Collection device

Abstract

A cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with an open-ended vessel capable of receiving and holding fluid specimens or other materials for analysis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between a fluid sample present in the vessel and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap having a frangible seal which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device. The cap further includes a filter for limiting dissemination of an aerosol or bubbles once the frangible seal has been pierced. The filter is positioned between the frangible seal and a retaining structure. The retaining structure is positioned on the cap above the filter and may be used to contain the filter within the cap. The material of the retaining structure may be penetrable by a fluid transfer device.

1 . A collection device comprising:
 a fluid-holding vessel; and   a cap comprising a core structure fixed to an open end of the vessel in sealing engagement and axially aligned first and second frangible seals affixed to the core structure, the first frangible seal being situated beneath the second frangible seal in a spaced-apart relationship and covering an opening in the core structure so as to provide a fluid barrier, wherein at least one of the first and second frangible seals is modified to facilitate penetration by a fluid transfer device by reducing the tensile strength of at least one of the first and second frangible seals.   
     
     
         2 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the core structure is a unitary plastic piece having a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first frangible seal is modified to facilitate penetration by a fluid transfer device by reducing the tensile strength of the first frangible seal. 
     
     
         4 . The collection device of  claim 3 , wherein the first frangible seal comprises a foil. 
     
     
         5 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein the first frangible seal comprises a foil layer, a brittle layer, and a heat seal layer. 
     
     
         6 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein the first frangible seal comprises a foil layer and a combined brittle and heat seal layer. 
     
     
         7 . The collection device of  claim 4 , wherein the second frangible seal comprises a foil. 
     
     
         8 . The collection device of  claim 3 , wherein the first frangible seal is modified to include one or more creases, perforations, score lines or other mechanical impressions that reduce the tensile strength of the first frangible seal. 
     
     
         9 . The collection device of  claim 8 , wherein the first frangible seal comprises a foil. 
     
     
         10 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the second frangible seal is modified to facilitate penetration by a fluid transfer device by reducing the tensile strength of the second frangible seal. 
     
     
         11 . The collection device of  claim 10 , wherein the second frangible seal comprises a foil. 
     
     
         12 . The collection device of  claim 11 , wherein the second frangible seal comprises a foil layer, a brittle layer, and a heat seal layer. 
     
     
         13 . The collection device of  claim 11 , wherein the second frangible seal comprises a foil layer and a combined brittle and heat seal layer. 
     
     
         14 . The collection device of  claim 11 , wherein the first frangible seal comprises a foil. 
     
     
         15 . The collection device of  claim 10 , wherein the second frangible seal is modified to include one or more creases, perforations, score lines or other mechanical impressions that reduce the tensile strength of the second frangible seal. 
     
     
         16 . The collection device of  claim 15 , wherein the second frangible seal comprises a foil. 
     
     
         17 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals is modified to facilitate penetration by a fluid transfer device by reducing the tensile strength of the first and second frangible seals. 
     
     
         18 . The collection device of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil. 
     
     
         19 . The collection device of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil layer, a brittle layer, and a heat seal layer. 
     
     
         20 . The collection device of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil layer and a combined brittle and heat seal layer. 
     
     
         21 . The collection device of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals is modified to include one or more creases, perforations, score lines or other mechanical impressions that reduce the tensile strength of the first and second frangible seals. 
     
     
         22 . The collection device of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil. 
     
     
         23 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first frangible seal is affixed to a top or bottom surface of a ledge extending inwardly from a closed side wall of the core structure. 
     
     
         24 . The collection device of  claim 23 , wherein the second frangible seal is affixed to a top wall of the core structure. 
     
     
         25 . The collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first frangible seal is affixed to a top surface of a ledge extending inwardly from a closed side wall of the core structure or to a bottom surface of a skirt depending from the ledge. 
     
     
         26 . The collection device of  claim 25 , wherein the second frangible seal is affixed to a top wall of the core structure. 
     
     
         27 . A method for removing a fluid substance contained in the collection device of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) penetrating the first and second frangible seals with a fluid transfer device, thereby entering the collection device with the fluid transfer device;   (b) drawing at least a portion of the fluid substance into the fluid transfer device; and   (c) removing the fluid transfer device from the collection device.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the fluid transfer device is a pipette tip, and wherein air passageways are formed between the pipette tip and the first and second frangible seals during step (a). 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first frangible seal is modified to facilitate penetration by a fluid transfer device by reducing the tensile strength of the first frangible seal. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second frangible seal is modified to facilitate penetration by a fluid transfer device by reducing the tensile strength of the second frangible seal. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals is modified to facilitate penetration by a fluid transfer device by reducing the tensile strength of the first and second frangible seals. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the first and second frangible seals is modified to include one or more creases, perforations, score lines or other mechanical impressions that reduce the tensile strength of at least one of the first and second frangible seals. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each of the first and second frangible seals comprises a foil. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the collection device further comprises a filter interposed between the first and second frangible seals. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the collection device contains a specimen retrieval device. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the step of exposing the fluid substance removed in step (c) to reagents and conditions sufficient to amplify a target nucleic acid sequence suspected of being contained in the fluid substance.