US-12616973-B2 - Methods, devices, and related aspects for collecting and storing samples

Abstract

Provided herein are sample collection devices that include a first body structure portion that comprises a drying agent compartment configured to receive a drying agent and a second body structure portion operably connected, or connectable, to the first body structure portion. The second body structure portion includes a sample collection support compartment comprising one or more segments that communicate with the drying agent compartment at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in a closed position. The sample collection support compartment is configured to receive a sample collection support. Related kits, systems, computer readable media, and methods are also provided.

Inventors

• David Raymond Graham
• Jeffrey D. Freeman

Assignees

• THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20210226

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A sample collection device, comprising: at least a first body structure portion that comprises at least one drying agent compartment configured to receive at least one drying agent; at least a second body structure portion operably connected, or connectable, to the first body structure portion, which second body structure portion comprises at least one sample collection support compartment comprising one or more segments that communicate with the drying agent compartment at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in a closed position, which sample collection support compartment is configured to receive at least one sample collection support; at least one sealing material disposed, or disposable, between at least sections of the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position, which sealing material substantially seals at least the drying agent compartment and the sample collection support compartment when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position; and, at least one closure mechanism operably connected, or connectable, to the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position, which closure mechanism is configured to maintain the first and second body structure portions in the closed position at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sealing material disposed between the sections of the first and second body structure portions wherein the drying agent compartment comprises at least one frame structure that substantially surrounds at least regions of the sample collection support that comprise the sample and maintains at least one gap between the regions of the sample collection support that comprise the sample and the drying agent at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sample collection support positioned in the sample collection support compartment and the drying agent positioned in the drying agent compartment; wherein the drying agent compartment comprises at least one retaining structure having one or more openings disposed therethrough, which openings communicate with the drying agent compartment; wherein the second body structure portion comprises at least one retaining element structured to retain the sample collection support in the sample collection support compartment; and wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one latch element and at least one ridge element that engages the latch element at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position and when the latch element and the ridge element are in a closed position relative to one another.
2. 2 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the drying agent compartment comprises at least one movable closure that is movable between at least open and closed positions.
3. 3 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another via at least one hinge structure.
4. 4 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing material comprises at least one gasket.
5. 5 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein at least portions of the sealing material are fabricated integral with the first body structure portion and/or the second body structure portion.
6. 6 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the first body structure portion comprises at least one protrusion and wherein the second body structure portion comprises at least one groove that is configured to receive at least a portion of the sealing material, which protrusion is configured to compress the sealing material at least in the groove at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sealing material disposed between the sections of the first and second body structure portions.
7. 7 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one rotatable clamping structure.
8. 8 . The sample collection device of claim 7 , wherein the rotatable clamping structure comprises at least one latch element rotatably attached to the second body structure portion and wherein the first body structure portion comprises at least one ridge element that engages the latch element at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position and when the latch element and the ridge element are in a closed position relative to one another.
9. 9 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the drying agent compartment comprises the drying agent.
10. 10 . The sample collection device of claim 1 , wherein the sample collection support compartment comprises the sample collection support.
11. 11 . A kit, comprising: at least one sample collection device that comprises: at least a first body structure portion that comprises at least one drying agent compartment configured to receive at least one drying agent; at least a second body structure portion operably connected, or connectable, to the first body structure portion, which second body structure portion comprises at least one sample collection support compartment comprising one or more segments that communicate with the drying agent compartment at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in a closed position, which sample collection support compartment is configured to receive at least one sample collection support; at least one sealing material disposed, or disposable, between at least sections of the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position, which sealing material substantially seals at least the drying agent compartment and the sample collection support compartment when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position; and at least one closure mechanism operably connected, or connectable, to the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position, which closure mechanism is configured to maintain the first and second body structure portions in the closed position at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sealing material disposed between the sections of the first and second body structure portions; wherein the drying agent compartment comprises at least one frame structure that substantially surrounds at least regions of the sample collection support that comprise the sample and maintains at least one gap between the regions of the sample collection support that comprise the sample and the drying agent at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sample collection support positioned in the sample collection support compartment and the drying agent positioned in the drying agent compartment; wherein the drying agent compartment comprises at least one retaining structure having one or more openings disposed therethrough, which openings communicate with the drying agent compartment; wherein the second body structure portion comprises at least one retaining element structured to retain the sample collection support in the sample collection support compartment; and wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one latch element and at least one ridge element that engages the latch element at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position and when the latch element and the ridge element are in a closed position relative to one another; and, one or more drying agents.
12. 12 . The kit of claim 11 , further comprising one or more sample collection supports.
13. 13 . A method of drying an item in either a liquid or solid form in the sample collection device of claim 1 comprising: positioning the item in the sample collection device containing an amount of at least one drying agent sufficient to dry the item; positioning the at least one closure mechanism in a substantially airtight closed position, thereby producing a substantially airtight interior of the sample collection device; and drying the item within the sample collection device.
14. 14 . A method of preserving an analyte in an item in either a liquid or solid form in the sample collection device of claim 1 comprising: positioning the item in the sample collection device containing an amount of at least one drying agent sufficient to dry the item; positioning the at least one closure mechanism in a substantially airtight closed position, thereby producing a substantially airtight interior of the sample collection device; and removing substantially all detectable moisture from the item.
15. 15 . A method of collecting a sample, the method comprising: placing at least an aliquot of the sample on a sample collection support; positioning the sample collection support in a sample collection support compartment of a sample collection device, which sample collection device comprises: at least a first body structure portion that comprises at least one drying agent compartment configured to receive at least one drying agent; at least a second body structure portion operably connected, or connectable, to the first body structure portion, which second body structure portion comprises the sample collection support compartment, which sample collection support compartment comprises one or more segments that communicate with the drying agent compartment at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in a closed position; at least one sealing material disposed, or disposable, between at least sections of the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position, which sealing material substantially seals at least the drying agent compartment and the sample collection support compartment when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position; and at least one closure mechanism operably connected, or connectable, to the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position, which closure mechanism is configured to maintain the first and second body structure portions in the closed position at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sealing material disposed between the sections of the first and second body structure portions; wherein the drying agent compartment comprises at least one frame structure that substantially surrounds at least regions of the sample collection support that comprise the sample and maintains at least one gap between the regions of the sample collection support that comprise the sample and the drying agent at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sample collection support positioned in the sample collection support compartment and the drying agent positioned in the drying agent compartment; wherein the drying agent compartment comprises at least one retaining structure having one or more openings disposed therethrough, which openings communicate with the drying agent compartment; wherein the second body structure portion comprises at least one retaining element structured to retain the sample collection support in the sample collection support compartment; and wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one latch element and at least one ridge element that engages the latch element at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position and when the latch element and the ridge element are in a closed position relative to one another; positioning the drying agent in the drying agent compartment of the sample collection device; and, closing the closure mechanism of the sample collection device to maintain the first and second body structure portions in the closed position with the sealing material disposed between the sections of the operably connected first and second body structure portions, thereby collecting the sample.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sample comprises blood obtained from a subject.
17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sample collection support comprises a sample collection card.
18. 18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising positioning the drying agent in the drying agent compartment before positioning the sample collection support in the sample collection support compartment of the sample collection device.
19. 19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising storing the sample in the sample collection device.
20. 20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising analyzing the sample after opening the sample collection device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 62/983,373, filed Feb. 28, 2020 and 63/027,224, filed May 19, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND A wide array of sample types are used in various analytical processes. For example, biological samples, such as blood, sputum, and urine, among other sample types, are frequently analyzed for the presence of pathogens, biomarkers, or toxicants. In many applications, such samples are stored and transported from given collection sites to remote locations for analysis. In some cases, these samples are stored and transported in liquid, frozen, or dried forms. Many of these pre-existing sample storage and transport techniques suffer from various disadvantages, including high cost, contamination risk, instability, and limited portability. Accordingly, there is a need for additional devices, and related aspects, for sample collection and storage that avoid these disadvantages. SUMMARY The present disclosure relates, in certain aspects, to devices, kits, systems, computer readable media, and methods of use in collecting and storing samples. In some embodiments, the sample collection devices disclosed herein are configured to store sample collection supports, such as sample collection cards (e.g., Whatman 903 dried blood spot (DBS) collection cards or the like). The sample collection devices disclosed herein are configured to protect samples from mechanical and environmental damage and to prevent sample contamination. The sample collection devices disclosed herein are also typically configured to rapidly dry samples using drying agents, such as molecular sieve desiccants. In addition, the sample collection devices disclosed herein are also generally fabricated to be portable and compact. These and other aspects will be apparent upon a complete review of the present disclosure, including the accompanying figures. In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides a sample collection device that includes at least a first body structure portion that comprises at least one drying agent compartment configured to receive at least one drying agent, and at least a second body structure portion operably connected, or connectable, to the first body structure portion. The second body structure portion comprises at least one sample collection support compartment comprising one or more segments that communicate with the drying agent compartment at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in a closed position. The sample collection support compartment is configured to receive at least one sample collection support. The sample collection device also includes at least one sealing material disposed, or disposable, between at least sections of the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position. The sealing material substantially seals at least the drying agent compartment and the sample collection support compartment when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position. In addition, the sample collection device also includes at least one closure mechanism operably connected, or connectable, to the first and second body structure portions at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position. The closure mechanism is configured to maintain the first and second body structure portions in the closed position at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sealing material disposed between the sections of the first and second body structure portions. Typically, a selected amount of the drying agent positioned in the drying agent compartment of the sample collection device is sufficient to effect substantial enzymatic inhibition and/or oxidation inhibition within the sample collection device when the sample collection device is in the closed position. In some embodiments, a kit includes the sample collection device. In certain embodiments, the drying agent compartment comprises at least one frame structure that substantially surrounds at least regions of at least one sample collection support that comprise samples and maintains at least one gap between the regions of the sample collection support that comprise samples and at least one drying agent at least when the first and second body structure portions are operably connected to one another in the closed position with the sample collection support positioned in the sample collection support compartment and the drying agent positioned in the drying agent compartment. In some embodiments, the drying agent compartment comprises at least one ret