GB2598614A

GB2598614A - Sample container and cap for a sample container

Info

Publication number: GB2598614A
Application number: GB2013961.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Compton Greg; Saunderson Peter
Original assignee: I Abra Ltd
Current assignee: I Abra Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-04
Filing date: 2020-09-04
Publication date: 2022-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-04
Also published as: GB2598614B; GB202013961D0

Abstract

A sample container (1, Fig 1A) comprises a body (2, Fig 1A) defining an internal cavity (3, Fig 3E), the body comprising a neck portion (5, Fig 3A). A cap 7 is engagable with the neck portion to close the cavity, the cap being configured to hold a swab 9 such that it is positionable within the cavity. The cap is configured to be slidable along the neck portion to adjust a position of a swab within the cavity, and relative to a test plate 17 which may be at least partially received therein. The cap may also be rotable relative to the neck portion. A cap for a sample container is also provided and comprises a cap body defining a recess (13, Fig 4C) for receiving a swab, the recess being provided with at least one crush rib (14, Fig 4C) for gripping a swab. A kit of parts combining the sample container and/or cap with a swab is also taught.

Description

SAMPLE CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sample container. The invention further relates to a kit of parts comprising a sample container.

The sample container is particularly suitable for use in medical testing, virus screening and pathogen screening. The sample container is particularly suitable for use in pathogen screening platforms for testing patients for one or more types of viruses.

BACKGROUND TO THE PRESENT INVENTION

Known sample pots for testing samples typically comprise a transparent container and a removable cap which is screwable onto the container. These have a number of limitations. For example, the pots have to be handled by a clinician and manually opened and closed to access the sample stored inside the container for testing. The sample may easily be spilled C\I or contaminated.

o The inventors of the present invention have appreciated a need for an improved sample container that may be more user-friendly and/or which may capable of being handled safely and / or which may be easily and reliably sealable to reduce a risk of spillage or

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contamination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The term "test plate" is used herein to refer to a component for receiving a patient sample e.g. a smear. It may, but need not, have any specific technical features associated with any known or commercially available types of test plates. It may be a very simple or basic component, for example a substrate made from glass or any other suitable material that may have a circular or rectangular shape, or any other suitable shape that will be apparent to the skilled person.

The invention, in a first aspect, provides a sample container as recited by Claim 1.

The improved sample container or container may be more user-friendly than known sample pots. It may enable self-administration of a patient sample for testing or administration by another user. 1.

When the test plate and cap are engaged with the body, the cavity may be sealed. The cavity may be sealed, for example, to a IF rating of at least IP43, according to the Ingress Protection Code, IEC standard 60529 -i.e. protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical. It may also be sealed to a higher IP rating. This may reduce or eliminate a risk of spillage from a sample container. It may also reduce or eliminate a risk of contamination of a sample stored within a sample container. It may also ensure that a clinician does not need to manually open the sample container to access a sample stored within the sample container for testing.

The sample container may be optimised for ease and speed of manufacture. It may be suitable for mass production The sample container may be sufficiently robust to withstand manual handling or to operate within a mechanised testing machine.

The neck portion may be an elongate neck portion. It may enable the container to accommodate a swab having a variable length.

Preferably, the neck portion comprises a cap retainer for retaining a cap in engagement with C\I the neck portion. This may for example be an annular ring or enlargement or thickening of the body. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective

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and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for enabling the cap to be pushed onto the neck portion and for retaining the cap in engagement with the neck

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portion.

Preferably, the neck portion comprises a cap lock for locking the cap and for opposing further sliding movement of the cap relative to the neck portion. This may, for example be an annular ring or ridge or bump or protrusion or projection. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for locking the cap in a defined position. This may ensure that a swab retained by the cap is stably supported and held out of engagement with the test plate during handling and testing.

Preferably, the cap comprises an annular projection and the cap retainer and cap lock form an annular ring in which the annular projection is receivable so as to opposing further sliding movement of the cap relative to the neck portion. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for locking the cap in a defined position. This may ensure that a swab retained by the cap is effectively supported and held out of engagement with the test plate during handling and testing.

The cap lock may alternatively be, for example, a series of bumps or protrusions, a spline or a separate component engagable with the cap, such as a pin insertable through a hole in the cap and the neck portion, or a C-clip insertable over the neck portion of the sample container between the cap and the body.

Preferably, the cap is configured to be rotatable relative to the neck portion so as to rotate a swab within the cavity and relative to the test plate. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for depositing (i.e. smearing) a sample from a swab retained by the cap onto a surface of the test plate.

Preferably, the cap is slidable towards the test plate and rotatable relative to the test plate so as to bring a swab into temporary engagement with the test plate. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for depositing a sample from a swab retained by C\I the cap onto a surface of the test plate.

Unlike prior art specimen pots/tubes, the cap need not be threaded cap and so need not be CD screwed and unscrewed to close the cavity. a)

Preferably, the cap comprises a recess for receiving an end of a swab. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for retaining a swab in engagement with the cap for sliding and/or rotational movement with the cap.

Preferably, the cap recess is at least partially laterally offset from a centreline of the cap. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for securing a swab and depositing a sample on the test plate which has a larger diameter than a diameter of a head of a swab and/or over a larger surface area than a surface area of an end or head of a swab. In other words, it may enable a substantially circular spot of the sample to be deposited on the test plate that has a larger diameter or principal dimension than a width or diameter of a head of a swab. This arrangement may produce an even, circular smear of a predictable size and shape onto the test plate ready for testing.

Preferably, the recess is formed with a plurality of ribs, for example crush ribs, for gripping an end of a swab. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for effectively gripping a swab. It may also provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for ensuring that a swab is locatable on, or substantially parallel to, a principal axis of the cap. The cap may be configured so that a swab is held in such a way that it is positioned on or substantially parallel to a principal axis of the housing and/or on, or substantially parallel to, a centreline of the cavity defined by the housing.

The crush ribs provide flexibility. They may for example enable the cap to accommodate a swab having a shaft with a damaged or deformed end. They may also enable the cap to accommodate a swab having a shaft length that is slightly longer or slightly shorter than a standard or target length of a swab shaft. It may also enable the cap to accommodate a swab having a shaft diameter or width that is slightly larger or slightly smaller than a standard or target diameter or width of a swab shaft.

The recess may alternatively be formed with another means for gripping an end of the shaft. This may, for example, include a series of bumps or protrusions or features of other shapes.

C\I Other suitable features will be apparent to the skilled person.

00) Preferably, a sidewall of the cap is angled to a centreline of the cap This may facilitate gripping of the cap for movement relative to the neck portion. It may also ensure a more (3) stable coupling between the cap and the neck portion. It may also help to reduce or O eliminate any rocking or wobbling of the cap on the neck portion.

Preferably, the cap comprises a first truncated cone shape. This may facilitate gripping of the cap for movement relative to the neck portion. It may also ensure a more stable coupling between the cap and the neck portion. It may also help to reduce or eliminate any rocking or wobbling of the cap on the neck portion Preferably, the cap comprises an extension portion or tip. This may facilitate gripping of the cap for movement relative to the neck portion.

Preferably, a swab is receivable within a recess in the cap extension portion. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for effectively gripping an end of a swab. It may also provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for ensuring that a swab is held on, or substantially parallel to, a principal axis of the cap. This may ensure that a swab is held in such a way that, when the body and cap are brought into engagement, a swab is positioned on, or substantially parallel to, a principal axis of the housing and/or on or substantially parallel to a centreline of the cavity defined by the housing.

Preferably, a sidewall of the cap extension portion is angled to a centreline of the cap extension portion. This may facilitate gripping of the cap for movement relative to the neck portion. It may also ensure a more stable coupling between the cap and the neck portion. It may also help to reduce or eliminate any rocking or wobbling of the cap on the neck portion.

Preferably, the cap extension portion comprises a second truncated cone shape. This may facilitate gripping of the cap for movement relative to the neck portion. It may also enable the cap to accommodate a swab with a shaft having a damaged or deformed end. It may also enable the cap to accommodate a swab having a shaft length that is slightly longer or slightly shorter than a standard or target length of a swab shaft.

One of more of the aforementioned features of the cap may provide a "no-wobble" or "anti-wobble" cap retention system. This may ensure reliable, predictable and repeatable contact between a swab retained by the cap and a test plate.

C\I Preferably, the sample container further comprises a carrier for the test plate. Preferably, the carrier is insertable into the aperture in the body so as to support at least a portion of the o test plate within the cavity. Alternatively, the carrier may be a further cap which holds a test plate and which may be pushed or clipped or screwed or otherwise removably coupled to an o end of the body opposite the neck portion to enable a test plate to be removed and accessed for testing.

Preferably, the carrier comprises at least one locking feature. This may ensure a secure engagement with the body. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for ensuring that the carrier is securely engaged with the body. It may also promote sealing between the carrier and the body.

Preferably, the carrier comprises at least one anti-rotation feature. This may be the same as or different to the at least one locking feature. The anti-rotation feature may, for example, be a rectangular tab or projection which may be integrally moulded with the carrier. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for ensuring that the carrier is securely engaged with the body of the sample container and so that the test plate does not move as the cap with retained swab are rotated in engagement with the test plate.

Preferably, the carrier comprises at least one poke yoke feature to ensure accurate engagement with the body. This may be the same as or different to the at least one locking feature and/or the at least one anti-rotation feature. The poke yoke feature may, for example, be a rectangular tab or projection which may be integrally moulded with the carrier. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for ensuring that the carrier is inserted correctly into the sample container.

Preferably, the body is generally tubular. Preferably, the body is closed at an end opposite from the neck portion.

Preferably, the cavity is a substantially cylindrical cavity. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly sample container body. It may also facilitate sealing of the cavity by the cap for handling and testing. It may also be the most suitable shape to enable rotation of the cap to rotate a swab in contact with the test plate.

Preferably, the body is integrally formed from plastics material. This may provide a simple C\I and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily 00) manufacturable and/or user-friendly sample container body.

(3) Preferably, the test plate comprises a glass substrate. The glass substrate may have a o smooth surface. This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly substrate on which to deposit a sample/smear.

The cap is more user-friendly than known sample pot lids. It may also ensure that a sample container is easily and reliably sealable. In other words, it may seal an end of a sample container, for example, to a rating of at least 1P43, according to the Ingress Protection Code, IEC standard 60529 -i.e. protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical. It may also be sealable to a higher IP rating. This may reduce or eliminate a risk of spillage from a sample container. It may also reduce or eliminate a risk of contamination of a sample stored within a sample container.

The invention, in a second aspect, provides a kit of parts comprising: a sample container as defined by the invention in the first aspect; and a swab.

This may provide a simple and/or low-cost and/or convenient and/or effective and/or durable and/or easily manufacturable and/or user-friendly means for testing a patient sample.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination.

It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings in which:-FIGS. 1A-C is a series of views of a sample container embodying the present invention; FIGS. 2 is an exploded view of the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; C\I FIGS. 3A-E is a series of views showing the container body of the sample container of FIGS 1A-C;

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FIGS. 4A-E is a series of views showing a first example cap suitable for use with the CD sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; FIGS. 5A-E is a series of views showing a second example cap suitable for use with the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; FIGS. 6A-D is a series of views showing a carrier with test plate suitable for use with the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; FIGS. 7A-C is a series of views of the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C showing insertion of the carrier; FIGS. 8A-D is a series of views showing a known swab suitable for use with the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; FIGS. 9A-C is a series of views showing a swab of FIGS. 8A-D inserted into the cap of FIGS 5A-E; FIGS. 10A-C is a series of section views of the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; FIGS. 11 is a series of views showing the operation of the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; FIGS. 12 is a series of section views of the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C; and FIGS. 13 is a series of views show an alternative cap lock for the sample container of FIGS. 1A-C.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1A to 2, a sample container 1 is provided. The sample container may provide a user-friendly and/or self-administrable and/or auto-smearing sealable container which can be handled and/or disposed of in a convenient safe manner.

In the example embodiment shown in the various Figures, the sample container is a test cartridge or sample tube. The cartridge is suitable for insertion into a suitable testing machine for testing a patient sample stored within the cartridge.

In other embodiments, the sample container may be a standalone sample container for storing a patient sample which can then be tested in a known way, which may involve C\I removing the sample and testing it in a laboratory or other testing environment using one or more known techniques.

O As shown in FIGS 3A to 3E, the test container has a generally tubular body 2. The body is hollow so as to define an internal cavity 3. The cavity is a substantially cylindrical cavity.

The container body may be provided with an external shape and configuration that may enable it to be easily gripped by a user. Where the container is for use with an automated testing machine, the container body may be provided with an external shape and configuration that enables the container to be inserted into a correspondingly-shaped aperture or dock in a test machine. In particular, the body may be provided with one or more protrusions or poke yoke features 4 to ensure that the container is insertable into the machine in only the correct positon and/or orientation.

The container body may also be provided with one or identifiable elements, identification features or traceability features (not shown) to ensure that the container is of an appropriate type and is compatible with the testing machine.

The body has a neck portion 5. The neck portion is hollow and forms part of, or an extension of, or leads to, the cavity. The neck portion is provided with a cap retainer 6 for retaining a cap 7. An outer end of the cap retainer is provided with a chamfered or curved edge to facilitate positioning of a cap over the neck portion. An inner end of the cap retainer is provided with a step or shoulder to resist removal of the cap from the neck portion.

The neck portion is also provided with a cap lock 8 for locking a cap i.e. opposing further sliding movement of the cap relative to the neck portion.

A cap or lid is shown in FIGS 5A to 5E. The cap is engagable with the neck portion so as to close the internal cavity. As will be described further below, the cap is configured to hold a swab 9. The cap is engagable with the neck portion so that a swab is posifionable within the cavity.

The cap is configured to be slidable along the neck portion so as to adjust a position of a swab within the cavity and relative to a test plate.

The cap comprises an annular ridge or bump or projection or narrowing 11. The cap retainer and cap lock form an annular gap or ring or recess in which the annular projection is receivable so as to oppose further sliding movement of the cap relative to the neck portion.

The cap comprises one or more stability enhancing features 12 on an inside surface of the cap sidewall. These may promote a stable sliding engagement of the cap relative to the C\I neck portion and may serve to minimise or eliminate rocking or wobbling of the cap.

o In addition to being slidable relative to or along the neck portion, the cap is also rotatable relative to the neck portion so as to rotate a swab within the cavity and relative to the test o plate. As such, the cap is slidable towards the test plate and rotatable relative to the test plate so as to bring a swab into temporary engagement with the test plate and deposit a sample or smear onto the test plate.

The cap comprises a recess 13 for receiving a swab. The recess is at least partially laterally offset from a centreline of the cap. The recess is formed with a plurality of projections or crush ribs 14 for gripping a swab. A preferred number of crush ribs is six. These are spaced evenly around a perimeter of the recess.

A sidewall of the cap is angled to a centreline of the cap. In other words, the cap generally assumes a first truncated cone shape.

The cap comprises an extension or tip portion 15 to facilitate gripping and/or rotation of the cap. The extension portion is at least partially offset relative to the cap. In other words, the extension portion is at least partially closer to one side of the cap than to an opposite side, or the extension portion is at least partially laterally offset from a centreline of the cap and/or a centreline of the container body and/or the cavity. The cap and or the extension portion may have, for example, a ribbed or knurled surface (not shown) to facilitate gripping by a user. A swab is insertable into the cap and embeddable within the cap extension portion.

A sidewall of the cap extension portion is angled to a centreline of the cap extension portion. In other words, the extension portion generally assumes a second truncated cone shape. The crush ribs are also angled to a centreline of the cap extension portion. In other words, a swab-receiving aperture defined between the ribs may be wider at an inner end where the extension portion joins the cap that at its other outer end. This serves to control the proportion of a length of a swab shaft that is insertable into the aperture of the extension portion i.e. the further a swab shaft is advanced into the recess, the harder it gets to further insert it.

The cap and the container body may be provided with a visual marking (not shown), for example lines or arrows or bumps or other projections, to enable a user to track rotation of the cap relative to the neck portion.

As shown in FIGS 6A to 6D, the container is provided with a test plate 16. The test plate is provided in or on a carrier 17. The carrier is insertable into an aperture in the container body C\I so that at least part of the test plate extends into the cavity and is generally aligned with the neck portion. In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the carrier is insertable into a o correspondingly-shaped aperture 18 in the body to advance the test plate into the cavity.

a) The carrier with test plate is removable from the container for testing of a patient sample.

O The test plate is a glass substrate for receiving a patient sample through contact with a swab insertable into the container. The test plate has a smooth surface for receiving a sample. The test plate may be between about 0.5mm and about 1.0mm thick, preferably about 0.8mm think. The test plate may be pushed or clipped or slid into a correspondingly shaped recess in the carrier. Optionally, it may also be secured in the carrier using an appropriate retaining means, such as an adhesive or one or more retaining clips.

The carrier is provided with at least one locking feature 19. This helps to ensure a secure engagement between the carrier and the body. This may comprise one or more clips, which may be sprung clips, for engagement with one or more corresponding recesses in the wall of the container body. These may ensure that the body is sealed to prevent contamination or leakage of the sample from the cavity. The carrier is removable from the body, either using manual force sufficient to overcome the locking feature(s), or in an automated manner when the container is inserted into a testing machine. Removal of the carrier may require one or more sprung clips to be moved or squeezed together. Other suitable locking features will be envisaged by the skilled person. For example, the locking feature may simply be a fight or interference fit between the carrier and the body, or channels along which the carrier slides and has a frictional fit.

The carrier is provided with at least one anti-rotation feature 20. This may be the same as or different to the at least one locking feature. The anti-rotation feature may, for example, be a rectangular tab or projection which may be integrally moulded with the carrier. Other suitable anti-rotation features will be envisaged by the skilled person The carrier is shaped in non-uniform way, or is provided with at least one poke yoke feature, so as to ensure accurate engagement with the body. This may be the same as or different to the at least one locking feature and/or the at least one anti-rotation feature. For example, the carrier may be shaped in such a way that it can only be inserted in to the container body in the correct orientation. Alternatively the carrier may comprises a poke yoke feature, for example, a rectangular tab or projection which may be integrally moulded with the carrier. Other suitable poke yoke features will be envisaged by the skilled person.

The container is usable in conjunction with a swab 9. A suitable swab may be a known type of swab comprising a shaft and a head. A head and upper part of a swab shaft may be C\I separable from a lower part of a swab shaft to reduce a length of a swab. A swab shaft may 00) be provided with one or more break points or snap points. A suitable swab may have a O length of about 150mm. It may have a predefined break point on a shaft to reduce the length of the operative part of a swab to about 78mm or about 79mm or about 80mm. A diameter of a shaft of a swab may be about 2mm to about 3mm.

The container body is formed from plastics material. A suitable material is polycarbonate, preferably hard polycarbonate. The container body is integrally moulded with any poke yoke features required for compatibility with a testing machine. Other suitable materials will be known to the skilled person.

The cap is also formed from plastics material. A suitable material is polycarbonate, preferably hard polycarbonate. Other suitable materials will be known to the skilled person.

The cap is integrally moulded with the aperture and crush ribs for receiving and securely supporting a swab.

The carrier is formed from plastics material. A suitable material is polycarbonate, preferably hard polycarbonate. Other suitable materials will be known to the skilled person.

The test plate is made from glass. Other suitable materials will be known to the skilled person.

A swab useable with the container may be a known type of swab made from plastics material. Suitable materials include polycarbonate for the shaft and a cotton or polyester material for the head. Other suitable materials will be known to the skilled person.

A kit of parts may be provided which comprises a container as described above and at least one swab of a known type.

In operation of the test container, as shown by the various Figures, in particular FIGS 7A to 12D, a patient or other user inserts a carrier 17 with test plate 16 into the correspondingly-shaped aperture 18 in the container body 2. A swab 9 is used to collect a patient sample. A swab is then snapped at a break point to leave a shorter, operative part of a swab. An operative part of a swab is then insertable into the recess 13 in the cap 7. The crush ribs 14 are configured to hold a swab in a secure manner and so as to emerge from the cap substantially orthogonally from the cap and/or substantially parallel to a centreline of the cap.

The patient or other user grips the extension portion 15 of the cap 7 and pushes the open end of the cap onto the neck portion 5 of the body 2, the annular projection 11 of the cap being pushed over the cap retainer, thereby positioning a swab inside the neck portion of the container. The cap is advanced over the cap lock 8 and further towards the body to advance C\I a swab along the neck portion and into the cavity 3 towards the test plate 10. The cap is further advanced along the neck portion so that a swab comprising the patient sample is

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brought into contact with the test plate. a)

CD While maintaining sufficient force to ensure continued contact between a retained swab and the test plate, the cap is rotated relative to the neck portion by turning the extension portion. The cap is preferably rotated through one or two or three or four or five compete revolutions of the cap to deposit a portion or smear of the patient sample on the test plate. A particularly preferred number of revolutions is three. The number of revolutions may be monitored by the user looking at the visual markings on the cap and/or neck portion. Due to the offset of the extension portion, rotation of the cap deposits a sample or smear on the test plate which covers a greater surface area than a head of a swab.

The cap is then retracted along the neck portion until the annular projection on the cap is received within an annular space or recess defined between the cap lock and cap retainer. The cap retainer acts to prevent the cap from being detached from the neck portion, the force required to pull the cap back over the cap retainer being significantly greater than the force required to move the cap to the cap locked position. In this configuration, the container is sealed, the cap and test plate being retained relative to the container body. The container may then be safely handled by a patient or other user.

To test the sample, the carrier with test plate is removed from the container, the locking features 19 being operated as needed to release the carrier. The test plate containing the sample may then be analysed. Once the analysis is complete, the container with cap and a swab, and the carrier with test plate may be discarded in a safe manner, either individually, or as a reassembled unit with the carrier returned to engagement with the container body. Alternatively, the container may be cleaned and reused as required.

With reference to FIGS. 4A to 4E, in alternative embodiment, the cap does not have an extension portion. Instead, the cap is provided with an internal recess, extending inside the cap, or through a portion of a thickness of the cap, for receiving and supporting a swab. As described above, the recess may be offset relative to a principal axis of the cap so that rotation of the cap deposits a larger diameter smear on the test plate. It will therefore be appreciated that an offset may be provided either within the cap as in the embodiment of FIGS. 13A & 13B or by providing an offset extension portion as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 12D. Other means for providing a suitable offset to increase a surface area of the smear may be envisaged by the skilled person.

With reference to FIGS 13A & 13B, in a further alternative embodiment, the cap is provided C\I as a separate component, in this case a C-clip 21 insertable over the neck portion of the 00) sample container between the cap and a protrusion or poke yoke feature on the body. This may be inserted once the container has been operated to produce a smear on the test plate 00) so as to oppose further movement of the cab along the neck portion and maintain a retained swab out of engagement with the test slide. Other suitable clips and other means for locking the cap relative to the body are envisaged.

Claims

CLAIMSA sample container comprising: a body defining an internal cavity, the body comprising a neck portion; a cap engagable with the neck portion so as to close the cavity; and a test plate removably engagable with the body; wherein the cap is configured to hold a swab; wherein the cap is engagable with the neck portion so that a swab is positionable at least partially within the cavity; wherein the cap is configured to be slidable along the neck portion so as to adjust a position of a swab within the cavity and relative to the test plate; and wherein the test plate is insertable into an aperture in the body so as to be at least partially located within the cavity. C\I
2. A sample container according to Claim 1, wherein the neck portion comprises a cap retainer for retaining the cap in engagement with the neck portion 3. A sample container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the neck portion comprises a
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4. A sample container according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap comprises an annular projection and the cap retainer and cap lock form an annular ring in which the annular projection is receivable so as to opposing further sliding movement of the cap relative to the neck portion.
5. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the cap is configured to be rotatable relative to the neck portion so as to rotate a swab within the cavity and relative to the test plate.
6. A sample container according to Claim 5, wherein the cap is slidable towards the test plate and rotatable relative to the test plate so as to bring a swab into temporary engagement with the test plate.cap lock for locking the cap and opposing further sliding movement relative to the neck portion.
7. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the cap comprises a recess for receiving a swab.
8. A sample container according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the recess is at least partially laterally offset from a centreline of the cap.
9. A sample container according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the recess is formed with a plurality of crush ribs for gripping a swab.
10. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a sidewall of the cap is angled to a centreline of the cap.
11. A sample container according to Claim 10, wherein the cap comprises a first truncated cone shape.
12. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the cap comprises an extension portion.
13. A sample container according to Claim 12, where a swab is receivable within the cap C\I extension portion.o
14. A sample container according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein a sidewall of the cap a) extension portion is angled to a centreline of the cap extension portion.
15. A sample container according to any of Claims 12 to 14 wherein the cap extension portion comprises a second truncated cone shape.
16. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising a carrier for the test plate, the carrier being is insertable into the aperture in the body so as to support at least a portion of the test plate within the cavity.
17. A sample container according to Claim 16, wherein the carrier test plate comprises at least one locking feature.
18. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the body is generally tubular and closed at an opposite end from the neck portion.
19. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the cavity is a substantially cylindrical cavity.
20. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the body is integrally formed from plastics material.
21. A sample container according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the test plate comprises a glass substrate.
22. A kit of parts comprising: a sample container as defined in any of Claims 1 to 21; and a swab.