Patent ID: 8158062

Claim:
A fluid sample collection device for collecting 0.05 mL or less of blood, and for insertion and testing of said blood in an ultrasonic analyzer, comprising: a thin elongate body having a finger-grip at one end, and another functional insertion end, said insertion end including, a collecting region including an entrance aperture through which fluid enters a capillary tube within said collecting region by capillary action; a testing region in fluid communication with said collecting region for containing at least a portion of said fluid during testing inside said ultrasonic analyzer, said testing region further comprising an open-ended cylindrical channel perpendicular to said capillary tube and passing through said thin elongate body from one external surface to another external surface, thereby defining a circular aperture into said thin elongate body adapted for sealed engagement by an external sensor in said ultrasonic analyzer, said open-ended cylindrical channel containing said portion of said fluid such that said fluid portion comes in direct contact with said external sensor while still sealed inside the testing region, and a pumping region in fluid communication with said testing region for introducing a pressure-differential and thereby inducting said portion of said fluid from said collecting region into said open-ended channel of said testing region wherein said portion is placed in direct contact at each open end of said channel with a sensing surface of said ultrasonic analyzer.