Blood sample optimization system and blood contaminant sequestration device and method

A blood sequestration and sampling system comprising;

• a blood sampling pathway having a patient needle on a proximal end and a sample collection device on a distal end;
• and
• a blood sequestration device attached on the blood sampling pathway between the proximal end and distal end of the blood sampling pathway, the blood sequestration device comprising:
• an inlet port coupled with the blood sampling pathway toward the patient needle;
• an outlet port coupled with the blood sampling pathway toward the sample collection device;
• a sequestration chamber connected with the inlet port via a junction, the sequestration chamber having a vent that includes an air permeable blood barrier, the vent being defined by an outer wall that at least partially circumscribes the air permeable blood barrier, the vent further including a cap that at least partially covers the wall, the cap having a one-way seal abutting the air permeable blood barrier that inhibits air from entering the sequestration chamber;
• and
• a sampling channel having a proximal end connected with the inlet port via the junction, and a distal end connected with the outlet port;
• the sequestration chamber, the sampling channel and the junction being sized and configured such that a first portion of blood flows into the sequestration chamber toward the air permeable blood barrier for sequestration
• therein, and a second portion of blood bypasses the sequestration chamber and the first portion of blood sequestered therein and is directed into the sampling channel toward the outlet port.

A blood sequestration device

• comprising;
• an inlet port;
• an outlet port;
• a sequestration chamber connected with the inlet port via a junction, the sequestration chamber having a vent that includes an air permeable blood barrier, the vent being defined by an outer wall that at least partially circumscribes the air permeable blood barrier, the vent further including a cap that at least partially covers the wall, the cap having a one-way seal abutting the air permeable blood barrier that inhibits air from entering the sequestration chamber;
• and
• a sampling channel having a proximal end connected with the inlet port via the junction, and a distal end connected with the outlet port;
• the sequestration chamber, the sampling channel and the junction being sized and configured such that a first portion of blood flows into and fills the sequestration chamber to displace air therein through the vent, and such that a second portion of blood bypasses the sequestration chamber and the first portion of blood sequestered therein and is directed into the sampling channel toward the outlet port.