Oral fluid collection device
An oral fluid collection device includes a plunger and funnel to simultaneously collect and split a single specimen into metered doses for drug testing. The device may be used with collection tubes for collection of the metered doses and later testing. The device, when used, drives the metered dose into the collection tubes and removes bubbles in the specimen to provide improved accuracy in testing.
1 . An oral fluid collection device for drug testing, comprising:
a funnel configured to collect a specimen of oral fluids, the funnel comprising one or more valves each switchable between an open state and a closed state; and
a plunger configured to at least partially nest in and move relative to the funnel to split the specimen into two or more metered doses and cause the one or more valves to switch from the closed state to the open state and to drive the two or more metered doses of the specimen out of the funnel through the one or more valves in the open state.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the funnel comprises two or more legs configured to collect the two or more metered doses, respectively.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the funnel includes a translucent or transparent material.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the funnel includes a fill indicator to verify a volume of the specimen has met a minimum and/or maximum volume.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the fill indicator accounts for foaming of the specimen when collected.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger further comprises an overflow channel configured to direct overflow of the specimen and air to escape from an interior of the funnel into the plunger when the plunger is moved relative to the funnel.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the plunger further comprises a cover to prevent the overflow of the specimen from escaping the plunger and an edge cutout in the cover for air to escape the plunger.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more valves are overmolded to the funnel.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger further comprises a hard stop for metering the two or more doses.
10 . An oral fluid collection assembly for drug testing, comprising:
a funnel configured to collect a specimen of oral fluids, the funnel comprising one or more valves each switchable between an open state and a closed state;
a plunger configured to at least partially nest in and move relative to the funnel to split the specimen into two or more metered doses and cause the one or more valves to switch from the closed state to the open state and to drive the two or more metered doses of the specimen out of the funnel through the one or more valves in the open state; and
two or more tubes to collect the two or more metered doses driven out of the funnel.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the funnel comprises two or more legs configured to collect the two or more metered doses, respectively.
12 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the funnel includes a translucent or transparent material.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the funnel includes a fill indicator to verify a volume of the specimen has met a minimum and/or maximum volume.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the fill indicator accounts for foaming of the specimen when collected.
15 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the plunger further comprises an overflow channel configured to direct overflow of the specimen and air to escape from an interior of the funnel into the plunger when the plunger is moved relative to the funnel.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the plunger further comprises a cover to prevent the overflow of the specimen from escaping the plunger and an edge cutout in the cover for air to escape the plunger.
17 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more valves are overmolded to the funnel.
18 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the plunger further comprises a hard stop for contributing to metering the two or more metered doses.
19 . A method of collecting a specimen of an oral fluid for drug testing, the method comprising:
providing the oral fluid collection assembly of claim 10 ;
collecting the specimen in the funnel of the oral fluid collection assembly;
driving the specimen from the funnel with the plunger of the oral fluid collection assembly to split the specimen into two or more metered doses; and
collecting, via the one or more valves of the funnel, the two or more doses in the two or more tubes of the oral fluid collection assembly.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
adding a buffer solution or preservative to the two or more tubes; and
mixing the buffer solution or preservative and the two or more doses in the two or more tubes.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the two or more metered doses is at least one milliliter (mL).
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein a volume of the mixed buffer solution or preservative is about two milliliters (mL).