An article of manufacture comprising: a cap having a projection with a duct through the projection; and a base having a recess and a duct (1401/1402) in fluid communication with the recess of the base, a cylindrical filter wherein: the projection is adapted to fit within a recess of the cylindrical filter to form a cap-filter assemblage (1102/1201); the filter and the projection of the cap-filter assemblage (1102/1201) are adapted to fit within the recess of the base to form a cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101); the cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101) defines at least one media transfer region adjacent to the filter; and the duct (1401/1402) of the base in the cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101) is adapted to receive a cannula to form a sample probe, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: (i) a first cone-shaped media transfer region is defined by an inner surface of the filter and a cone-like depression in the cap's projection that is in fluid communication with the cap's duct such that the larger end of the first cone-shaped media transfer region faces a bottom of the filter; and (ii) a second cone-shaped media transfer region is defined by an outer surface of the filter and a cone-like depression in the base that is in fluid communication with the base's duct (1401/1402) such that the larger end of the second cone-shaped media transfer region faces the bottom of the filter. a cap having a projection with a duct through the projection; and a base having a recess and a duct (1401/1402) in fluid communication with the recess of the base, a cylindrical filter wherein: the projection is adapted to fit within a recess of the cylindrical filter to form a cap-filter assemblage (1102/1201); the filter and the projection of the cap-filter assemblage (1102/1201) are adapted to fit within the recess of the base to form a cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101); the cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101) defines at least one media transfer region adjacent to the filter; and the duct (1401/1402) of the base in the cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101) is adapted to receive a cannula to form a sample probe, the projection is adapted to fit within a recess of the cylindrical filter to form a cap-filter assemblage (1102/1201); the filter and the projection of the cap-filter assemblage (1102/1201) are adapted to fit within the recess of the base to form a cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101); the cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101) defines at least one media transfer region adjacent to the filter; and the duct (1401/1402) of the base in the cap-filter-base assemblage (1102/1201/1101) is adapted to receive a cannula to form a sample probe, (i) a first cone-shaped media transfer region is defined by an inner surface of the filter and a cone-like depression in the cap's projection that is in fluid communication with the cap's duct such that the larger end of the first cone-shaped media transfer region faces a bottom of the filter; and (ii) a second cone-shaped media transfer region is defined by an outer surface of the filter and a cone-like depression in the base that is in fluid communication with the base's duct (1401/1402) such that the larger end of the second cone-shaped media transfer region faces the bottom of the filter.