A fluid-based testing device comprising: a housing having at least a first cylindrical interior surface defining an elongate chamber, the housing having an upper opening for receiving a sampling assembly, a sample container receiving structure at a lower end of the housing with a fluid sample outlet; a sample container attachable to the sample container receiving structure; the sampling assembly comprising at least a first swab having a first end with a handle, an opposite second end with a compressible sample collecting member, a shaft portion extending between the handle and the collecting member, and at least one seal (9A, 11A') positioned on the shaft portion intermediate the sample collecting member and the handle and slidingly engaging the first cylindrical interior surface of the housing, wherein when the sampling assembly is received into the first cylindrical interior surface of the housing with the second end in first, the sampling assembly has a first position where the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is not compressed, a second position where the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is partially compressed, and a third full insertion position where the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is further compressed, the fluid-based testing device being characterised in that it is vented and wherein when the sample container is attached to the sample container receiving structure, the housing at least partially defines a vent pathway from an interior of the sample container to an exterior of the housing; the device further comprising a valve member engaged with the housing and having at least a vent path non-obstructing position and a vent path obstructing position, the valve member movable from the non-obstructing position to the obstructing position by the sampling assembly when the sampling assembly is moved from the second position to the third full insertion position, wherein a first fluid specimen from the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is collected in the sample container. a housing having at least a first cylindrical interior surface defining an elongate chamber, the housing having an upper opening for receiving a sampling assembly, a sample container receiving structure at a lower end of the housing with a fluid sample outlet; a sample container attachable to the sample container receiving structure; the sampling assembly comprising at least a first swab having a first end with a handle, an opposite second end with a compressible sample collecting member, a shaft portion extending between the handle and the collecting member, and at least one seal (9A, 11A') positioned on the shaft portion intermediate the sample collecting member and the handle and slidingly engaging the first cylindrical interior surface of the housing, wherein when the sampling assembly is received into the first cylindrical interior surface of the housing with the second end in first, the sampling assembly has a first position where the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is not compressed, a second position where the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is partially compressed, and a third full insertion position where the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is further compressed, the fluid-based testing device being characterised in that it is vented and wherein when the sample container is attached to the sample container receiving structure, the housing at least partially defines a vent pathway from an interior of the sample container to an exterior of the housing; the device further comprising a valve member engaged with the housing and having at least a vent path non-obstructing position and a vent path obstructing position, the valve member movable from the non-obstructing position to the obstructing position by the sampling assembly when the sampling assembly is moved from the second position to the third full insertion position, wherein a first fluid specimen from the compressible sample collecting member of the first swab is collected in the sample container.