab com¬ partment and the open end (6) . 4. A receptacle or swabbing set as claimed in claim 3, wherein the swab-receiving region or compartment (3), and/or the tubular receptacle (5) , are of circular internal cross-section. 5. A receptacle or swabbing set as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the swab-receiving region or compartment (3) is bounded by a concave guide surface (3a.) at its open end f cing towards the open end (6) of the receptacle. 6. A receptacle or swabbing set as claimed in claim 3,4 or 5, wherein the swab compartment (3) is defined by an insert preformed from a synthetic plastics material and fitted to said opposite end of the receptacle (5). 7. A receptacle or swabbing set as claimed in claim 6, wherein the swab compartment (3) is closed at its end remote from the open end (6) of the receptacle (5), and wherein the insert is fitted to, for example press fitted to, and closes, said opposite end of the receptacle. 8. A receptacle or swabbing set as claimed in claim 6, wherein the swab compartment (3) extends through the in¬ sert, and is closed by an end wall of the receptacle (5) at said opposite end thereof. 9. A receptacle or swabbing set as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the swab-receiving region or compartment (3) has an internal side wall which is formed with one or more grooves for the passage of air during longitudinal insertion or removal of a swab (2). 10. A swabbing set as claimed in claims 2 and 3, or claims 2 and 3 in combination with any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the swab device comprises a swab (2) of compressi¬ ble absorbent material attached to one end of an elongate carrier (1), to the other end of which is attached a com¬ bined closure and handle member (4), the member (4) being sealingly cooperable with the open end (6) of the recepta¬ cle (5) when the carrier (1) is inserted into the recepta¬ cle and the swab (2) is confined within the swab compart¬ ment (3) . 11. A swabbing set as claimed in claims 2 and 3, or claims 2 and 3 in combination with any of claims 4 to 10, wherein, in use of the set, the cooperation between the swab (2) and swab compartment (3) effectively isolates the sides and tip of the swab from air in the receptacle (5) so as to hinder evaporation and oxygenation of a specimen ab¬ sorbed in the swab. 12. A swabbing set as claimed in claim 10 or 11, where¬ in the swab (2), in its free or unconfined state prior to insertion into the swab compartment (3), has a cross-sec¬ tional area which generally approximates, or is greater than, that of the compartment (3), and has a length which generally approximates, or is less than, the length of the compartment. 13. A swabbing set as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the swab (2) is impregnated with a compound or compounds intended to protect a specimen when absorbed by the swab.

Inventors: GAARSLEV KNUD, GAARSLEV, KNUD
Applicants: SCAN LABS LTD, SCAN-LABS LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: C12M1
IPC codes: C12M1