Process for Realising a Device for Collecting and Transferring Samples for Molecular Biology

Abstract

A process for realising a device ( 1 ) for collecting and transferring samples for molecular biology, the device including at least: a support body ( 2 ) having at least a first portion ( 2 a ), and a plurality of fibres ( 6 ) attached and arranged on the first portion ( 2 a ) of the support body ( 2 ) by flocking, such as to define a flocked collecting portion ( 3 ) destined to collect, on the said collecting portion, ( 3 ) a quantity of the sample for molecular biology, the process including at least a step of pre-treating the plurality of fibres ( 6 ) with a surfactant, the step of pre-treating the plurality of fibres ( 6 ) with a surfactant being performed after application of the fibres on the support body ( 2 ) by flocking and/or before application of the fibres ( 6 ) on the body ( 2 ) by flocking and/or wherein the surfactant is added to the fibre ( 6 ) during production of the fibre ( 6 ).

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device ( 1 ) for collecting and transferring samples for molecular biology comprising a support body ( 2 ), having at least a first portion ( 2   a ), and a plurality of fibres ( 6 ) attached and arranged on the first portion ( 2   a ) of the support body ( 2 ) by flocking, such as to define a flocked collecting portion ( 3 ) destined to collect, on the collecting portion ( 3 ), a quantity of sample for molecular biology, the plurality of fibres ( 6 ) being pre-treated with a surfactant, such as to increase a quantity of DNA or RNA releasable by the collecting device and usable for molecular biology operations. 
     
     
         22 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the surfactant is at least one of cationic or benzalkonium chloride (BAC). 
     
     
         23 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the surfactant is cationic and is a salt having a positive part, constituted by at least a chain of carbon atoms terminating with a quaternary ammonium group; and wherein the surfactant is a quaternary ammonium salt or wherein it comprises a mixture of quaternary ammonium salts. 
     
     
         24 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the surfactant is a mixture of chlorides of alkyl-benzyl-dimethyl ammonium, in which the alkyl group varies from octile (C 8 H 17− ) to octadecyl (C 18 H 37− ). 
     
     
         25 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the surfactant is at least one of a quaternary ammonium compound or is chosen from a group consisting of: benzalkonium chloride, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, benzethonium chloride, cetalkonium chloride, laurtrimonium bromide, myristyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetrimide, cetrimonium bromide, cetylpyridinium chloride and stearalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         26 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the flocked collecting portion ( 3 ) is configured such as to at least one of collect a substantially known quantity of the sample, collect a quantity of between 5 and 1000 microlitres, or between 10 microlitres and 500 microlitres, or between 50 and 200 microlitres, or between 80 and 120 microlitres of the sample or collect a quantity of sample of at least 0.5 μl per mm 2 , or at least 0.6 μl per mm 2 , or at least 0.7 μl per mm 2 , or at least 0.75 μl per mm 2 . 
     
     
         27 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the fibres ( 6 ) are arranged on the first portion ( 2   a ) of the support body ( 2 ) in a substantially ordered way and such as to form a substantially continuous layer on the collecting portion ( 3 ) or the fibres ( 6 ) are arranged on the collecting portion ( 3 ) in such a way as to define a plurality of capillary interstices ( 9 ) destined to absorb the sample by capillary action. 
     
     
         28 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the fibres ( 6 ) exhibit at least one of a yarn count of between 1.7 and 3.3 Dtex, or a length of between 0.6 and 3 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the fibres ( 6 ) are made of at least one of nylon or of a material selected from: polyamide, rayon, polyester, carbon fibre, alginate, natural fibre. 
     
     
         30 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the collecting portion ( 3 ) exhibits a surface density of the fibres ( 6 ) on the collecting portion ( 3 ) of between 50 and 500 fibres per mm 2  or between 100 and 200 fibres per mm 2 . 
     
     
         31 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the fibres ( 6 ) are made of a material that is substantially not hydrophilous or not adsorbent of the sample, and/or of a material that is substantially hydrophilous or adsorbent of the sample. 
     
     
         32 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , wherein the fibres ( 6 ) are made of nylon and the surfactant is benzalkonium chloride. 
     
     
         33 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 21 , comprising a container ( 7 ) for transport of the sample having an internal containment seating ( 10 ) and an access opening ( 11 ). 
     
     
         34 . The device ( 1 ) of  claim 33 , comprising at least a drying or dehumidifying element, optionally a bag containing silicone gel, housed in the container ( 7 ).