A system for processing a biological sample of a subject, comprising: a sample collector insertable in a vaginal canal of the subject for collecting said biological sample from the vaginal canal of said subject; an extractor comprising (i) a sample receptacle configured to receive said sample collector via an opening, (ii) a buffer housed in a puncturable or breakable membrane to preserve cells, DNA, RNA, or other biological components of said collected biological sample in their original state from said subject, wherein said puncturable or breakable membrane is configured to release said buffer to contact said sample collector when said sample collector is in said receptacle and said puncturable or breakable membrane is broken, (iii) a compression mechanism configured to apply a force within the sample receptacle to release the collected biological sample from a received sample collector when said sample collector is in said sample receptacle , and (iv) a reservoir in fluid communication with said sample receptacle , wherein said reservoir is configured to retain a solution comprising said buffer from said puncturable or breakable membrane and said collected biological sample from said sample collector following breaking of said puncturable or breakable membrane and application of said compression force to said sample collector in said sample receptacle , wherein said sample receptacle is external to said reservoir ; and a cartridge comprising a chamber that comes in fluid communication with said reservoir upon docking with said extractor via a docking unit to permit said solution to flow from said reservoir to said cartridge . a sample collector insertable in a vaginal canal of the subject for collecting said biological sample from the vaginal canal of said subject; an extractor comprising (i) a sample receptacle configured to receive said sample collector via an opening, (ii) a buffer housed in a puncturable or breakable membrane to preserve cells, DNA, RNA, or other biological components of said collected biological sample in their original state from said subject, wherein said puncturable or breakable membrane is configured to release said buffer to contact said sample collector when said sample collector is in said receptacle and said puncturable or breakable membrane is broken, (iii) a compression mechanism configured to apply a force within the sample receptacle to release the collected biological sample from a received sample collector when said sample collector is in said sample receptacle , and (iv) a reservoir in fluid communication with said sample receptacle , wherein said reservoir is configured to retain a solution comprising said buffer from said puncturable or breakable membrane and said collected biological sample from said sample collector following breaking of said puncturable or breakable membrane and application of said compression force to said sample collector in said sample receptacle , wherein said sample receptacle is external to said reservoir ; and a cartridge comprising a chamber that comes in fluid communication with said reservoir upon docking with said extractor via a docking unit to permit said solution to flow from said reservoir to said cartridge . <EOS>