Test kit including case and partitioned collector

Abstract

A test kit is provided. The test kit includes a case including a plurality of reagent containers storing reagents, each reagent indicating the presence of a substance when the reagent comes into contact with that substance. The test kit further includes a collector including a collector body, and a plurality of swabs coupled to the collector body and configured to collect substances. The test kit is configured to test for a plurality of collected substances by causing the reagents stored in the plurality of reagent containers to contact at least one of the plurality of swabs, and the test kit is further configured to display results of the test.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A test kit comprising:
 a case comprising a plurality of reagent containers storing reagents, each reagent indicating the presence of a substance when the reagent comes into contact with that substance; and   a collector comprising:
 a collector body; and 
 a plurality of swabs coupled to said collector body and configured to collect substances; 
   wherein said test kit is configured to test for a plurality of collected substances by causing the reagents stored in said plurality of reagent containers to contact at least one of said plurality of swabs, and wherein said test kit is further configured to display results of the test.   
     
     
         2 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of reagent containers comprises an ampoule. 
     
     
         3 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said case further comprises a plurality of indicator pads configured to display the results of the test. 
     
     
         4 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said collector body comprises a first side and an opposite second side, and wherein said plurality of swabs extend through said collector body from said first side to said second side, each swab of said plurality of swabs being exposed at said second side of said collector body. 
     
     
         5 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said collector further comprises a removable cover covering said first side of said collector body. 
     
     
         6 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said case further comprises at least one wetting agent container storing a wetting agent. 
     
     
         7 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said at least one wetting agent container is an ampoule. 
     
     
         8 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said case further comprises wetting wicks proximate to said at least one wetting agent container, said wetting wicks contacting said plurality of swabs when said collector is nested in said case. 
     
     
         9 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein case further comprises a plurality of reagent wicks proximate to said plurality of reagent ampoules, at least one of said plurality of reagent wicks comprising a flow control material configured to control a flow rate of a reagent therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of swabs comprises a flow control material configured to control flow rate therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said collector is insertable into said case such that said plurality of indicator pads in said case align with said plurality of swabs. 
     
     
         12 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said collector is nestable in said case. 
     
     
         13 . A test kit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a first set of said plurality of swabs are hydrophobic and a second set of said plurality of swabs are hydrophilic. 
     
     
         14 . A method for testing substances using a test kit that includes a case and a collector, the collector including a collector body and a plurality of swabs coupled to the collector body, said method comprising:
 collecting substances using the plurality of swabs coupled to the collector body;   causing a plurality of reagents stored in the case to contact at least one of the plurality of swabs to test for a plurality of collected substances; and   displaying, using the case, results of the test.   
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising
 removing the collector from the case prior to collecting substances; and   inserting the collector into the case subsequent to collecting substances.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein causing a plurality of reagents stored in the case to contact at least one of the plurality of swabs comprises crushing a plurality of reagent ampoules in the case. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the collector body includes a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the plurality of swabs extend through the collector body from the first side to the second side, and wherein each swab of the plurality of swabs is exposed at the second side of the collector body. 
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing at least one wetting agent to a wetting wick located in the case; and   wetting at least one of the plurality of swabs on the collector by contacting the wetting wick with the at least one swab.   
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein providing at least one wetting agent comprises crushing at least one wetting agent ampoule such that the at least one wetting agent flows onto the wetting wick. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein collecting the substances comprises at least one of dabbing and swabbing a surface with the collector.