Sample collection and transfer assembly and related methods

1. A collection and transfer assembly comprising:

a collection device comprising:

a base housing member having at least two chambers; and

a cover housing member having at least two housing apertures therein, the cover housing member being configured to cover the base housing member such that each of the at least two housing apertures are positioned in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the at least two chambers, the cover housing member further comprising a cartridge holding interface; and

a sample cartridge configured to be positioned on the cover housing member, the sample cartridge comprising:

a cartridge wall;

at least two sample areas comprising:

a portion of the cartridge wall; and

an optically transparent or translucent slide on the cartridge wall; and

at least two cartridge apertures, each of the two cartridge apertures being configured to receive a fluid from a respective one of the at least two chambers via a corresponding one of the at least two housing apertures such that the fluid flows between and is retained in a respective one of the at least two sample areas of the sample cartridge by a respective portion of the cartridge wall and the optically transparent or translucent slide,

wherein the cartridge holding interface on the cover housing member is configured to releasably engage with the sample cartridge such that the cartridge together with the cartridge slide is releasably retained by the cartridge holding interface of the cover housing member.

2. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein each optically transparent or translucent slide of the at least two sample areas of the sample cartridge face away from the cover housing member, and the at least two cartridge apertures are on a side of the sample cartridge opposite the optically transparent or translucent slide and fluidly connect a respective one of the at least two housing apertures to a respective one of the at least two sample areas.

3. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein each optically transparent or translucent slide of the sample cartridge face toward the cover housing member, and the at least two cartridge apertures are on a same side of the sample cartridge as the optically transparent or translucent slide opposite the cartridge wall and fluidly connect a respective one of the at least two housing apertures to a respective one of the at least two sample areas.

4. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holding interface comprises a retaining wall or retaining pins configured to abut an outer perimeter of the cartridge.

5. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cartridge holding interface further comprises at least one notch and/or groove that is configured to engage a corresponding notch and/or groove on the cartridge.

6. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cartridge holding interface further comprises at least one hook member that is configured to engage and retain an edge portion of the cartridge.

7. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holding interface is configured to interface with the cartridge in a single orientation.

8. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base housing member and the cover housing member comprises cooperating sealing members that are configured to seal each of the at least two chambers.

9. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 8 , wherein the cooperating sealing members comprise a base sealing feature between the at least two chambers on the base housing member, and a cover sealing feature on the cover housing member configured to engage with the base sealing feature and to thereby fluidly seal each of the at least two chambers.

10. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 9 , wherein one of the base sealing feature and the cover sealing feature comprises a groove and the other of the base sealing feature and the cover sealing feature comprises a ridge that is configured to be received in the groove and form a snug fit.

11. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least two chambers overlap a central portion and a perimeter portion of the base housing member, and the chambers comprise a wall that has a height that is higher in the central portion than at the perimeter portion.

12. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two chambers comprises wall portion that extends away from the base housing member and defines the chamber and, in an assembled position, is configured to extend into a corresponding sealing feature on the cover housing member to seal a sample therein.

13. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 12 , wherein the base housing member comprises a central portion and a perimeter portion, and the wall portion of the plurality of chambers has a height that is higher in the central portion than at the perimeter portion of the base housing member.

14. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least two chambers comprises an fluid transfer feature comprising a protrusion having the housing aperture therein that is configured to fluidly transfer a sample from one of the respective at least two chambers to a corresponding sample area of a sample cartridge.

15. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the housing aperture of the fluid transfer feature is configured to fit inside a corresponding well of the sample cartridge.

16. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a label, bar code and/or RFID that identifies an origin of a sample on the cartridge or on the collection device.

17. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of exogeneous targets in the at least one sample area, wherein said exogenous targets are particles.

18. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 17 , wherein said exogenous targets have an average diameter of from 0.1 micrometers up to 10 micrometers.

19. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 17 , wherein said exogenous targets are fluorescent.

20. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 17 , wherein said exogenous targets:

fluoresce at a peak absorption wavelength of at least 420 nanometers and at not more than 540 nanometers;

fluoresce at a peak emission wavelength of at least 450 nanometers and not more than 590 nanometers;

and wherein said peak absorption wavelength and said peak emission wavelength differ by at least 10 nanometers.

21. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover housing comprises a housing wall that abuts and is parallel to the optically transparent or translucent slide.

22. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover housing comprises a housing wall that abuts and is parallel to the cartridge wall.

23. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover housing engages the base housing with a snap-fit interface.

24. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two chambers comprises a sidewall, and the respective sidewalls of each of the at least two chambers are spaced apart from one another.

25. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plug member that is configured to be positioned over the base housing when the cover housing is removed and to seal the fluid in the at least one chamber of the base housing.

26. The collection and transfer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent or translucent slide and the portion of the cartridge wall of each of the sample areas are configured such that fluid flows by capillary flow between the cartridge wall and the optically transparent or translucent slide.