Device and a method for collecting and transferring samples of biological material

A device for collecting, transferring and/or conserving samples of biological material, wherein the device comprises:

• a support body having at least a housing seating for a conserving element for samples of biological material, which conserving element is a card for conserving samples of biological material, said housing seating being configured for enabling removably housing said card for conserving samples of biological material and comprising opposing sidewalls and comprising an opposing upper wall and lower wall, the sidewalls, the upper wall and the lower wall together defining a receptacle sized to receive said card, said upper wall comprising an opening therein through which at least a conserving portion of said card is maintained accessible for depositing a sample of biological material when said card is housed in said housing seating;
• an operating portion, irremovably engaged to the support body and movable between at least a first closed position in which the operating portion is arranged in proximity of said housing seating and at least one open position in which the operating portion is arranged in a distanced position from said housing seating, said operating portion being provided with an engaging portion;
• a sampling element comprising:
• a collecting portion suitable for collecting samples of biological material, and
• a coupling portion, the sampling element being selectively and removably couplable to said engaging portion at the coupling portion;
• and
• wherein said engaging portion of the operating portion is configured to selectively and removably attach the sampling element to said operating portion, the engaging portion being further configured to allow a complete removal and a whole disconnection of the sampling element from the operating portion and from the support body;
• and
• wherein, when the coupling portion is attached to the engaging portion, the operating portion is configured to carry the sampling element during a movement of the operating portion between the at least one open position and the first closed position and wherein the operating portion is configured to support the collecting portion of the sampling element in the opening in the upper wall of the support body when the operating portion is in the first closed position.