JP4583146B2 - Sample extraction container and kit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a specimen extraction container and kit suitable for extracting a specimen collected by wiping a patient's nose, throat conjunctiva, etc. with a cotton swab into an extraction solvent, and in particular, developed on a test strip for immunochromatography measurement. The present invention relates to a specimen extraction container and kit suitable for preparing a test sample to be prepared.

  Test samples for immunochromatography were preliminarily placed in a container such as a test tube with biological samples such as tears, eyelids, sputum, saliva, stool, gauze, cotton swabs, etc. A specimen is dispersed or dissolved by immersion in an extraction solvent to prepare an extract. The measurement is performed by sucking up this extract with a pipette or the like, and then injecting the extract into a sample injection portion of a test strip for immunochromatography measurement so as to develop the test strip.

JP 2003-344406 A JP 2004-271341 A

  However, for example, when a highly infectious microorganism such as adenovirus is used as a specimen, the method for preparing a test sample as described above requires proper management of the disposal of used swabs and extracts. There is a risk of causing problems such as infection.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a sample extraction container and kit that can extract a sample collected by wiping with a cotton swab into an extraction solvent by a simple operation and can be safely discarded after use. For the purpose.

  According to the present invention, a tubular main body having an open end and a closed end opposite to the open end, a first lid attached to the open end of the main body so as to be detachable, and replacement with the first lid And a nozzle that is detachably attached to the opening end of the main body and a second lid that is detachably attached to the nozzle, and the main body has an inner dimension sufficient to accommodate a cotton swab. A specimen extraction container is provided.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a sample extraction kit comprising the sample extraction container, an extraction solvent accommodated in the main body of the container, and a cotton swab sterilized in advance.

  According to the sample extraction container and kit of the present invention, the extraction solvent is put in the main body in advance, a biological sample and a swab from which the affected area is wiped are put in the main body, and the nozzle to which the second lid is attached is installed in the main body. Prepare the extract by mixing the cotton swab and the extraction solvent in the container by shaking the container by hand, and then remove the second lid and extract the nozzle downward A test sample can be obtained by pouring the liquid from the nozzle. In particular, in the case of immunochromatographic measurement, the extract can be conveniently injected directly from the nozzle into the sample injection part of the test strip. Moreover, since the used cotton swab and the extract liquid can be discarded as they are in the container, the waste can be managed safely.

  Hereinafter, although the present invention will be described based on the illustrated specific examples, the present invention is not limited to the specific examples.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a container body 1 according to this example. As is clear from FIG. 1B, the main body 1 has a tubular shape, one end of which is an open end 11 and the other end is a closed end 12. As is apparent from FIG. 1C, the side wall portion 14 adjacent to the open end 11 of the main body 1 has a circular cross section, whereas the side wall portion 13 adjacent to the closed end 12 of the main body 1 has a cross section. It is formed in an oval shape. More specifically, the major axis of the cross section of the side wall portion 13 having an elliptical cross section is smaller than the diameter of the side wall portion 14 having a circular cross section. Therefore, as is apparent from FIGS. 1B and 1D, the main body 1 is formed so as to be entirely tapered from the open end 11 to the closed end 12, and in particular, FIG. As is apparent from d), the flat shape is formed as the closed end 12 is approached. The main body 1 is preferably transparent or translucent so that the inside can be seen through from the outside.

  As is clear from FIGS. 1B and 1D, a threaded portion 15 is provided on the side wall near the opening end 11 of the main body 1, and the first lid 2 or nozzle 3 described later is provided here. Any one can be detachably mounted.

  According to the present invention, the inner dimension of the main body 1 is formed to a dimension that can accommodate the entire swab to be used. The main body 1 can be generally produced by molding by a known molding method such as injection molding or blow molding using a plastic material resistant to the extraction solvent to be used. Examples of the plastic material include polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like, but it is preferable to use polyethylene.

  In the present invention, the side wall portion 13 adjacent to the closed end 12 of the main body 1 is preferably formed more flexibly than the side wall portion adjacent to the open end 11 of the main body 1. Specifically, the shape of the side wall portion 13 can be changed by being pushed by hand, but it is preferable that the side wall portion 13 has flexibility enough to return to the original shape when the hand is released. For this purpose, for example, an annular housing 141 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body 1 is integrally formed with the main body 1 at a location of the side wall portion 14 located slightly closer to the closed end 12 from the threaded portion 15. Can be provided. In this case, the side wall portion 14 is reinforced by the casing 141, whereas the side wall portion 13 adjacent to the closed end 12 is not reinforced, so that the side wall portion 14 becomes more flexible than the side wall portion 14. Alternatively, the thickness of the side wall portion 13 adjacent to the closed end 12 may be made thinner than the thickness of the side wall portion 14 located on the opening end 11 side. By comprising in this way, when dripping an extract from the nozzle 3, a user can press the side wall part 13 easily with a finger so that an extract can be quickly discharged from the nozzle 3. It is convenient.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the container of FIG. 1 includes a first lid 2 and a nozzle 3 as components that are detachably attached to the open end 11 of the main body 1. The first lid 2 includes a cylindrical portion 21 that is closed at one end and opened at the other end. The opening edge of the cylindrical portion 21 projects outwardly perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 21. An annular collar 22 is provided. On the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21, a female screw portion (not shown) that is screwed with the threaded portion 15 of the main body 1 is provided. Therefore, the 1st cover body 2 can detachably close the opening end 11 of the main body 1, and can seal a container by screwing in the threading part 15 of the main body 1. FIG. At this time, if the flange 22 of the first lid 2 and the casing 141 of the main body 1 are in close contact with each other, the sealing performance of the container is improved. In order to improve the sealing performance of the first lid body 2, a sealing material may be attached to the inner surface of the closed end of the cylindrical portion 21. Further, the first lid 2 can be easily attached and detached by knurling the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21.

  In the illustrated example, the nozzle 3 includes a cylindrical portion 31 that is shorter than the cylindrical portion 21 of the first lid 2, and has a flange similar to the flange 22 of the first lid 2 at one end thereof. 32, and a nozzle portion 33 having a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion 31 projects from the other end. On the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31, a female screw portion 34 that is screwed with the threaded portion 15 of the main body 1 is formed. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31 is knurled so that the nozzle 3 can be easily attached and detached. When the collar part 32 is attached to the main body 1, it is preferable that the collar part 32 is in close contact with the casing 141 of the main body 1. Further, it is possible to improve the adhesion with the opening end 11 of the main body 1 by providing a packing or a sealing material inside the cylindrical portion 31. The outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion 33 is provided with a threaded portion 35 in a region adjacent to the cylindrical portion 31. A second lid 4 for closing the nozzle portion 33 can be detachably attached to the nozzle 3. In the illustrated example, the second lid body 4 has a substantially truncated cone shape with one end closed and the other end opened, and an internal thread portion 41 that can be screwed into the threaded portion 35 of the nozzle 3 on the inner peripheral surface thereof. I have. The outer peripheral surface of the second lid 4 is provided with a ridge extending in the axial direction thereof so that the user can easily attach and detach the second lid 4.

  Each of the first lid 2, the nozzle 3 and the second lid 4 is formed by molding with a known molding method such as injection molding or blow molding using a plastic material in the same manner as the main body 1 of the container. can do. Examples of the plastic material include polyethylene and polypropylene, but it is preferable to use a material harder than the main body 1 of the container so as not to be easily deformed, and it is particularly preferable to use polypropylene.

  In the illustrated example, the first lid 1 and the main body 1 are coupled with each other by screwing. However, as long as the first lid 1 and the main body 1 can be detachably attached, various types such as a snap-fitting type can be used. The method can be adopted. Similarly, the nozzle 3 and the main body 1 and the nozzle 3 and the second lid may be combined in various ways such as a snap-fit manner as long as the nozzle 3 and the second lid can be detachably attached. Can be adopted.

  Hereinafter, a method of using the illustrated example will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the container body 1 is usually stored in a sealed state with the first lid 2 attached to the body 1 with a required amount of extraction solvent. Thereafter, after the biological sample and the affected part were wiped off with a cotton swab 5, the first lid 2 was removed from the main body 1, the cotton swab 5 was inserted into the main body 1 from the open end 11 of the main body 1, and the nozzle 3 was connected to the second lid. The body 4 is attached and attached to the main body 1 with the nozzle portion 33 closed.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the sample attached to the cotton swab is dissolved or dispersed in the extraction solvent by shaking the container sealed with the second lid 4 by hand. Thereafter, by removing only the second lid 4 and directing the nozzle 3 downward, only the specimen extract can be taken out for examination. At that time, when the side wall of the main body 1 is pressed by hand, the extract can be quickly discharged from the container. In this case, it is preferable that the side wall portion 13 is formed flexibly as described above, because the user can easily press the side wall portion 13 by hand and the extract can be easily discharged. Since the used cotton swab and the extract are both contained in the container, even when the specimen is infectious, there is little risk of contaminating the surroundings, and the nozzle 3 is attached to the second lid 4. The container can be discarded in a hermetically sealed state and is easy to handle.

  The container of the present invention is a specimen extraction kit together with a nozzle 3 attached with a second lid 4 and a sterilized cotton swab 5 in a state in which an extraction solvent is previously stored in a main body 1 and sealed with a first lid 2. It is convenient to provide it in the form of This sample extraction kit is convenient for immunochromatography measurement, which requires extraction of a sample into a developing solvent to prepare a test sample, and optionally includes a test strip for immunochromatography measurement. It is good.

  Examples of the extraction solvent used for immunochromatography include a buffer solution having a pH of 4 to 10, and examples thereof include physiological saline, phosphate buffer, Tris buffer, HEPES (2-hydroxypiperazine-N'-2- Ethane sulfonic acid) buffer, etc., but physiological saline, phosphate buffer and Tris buffer are preferred. In order to enhance the performance as a developing solvent, the buffer solution is an additive as described in JP-A-2003-344406, that is, a heavy polymer containing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a phosphorylcholine group as a constituent unit. An auxiliary agent such as coalescence may be contained.

  The present invention can be used to extract a sample collected by wiping with a cotton swab into an extraction solvent, and is particularly useful for preparing a test sample to be developed on a test strip for immunochromatography measurement. .

The tubular main body of the sample extraction container of the present invention is shown, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a side view. It is a decomposition side view showing the composition of the sample extraction container of the present invention, and a partial sectional view is shown. FIG. 3 is a side view of the specimen extraction container of the present invention in a specimen extraction state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body, 11 ... Open end, 12 ... Closed end, 13, 14 ... Side wall part, 15 ... Threaded part, 16 ... Extraction solvent, 141 ... Housing, 2 ... First cover body, 3 ... Nozzle, 4 ... Second lid, 5 ... cotton swab.

Claims (6)

A tube-shaped main body (1) having an open end (11) and a closed end (12) opposite to the open end (11), and a first lid (removably attached to the open end (11) of the main body (1)) 2), a nozzle (3) that is exchanged with the first lid (2) and is detachably attached to the open end (11) of the main body (1), and is detachably attached to the nozzle (3). A side wall adjacent to the open end (11) of the body (1), the body (1) having an inner dimension sufficient to accommodate a cotton swab (5). The portion (14) has a substantially circular cross section, and the side wall portion (13) adjacent to the closed end (12) of the main body (1) has a substantially elliptical cross section . container. The side wall portion (13) adjacent to the closed end (12) of the main body (1) is more flexible than the side wall portion (14) adjacent to the open end (11) of the main body (1). Item 4. The container according to Item 1. The container according to claim 2, wherein a side wall portion (14) adjacent to the open end (11) of the main body (1) is provided with an annular casing projecting outward. The thickness of the side wall portion (13) adjacent to the closed end (12) of the main body (1) is made thinner than the thickness of the side wall portion (14) on the opening end (11) side. The container according to claim 2 or 3. Sample extraction comprising the container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , an extraction solvent (16) accommodated in a main body (1) of the container, and a cotton swab (5) sterilized in advance. kit. The kit according to claim 5 , wherein the body (1) is closed in a state in which the extraction solvent (16) is accommodated by attaching the first lid (2) to the open end (11).

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