Holding device for dried biological fluid spotting membrane and related methods

Abstract

A holding device for a dried biological fluid spotting membrane includes a plastic top face, a plastic bottom face, and a pocket disposed between the top face and the bottom face. The plastic top face includes a window formed therein. The pocket is configured for receiving a dried biological fluid spotting membrane that is accessible through the window by a user during dried biological fluid spot testing. A method for assembling a holding device includes positioning the membrane within a pocket of a plastic membrane housing, and securing the membrane within the pocket. The holding device may be utilized for forming dried biological fluid spots and extracting samples therefrom for analysis.

1 . A holding device for a dried biological fluid spotting membrane, comprising:
 a plastic top face comprising a window formed therein, the window comprising a length and a height;   a plastic bottom face; and   a pocket disposed between the top face and the bottom face, the pocket comprising a length and a height, wherein the pocket is configured for receiving a dried biological fluid spotting membrane that is accessible through the window by a user during dried biological fluid spot testing, and at least one of the length and the height of the window is less than the length or the height of the pocket, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top face and the bottom face is made of a plastic selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefin, polyimide, polyacrylate and a combination of two or more of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising the dried biological fluid spotting membrane positioned within the pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the window is less than the length of the pocket, and the height of the window is less than the height of the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the window of the top face is a first window and the bottom face comprises a second window formed therein, the second window comprising a length that is substantially the same as the length of the first window, and a height that is substantially the same as the height of the first window. 
     
     
         6 . The holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plastic laminate layer and a plastic body, wherein the laminate layer comprises the top face, the plastic body comprises the bottom face and an opposing inner face, the laminate layer is adhered to the inner face, the length of the window is less than the length of the pocket, and the height of the window is less than the height of the pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The holding device of  claim 6 , wherein the window of the top face is a first window, and the bottom face comprises a second window formed therein, the second window comprising a length that is substantially the same as the length of the first window, and a height that is substantially the same as the height of the first window. 
     
     
         8 . The holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plastic top piece comprising the top face and a first inner face opposing the top face, wherein the length of the window is less than the length of the pocket, and the height of the window is less than the height of the pocket;   a plastic bottom piece comprising the bottom face and a second inner face opposing the bottom face, wherein one of the first inner face and the second inner face comprises a plurality of male components and the other of the first inner face and the second inner face comprises a plurality of female components, the female components being configured for detachably mating with the male components.   
     
     
         9 . The holding device of  claim 8 , wherein the pocket is formed in the second inner face. 
     
     
         10 . The holding device of  claim 8 , wherein the window of the top face is a first window, and the bottom face comprises a second window formed therein, the second window comprising a length that is substantially the same as the length of the first window, and a height that is substantially the same as the height of the first window. 
     
     
         11 . A method for assembling the holding device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 positioning the dried biological fluid spotting membrane within the pocket; and   securing the dried biological fluid spotting membrane within the pocket.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein securing the dried biological fluid spotting membrane within the pocket comprises overmolding a top piece onto a bottom piece, the top piece comprising the top face, and the bottom piece comprising the pocket and the bottom face. 
     
     
         13 . A method for assembling the holding device of  claim 6 , the method comprising:
 positioning the dried biological fluid spotting membrane within the pocket; and   securing the dried biological fluid spotting membrane within the pocket by adhering the plastic laminate layer to the inner face.   
     
     
         14 . A method for assembling the holding device of  claim 8 , the method comprising:
 positioning the dried biological fluid spotting membrane within the pocket; and   securing the dried biological fluid spotting membrane within the pocket by detachably mating the female components with the male components.   
     
     
         15 . A method for using the holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is secured in the pocket, the method comprising forming a dried biological fluid spot on the membrane by accessing the membrane via the window, applying a drop of a biological fluid sample to the membrane to form a biological fluid spot, and allowing the biological fluid spot to dry. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising accessing the dried biological fluid spot via the window and extracting at least a portion of the dried biological fluid spot formed on the membrane. 
     
     
         17 . A method for using the holding device of  claim 8 , wherein the membrane is secured in the pocket, the method comprising accessing the dried biological fluid spot via the window and extracting at least a portion of the dried biological fluid spot formed on the membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising removing the top piece from the bottom piece by detaching the male components from the female components, and removing the membrane from the pocket. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising replacing the removed membrane with a second dried biological fluid spotting membrane by positioning the second membrane within the pocket, and securing the second membrane within the pocket by detachably mating the female components with the male components. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising, before extracting, forming a dried biological fluid spot on the membrane by accessing the membrane via the window, applying a drop of a biological fluid sample to the membrane to form a biological fluid spot, and allowing the biological fluid spot to dry.