University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

David M Martin

Mark Gold

Steven T Gold

Bruce A Goldberger

The present invention provides a single self-contained device for collecting, extracting, on-site testing, and transferring for forensic confirmatory analysis, a wide variety of substances including, but not limited to, drugs of abuse, explosives, weapons of mass destruction, food toxins and industrial wastes. Samples can be obtained from a surface by swabbing a suspect area or the testing of solid materials (pills, capsules, powders), air samples and biological and non-biological fluids by placing the substance in the device. The device includes a swab, a retention well including a wash, and analysis technologies that can be, for example, a lateral flow testing system. The swab is rinsed with a wash prior to testing thereby not compromising the chemistry of the detection technologies and allowing for a wide variety of applications under a number of field conditions. Also, the device is a single self-contained unit instead of having a separate reagent droppers or sprays, making it compact and easy to use. Moreover, the device is designed to not only collect and test samples but to seal the originally target analyte, not affected by testing procedures, in a specially designed cap for shipping under chain of custody documentation to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory testing.

Devices and methods for the collection and detection of substances

The present invention is a single self-contained device for collecting, transferring, extracting, and testing for the presence of a target analyte in a sample obtained from a surface by swabbing, solid materials (pills, capsules, unknown powders), air samples and biological and non-biological fluids. The device includes a swab, a retention well including eluent fluid, and analysis technologies which can include but are not limited to lateral flow testing analysis. The major improvement is the invention of rinsing the swab with proprietary elution fluid prior to testing thereby not compromising the chemistry and allowing for a wide variety of applications under extremely hot or cold field conditions. Also, the device is in one self-contained unit instead of having a separate water dropper or spray. Moreover, the shape of the device is similar to a magic marker so it is more substantial than any drug tester on the market, as well in certain embodiments it can have grips resembling a gun and in certain embodiments can even emit sounds or smells when a surface is wiped or a positive test is attained.

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Lansdale, PA, United States of America

David M Martin