Abstract:
An apparatus for storing and shipping a coded set of related culture specimens without risk of contamination or contact between individually coded specimens, comprising a closeable case having multiple individual storage cells and a coding scheme applied to the surfaces of the case. The coding scheme identifies and matches individually coded specimens with their respective storage cells.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the storage and shipment of a related set of cell cultures or specimens and, more particularly, to a storage and shipping container for specimen swabs that minimizes the possibility of mislabeling or intermingling the swabs comprising the set, while eliminating bacterial or fungal growth through proper drying. 
     For a variety of reasons, cell cultures or specimens are taken from a person and shipped to a laboratory facility where identification and testing of the cultures or specimens is undertaken. This testing may relate to the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, or may be done for DNA research for, among other things, paternity testing or transplant matching. Commonly, prepackaged sterilized swabs are used in the collection of specimens. Upon taking the specimens, they are typically returned to individual storage envelopes or other packaging and transported individually to the laboratory facility. 
     While individually packaging and shipping specimens is desirable in some applications, the specimens taken from several different samples or individuals may actually comprise a set for identification and testing purposes. Such is the case, for example, in paternity testing where specimens from the mother, child, and one or more imputed fathers may comprise the set of interest. 
     The prior art discloses a specimen holding kit for transporting a single cell specimen in a saturated medium. There is also known a method and apparatus for sampling cervical tissue wherein a swab is sold as part of a test kit. Once a sample is taken, the swab is stored in an airtight plastic container for shipment to a laboratory. While kits for a variety of tests, including paternity, are known, none teach the use of a specialized case for holding samples from a related set of individuals separate from each other, but within the same container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a specimen storage and shipping apparatus wherein a set of related specimens, such as buccal swabs, can be placed in individual cells without risk of contact or contamination, yet be stored and/or shipped as a set to a laboratory facility. Also, there may be provided a simplified coding scheme for identifying and matching individual specimens with their respective storage cells. The risks of losing an individual specimen or compromising the integrity of the specimen set is thus minimized. 
     Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is a storage and shipping case for receiving a separately formed cartridge having a plurality of storage cells. The storage and shipping case is comprised of a paperboard or fiberboard container having a bottom, an open top, a front wall, a rear wall, and sidewalls. Each of the outer wall surfaces is suitable for printing or other indicia. The outer surface areas of the case adjacent each cartridge storage cell are appropriately coded. One form of coding is color; however, other codes, such as numbers, may be used. A closure panel is connected to the top edge of either the rear or front wall of the storage and shipping case and is formed such that, when the closure panel is folded along fold lines in the panel, the panel closes the open top of the container. Desirably also, a portion of the closure panel inner surface area adjacent each cartridge storage cell is colored to correspond to the color on the outer surface of the shipping and storage case. 
     The cartridge is contained within the storage and shipping case. The cartridge may be integrally formed, having a bottom, an open top, a front wall, a rear wall, sidewalls, and multiple integrally formed dividers separating the cartridge into individual storage cells. Each storage cell is dimensioned to hold at least two swabs/specimens taken from the same person. Alternatively, the cartridge may be comprised of multiple integrally formed containers arranged adjacently together, where each container has one or more individual storage cells. Desirably, the cartridge is formed of a semi-rigid, leak-resistant material such as polypropylene. However, other suitable materials having these characteristics may be used. The cartridge, or integrally formed containers, may have vented closures for the cartridge or container as a whole or for the individual storage cells. These ventilated closures provide an additional measure of closure for the storage and shipping container and allow for ventilation and drying of the swabs contained within each storage cell. Further, once the specimens are collected from an individual and placed in the appropriate storage cell, the vented closure may be closed to prevent the specimens from another individual being inadvertently placed in the same cell. The integrally formed or composite cartridge is substantially the same shape as the storage and shipping case, but is preferably slightly smaller in overall dimensions such that documentation pertaining to the enclosed specimens can be placed between the front or rear wall of the storage and shipping case and the adjacent cartridge front or rear wall. 
     In the second embodiment, the storage and shipping case includes integrally formed dividers that are appropriately provided with a protective coating so that the need for the separate cartridge is obviated. The case then includes built-in storage cells. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for storing and preparing specimens for shipment as a set. Using coded swabs, a set of specimens is obtained from individuals comprising the test set, where each coded swab is unique to the individual. Desirably, the swabs would be color-coded; e.g., pink for the mother, yellow for the child, blue for the imputed father, and green for an additional child or imputed father, etc. The specimen swabs are placed in their individual storage cells by matching the code on the swabs with the code formed on the surface of the storage and shipping case adjacent each of the storage cells. Any necessary documentation concerning the specimens could be inserted in the storage and shipping case in a space between the cartridge and the storage and shipping case inner wall. Alternatively, where the storage and shipping case includes integrally formed dividers, documentation could be placed in one or more of the storage cells. With all specimens and documentation secured, a closure panel attached to the rear or front wall of the storage and shipping case is folded along fold lines formed in the panel to close the open top of the storage and shipping case. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective exploded view of one aspect of the specimen storage and shipping apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the specimen storage and shipping apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom front perspective view of the specimen storage and shipping apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A is a bottom front perspective view of the cartridge according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4B is a top rear perspective view of the cartridge of FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 4C is a front perspective view of an individual case used to form the cartridge of FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the specimen storage and shipping apparatus of FIG. 1 with closure flaps and a tear strip; and 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the specimen storage and shipping apparatus with integrally formed dividers. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in general and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As best seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, a culture specimen storage and shipping apparatus constructed according to one aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, generally designated  10 , includes a storage and shipping case  12  and an integrally formed cartridge  34 . The storage and shipping case  12  is formed of a paperboard or fiberboard material such that printing or other indicia may be formed on the outer surfaces, but other suitable materials may be used. Storage and shipping case  12  has a bottom  14 , open top  16 , front wall  20 , rear wall  22 , and sidewalls  24  A closure panel  26  is hingedly connected to a top edge  28  of front wall  20 , or rear wall  22 . Closure panel  26  includes fold lines  30  spaced apart such that when closure panel  26  is folded along fold lines  30 , closure panel  26  overlies open top  16 . Alternatively, closure panel  26  could be formed to overlie front wall  20 , or rear wall  22  or could simply include a tuck flap or other suitable closing member to close open top  16 . As best seen in FIG. 1, closure panel  26  is connected to the top edge  28  of rear panel  22 . Closure panel  26  could be attached to top edge  44  of front wall  20  and folded to overlie open top  16 , and if desired, rear wall  22 . A seal tab  32  is hingedly attached to the top edge  46  of closure panel  26  along a fold line  30  such thatseal tab  32  may be adhered to the bottom  14  of shipping and storage case  12 . Alternatively, closure panel  26  may be constructed such that seal tab  32  is adhered to front wall  20  or rear wall  22 . Any suitable adhesive, such as a tape seal, may be used to adhere the seal tab  32  such that the storage and shipping apparatus  10  will remain intact during shipment. 
     Turning now to FIG. 5, alternatively, storage and shipping case  12  may have closure flaps  64  hingedly attached to edges  66  of closure panel  26 . Upon closure of panel  26 , closure flaps  64  would be tucked into slits  65  formed through either side of front wall  20  so that flaps  64  would be between front wall  20  and cartridge  34 . In addition to, or in lieu of flaps  64 , flaps  68  may hingedly attached to edges  69  of closure panel  26 . Flaps  68  would be tucked in between side walls  24  and cartridge  34  upon closure of panel  26 . Further, for ease in opening a sealed storage and shipping container  10  and removing swabs  70 , a tear strip  33  may be formed in dosure panel  26  between fold line  30  and seal tab  32 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, culture specimen storage and shipping apparatus  10  comprises a storage and shipping case  12  for receiving a cartridge  34 . Cartridge  34  may be integrally formed as a single unit, or as seen in FIGS. 4A through 4C, may comprise two or more integrally formed containers, shown in the figures as  34 A and  34 B. Although not necessary to the function or construction of storage and shipping apparatus  10 , containers  34 A and  34 B may be fastened together by interlocking ribs  77  on one case with channels  79  on the adjacent case. Ribs  77  and channels  79  may be formed in a variety of ways known in the art for interlocking or snapping like units together. Each container  34 A,  34 B has a bottom  50 , an open top  52 , front wall  54 , rear wall  56 , sidewalls  58 , and may have integrally formed dividers  60 , separating each container  34 A,  34 B into a plurality of individual storage cells  62 A′,  62 B′. Each cell  62 A′,  62 B′ is dimensioned to hold at least two specimens, or swabs, obtained from the same person. As best seen in FIG. 4C, cartridge  34 , or alternatively, adjacent containers  34 A,  34 B may have vented closures  75  integrally formed with and hingedly attached to open ends  52 . Vented closures  75  may be formed to cover the entire open end  52  or, alternatively, formed to cover individual cell  62 A′,  62 B′. Vented closures  75  are formed to interlock or otherwise snap into place over the open ends of cells  62 A′,  62 B′. The vented closures  75  provide an additional measure of closure for the storage and shipping apparatus  10  and permit adequate ventilation and drying of swabs  70  stored within cells  62 A′ and  62 B′. To achieve adequate ventilation, each vent closure  75  comprises at least  50  percent perforated area. However, desirably, perforations in vented closures  75  are dimensioned small enough to prevent the stem of a swab  70  in a cell  62 A′,  62 B′ from sticking therethrough. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment, front wall  20  is coded such that areas  40 A,  40 B,  40 C, and  40 D are each coded differently; e.g., a different color, to correspond to individual storage cells  62 A,  62 B,  62 C, and  62 D. Similarly, areas  42 A,  42 B,  42 C, and  42 D are coded to correspond to the same coding scheme as  40 A,  40 B,  40 C, and  40 D. Accordingly, coded specimen swabs  70 , such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, can be matched to their respective coded storage cells. 
     The dimensions of the composite cartridge  34  are desirably slightly smaller than the overall dimensions of storage and shipping case  12  such that documentation relating to the specimens may be inserted between cartridge  34  and the inner surface of either front wall  20  or rear wall  22  of storage and shipping case  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, as an alternative to the separate case  12  and cartridge  34 , storage and shipping apparatus  110  may be formed such that dividers  112  are an integrally formed part of the storage and shipping apparatus  110 . In this embodiment, storage and shipping apparatus  110  is formed of a paperboard or fiberboard material and dividers  112  are provided with a protective coating to prevent communication between individual storage cells  114 A,  114 B,  114 C, and  114 D. In this embodiment, front wall  116  is coded such that areas  118 A,  118 B,  118 C, and  118 D are each coded; e.g., a different color, to correspond to individual storage cells  114 A,  114 B,  114 C, and  114 D. Similarly, areas  120 A,  120 B,  120 C, and  120 D are coded to correspond to the same codes as  118 A,  118 B,  118 C, and  118 D. A closure panel  122  includes fold lines  124  spaced apart such that when closure panel  122  is folded along fold lines  124 , closure panel  122  will overlie front wall  116 . 
     In storing and preparing a set of culture specimens for shipment, a user would first obtain individual specimens using suitable coded specimen swabs. The swabs would be placed individually in storage cells  62  or  114 . If desired, documentation pertaining to the specimens could be inserted in storage and shipping case  12  between cartridge  34  and front wall  20 , or rear wall  22 . Alternatively, where storage and shipping apparatus  110  has integrally formed dividers  112 , documentation may be placed in the individual storage cells  114 . The shipping and storage apparatus  10 ,  110  would then be closed by folding closure panel  26 ,  122  along fold lines  30 ,  124  whereupon closure panel  26 ,  122  would cover open top  16 ,  126 , of storage and shipping apparatus  10 ,  110 . Storage and shipping apparatus  10 ,  110  is then ready to be transported to a laboratory facility. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.