Patent ID: 7638099

Claim:
A device for collecting, storing or transporting a biological specimen, said device comprising: (a) a container defining an interior space having side walls, a bottom and an openable and sealable lid having an internal surface lid extension for mounting an absorbent matrix thereon; (b) a solid three-dimensional matrix removably mounted on the lid extension inside the container, wherein the matrix is at least 20% porous and is configured to absorb a volume of at least 0.1 ml of a liquid suspension comprising a liquid and a biological specimen, and wherein the matrix is configured for subsequent drying and then storing the dried biological specimen thereon inside the container, (c) a desiccant inside the container separated from the matrix by an air permeable barrier and in vaporous communication with said matrix, wherein the desiccant is present in an excess amount to maintain dry conditions for the volume of biological specimen present in the matrix so as to prohibit enzymatic and cellular biological activity in the biological specimen, (d) a colorimetric indicator of moisture within the desiccant; and (e) the dried biological specimen in the matrix, inactive with respect to enzymatic and cellular biological activity.