Patent ID: 7470404

Claim:
An apparatus for collecting a fluid specimen comprising: a collection chamber having a sidewall and bottom for receiving a fluid specimen; a fluid isolation assembly comprising a cylinder means having an interior sidewall, an upper portion and a lower portion, a piston slidably disposed within the interior of the cylinder means and in contacting relationship with the interior sidewall, a passage communicating between said collection chamber and the interior said cylinder means, said passage positioned to permit at least a portion of said fluid specimen to enter the lower portion of the cylinder means; a conduit communicating between the lower portion of the cylinder means and an isolation chamber, said conduit disposed to transfer said portion of said fluid specimen from the lower portion of the cylinder means to the isolation chamber when said piston is moved from the upper portion towards the lower portion of the cylinder means; and a valve mounted on the piston and positioned between the lower portion of the cylinder means and the isolation chamber for preventing fluid from flowing from the isolation chamber to the lower portion of the cylinder means.