Patent ID: 7915032

Claim:
An apparatus for collecting a fluid sample, comprising: a vial having a wall defining a closed end and an open end; a cap configured to selectively seal with the open end of the vial; and a collection stick having an elongated handle portion and an absorbent head portion detachably connected to the handle portion, the absorbent head portion being configured to absorb and retain the fluid sample therein prior to insertion of the collection stick within the vial, the vial wall and the absorbent head portion being configured to permit insertion of the collection stick into the vial through the open end so as to compress the absorbent head portion into contact with the closed end of the vial and thereby express the fluid sample from the absorbent head portion into the vial and to retain the absorbent head portion in a generally compressed state within the vial, without the cap sealing the open end of the vial, with the elongated handle portion being detached from the absorbent head portion.