System and method for monitoring health based on collected bodily fluid

Abstract

A system for analysis of biological samples may comprise a sample collector and an extractor. The extractor may comprise a sample receptacle configured to receive the sample collector. The extractor may comprise a reservoir in fluid communication with the sample receptacle, the reservoir receiving the biological sample from the sample collector.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A system for obtaining an analyte derived from a biological sample of a subject, comprising:
 a sample collector configured to contain said biological sample collected from a vaginal canal of said subject; and   an extractor comprising:
 (i) a sample receptacle configured to receive said sample collector via an opening, 
 (ii) a buffer pouch comprising a buffer, wherein said buffer pouch is configured to disrupt to release said buffer to contact said sample collector in said sample receptacle, and 
 (iii) a reservoir that is in fluid communication with said sample receptacle, wherein said reservoir is configured to receive a solution comprising said buffer from said buffer pouch and said analyte derived from said biological sample from said sample collector when said sample collector is in said sample receptacle, 
   wherein said sample receptacle, buffer pouch, and said reservoir are in separate regions in said extractor.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a cap configured to seal said opening, wherein said cap is configured to exert a compression force on said sample collector when sealing said opening, which compression force is sufficient to subject said sample collector to release said biological sample. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said extractor comprises a filtering unit disposed between said sample receptacle and said reservoir, wherein said filtering unit is configured to filter cellular debris or mucosa from said biological sample to isolate filtered cervicovaginal fluid or purified cellular material. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said filtered cervicovaginal fluid comprises trophoblast cells. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said filtering unit comprises one or more of a filter of a pore size selected to capture said analyte, a filter component that has binding specificity for said analyte, a paper-based filter, a silica filter, a cellulose filter, a plastic filter, a metal filter, and a microfluidic filter. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising an assay cartridge, wherein said reservoir is configured to couple to said assay cartridge to bring said assay cartridge in fluid communication with said reservoir, wherein said assay cartridge is configured to receive said solution upon said reservoir coupling to said assay cartridge. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said reservoir comprises a plurality of detachable compartments. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said solution comprises a reagent necessary for (i) hydrolyzing, diffusing, or releasing said biological sample, (ii) analyzing, preserving or extracting deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or protein in said biological sample, (iii) reducing analysis background noise, (iv) precipitating or removing a contaminant in said biological sample, or (v) testing said biological sample for a presence or absence of said analyte in said biological sample. 
     
     
         39 . A method for obtaining an analyte derived from a biological sample of a subject, comprising:
 (a) providing an extractor comprising (i) a sample receptacle, (ii) a buffer pouch comprising a buffer, and (iii) a reservoir in fluid communication with said sample receptacle, wherein said sample receptacle, said buffer pouch, and said reservoir define separate regions in said extractor;   (b) receiving a sample collector in said sample receptacle via an opening, wherein said sample collector contains said biological sample collected from a vaginal canal of said subject;   (c) disrupting said buffer pouch to release said buffer, wherein upon release, said buffer contacts said sample collector in said sample receptacle; and   (d) receiving in said reservoir a solution comprising said buffer from said buffer pouch and said analyte derived from said biological sample from said sample collector.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising filtering cellular debris or mucosa from said biological sample to isolate filtered cervicovaginal fluid or purified cellular material via a filtering unit disposed between said sample receptacle and said reservoir. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said filtering unit comprises one or more of a filter of a pore size selected to capture said analyte, a filter component that has binding specificity for said analyte, a paper-based filter, a silica filter, a cellulose filter, a plastic filter, a metal filter, and a microfluidic filter. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said filtered cervicovaginal fluid comprises trophoblast cells. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising sealing said opening via a cap, wherein said cap exerts a compression force on said sample collector upon sealing said opening, which compression force subjects said sample collector to release said biological sample. 
     
     
         44 . A method for analyzing an analyte from a biological sample of a subject, comprising:
 (a) providing an extractor to a user, wherein said extractor comprises (i) a sample receptacle configured to receive a sample collector via an opening, wherein said sample collector contains said biological sample collected from a vaginal canal of said subject, (ii) a buffer pouch comprising a buffer, wherein said buffer pouch is configured to disrupt to release said buffer to contact said sample collector in said sample receptacle, and (iii) a reservoir that is in fluid communication with said sample receptacle, wherein said reservoir is configured to receive a solution comprising said buffer from said buffer pouch and said analyte derived from said biological sample from said sample collector when said sample collector is in said sample receptacle;   (b) receiving said reservoir from said user, wherein said reservoir comprises said solution; and   (c) fluidically coupling said reservoir to an assay cartridge to permit said solution to flow from said reservoir to said assay cartridge.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said assay cartridge is configured to receive said solution under an influence of negative pressure. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising processing said solution or a derivative thereof to analyze said analyte. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said processing comprises performing one or more of (i) using a Y chromosome antibody to assay said analyte to determine a sex of the fetus prior to  15  weeks of gestation; (ii) detecting a change in amount of said analyte to determine abnormal pregnancies; (iii) quantifying HLA-G in said analyte to determine abnormal pregnancies; and (iv) otherwise monitoring said analyte, assessing said analyte for development in abnormalities and sex determination, or quantifying a number of said analyte in said biological sample. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said analyte comprises trophoblast cells. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising treating said solution with a reagent necessary for (i) hydrolyzing, diffusing, or releasing said biological sample from said sample collector, (ii) analyzing, preserving or extracting deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or protein in said biological sample, (iii) reducing analysis background noise, (iv) precipitating or removing a contaminant in said biological sample, or (v) testing said biological sample for a presence or absence of said analyte in said biological sample. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein in (b), said reservoir is received via a delivery service.