DEVICES FOR COLLECTION AND STABILIZATION OF BIOMARKERS IN LIQUID SAMPLES
Device for collection and stabilization of biomarkers in liquid samples. In at least one embodiment of a fluid collection device, the device comprises a first tube operable to receive a body fluid, a second tube operable to dispense a body fluid, and a suction device operably connected to the second opening of the first tube and the first end of the second tube, wherein the suction device is operable to produce negative pressure through the first tube and is operable to exert positive pressure through the second tube. An embodiment of the devices also comprises a stabilizing agent contained within the fluid collection device, the stabilizing agent capable of completely or substantially preventing the degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic agent in a body fluid upon receipt of the body fluid into the fluid collection device.
1 . A fluid collection device comprising:
a first tube having a first opening and a second opening, the first tube operable to receive a body fluid;
a second tube having a first opening and a second opening, the second tube operable to dispense a body fluid;
a suction device operably connected to the second opening of the first tube and the first end of the second tube;
wherein the suction device is operable to produce negative pressure through the first tube and is operable to exert positive pressure through the second tube;
a first securing device for securing the first end of the first tube;
a second securing device for securing the second end of the second tube; and
a stabilizing agent contained within the fluid collection device, the stabilizing agent capable of completely or substantially preventing the degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic agent in a body fluid upon receipt of the body fluid into the fluid collection device.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the second tube is capable of dispensing a portion of the stabilized body fluid in defined aliquots.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first tube comprises a filter able to remove at least one component of the body fluid prior to entering the second tube.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of Fixanal® Buffer 6.0 (Sigma-Aldrich Co.), acetic acid, aluminum hydroxide bentonite, aluminum sulfate hydrate, aluminum potassium sulfate dodecahydrate, benzoic acid, caffeine, and 3-tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, or a combination thereof.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent comprises a plurality of stabilizing agents each present in approximately the same concentration.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of a protease inhibitor, a DNase inhibitor, and a RNase inhibitor.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic marker is selected from the group consisting of a protein, a glycoprotein, a nucleic acid, an enzyme, an enzyme inhibitor, and a metabolite.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is useful to completely or substantially inactivate an enzyme selected from the group consisting of an amylase, a lysozyme, a peroxidase, a glycosidase, an esterase, a protease, and a peptidase.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the body fluid is selected from the group consisting of saliva, a mucous secretion, tears, sweat, semen, urine, a vaginal secretion, exhalate, blood, serum, and an anal secretion.