Methods and Devices for Obtaining Cellular and DNA Material from Human Female Reproductive System

Abstract

Efficient harvesting of cells, cell fragments, free nuclei, and DNA material from female reproductive system is made possible by processing gelatinous part of cervical mucus. Rinsing may be used to separate the gelatinous part of cervical mucus from the remainder of the cervical mucus sample.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for detecting cytological changes associated with ovarian, fallopian tubal or endometrial cancer in a cervical mucus sample isolated from a subject, comprising:
 a) rinsing a mucus collector holding the cervical mucus sample comprising cervical and non-cervical cells, wherein the rinsing is performed in a rinsing liquid to rinse off the cervical cells from the cervical mucus sample held on the mucus collector into the rinsing liquid and to produce a rinsed mucus sample held on the mucus collector comprising non-cervical cells;   b) separating the mucus collector holding the rinsed mucus sample comprising non-cervical cells from the rinsing liquid and from the cervical cells rinsed off into the rinsing liquid in the step (a);   c) releasing cells remaining held on the mucus collector after the step (b), wherein the releasing comprises exposing the rinsed mucus sample remaining held on the mucus collector after the step (b) to a solution comprising an emulsifier;   d) isolating cells released in the step (c); and   e) using the cells isolated in the step (d) for cytological analysis to detect one or more cytological changes associated with ovarian, fallopian tubal or endometrial cancer, wherein the presence of said one or more cytological changes is indicative of the presence of said cancer in the subject.   
     
     
         19 . A method for detecting genetic or epigenetic changes associated with ovarian, fallopian tubal or endometrial cancer in a cervical mucus sample isolated from a subject, comprising:
 a) lysing the cervical mucus sample and cells contained therein to release DNA into a lysing liquid;   b) isolating the DNA material from the lysing liquid; and   c) analyzing the DNA isolated in the step (b) for the presence of a genetic and/or epigenetic change in one or more genes associated with ovarian, fallopian tubal or endometrial cancer, wherein the presence of said genetic and/or epigenetic change is indicative of the presence of said cancer in the subject.