Patent ID: 7517495

Claim:
A device for collecting a fluid specimen, comprising: a container configured to receive the fluid specimen; a plunger movably positioned within the container, wherein the plunger moves from a first position at an upper region of the container to a second position below the first position; a fluid segregation chamber configured to receive a portion of the fluid specimen from the container, wherein fluid in the segregation chamber is segregated from fluid in the container; a fluid flow lumen that provides a passageway for at least a portion of the fluid specimen to flow into the fluid segregation chamber, wherein a first end of the passageway has a first opening that opens into the fluid segregation chamber and a second end of the passageway has a second opening configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid specimen; and a seal member that covers the first opening or the second opening, wherein the seal member prevents fluid from entering the fluid segregation chamber until the seal member is broken; wherein the plunger is configured to move from the first position toward the second position upon insertion of a test element to effect breaking of the seal member and further causing at least a portion of the fluid specimen to flow through the second opening into the fluid flow lumen and out of the first opening into the fluid segregation chamber; and a slot extending through a cap and communicating with the fluid segregation chamber.