Syringe cutter

A method for cutting a syringe containing a fluid sample without contaminating the fluid sample, comprising:

• providing a syringe having a barrel with a flange at a proximal end thereof and a tip at a distal end thereof, the barrel of the syringe containing a liquid specimen, the syringe having a plunger provided in the barrel and sealing the liquid specimen therein;
• providing a jig for supporting a syringe, the jig including:
• a proximal wall including a first portion and a second portion, a distal wall including a first portion and a second portion, and a blade sandwiched between the proximal and distal walls;
• a first through-hole defined in the first portion of the proximal wall, a second through hole defined in the second portion of the proximal wall, a third through-hole defined in the first portion of the distal wall, and a fourth through-hole defined in the second portion of the distal wall;
• a pin inserted into the first, second, third and fourth through-holes thereby allowing the second portion of the proximal wall and the second portion of the distal wall to pivot with respect to the first portion of the proximal wall and the first portion of the distal wall;
• the blade pivotably supported between the proximal and distal walls;
• a fifth through-hole cooperatively defined by a first recess defined in the first portion of the proximal wall and a second recess in the second portion of the proximal wall when the jig is in a closed position with the first portion of the proximal wall abutting the second portion of the proximal wall;
• a sixth through-hole cooperatively defined by a third recess defined in the first portion of the distal wall and a fourth recess defined in the second portion of the distal wall when the jig is in a closed position with the first portion of the distal wall abutting the second portion of the distal wall;
• the jig having an open position in which the second portion of the proximal wall and the second portion of the distal wall pivot away from the first portion of the proximal wall and the first portion of the distal wall;
• and
• the jig having a closed position in which the second portion of the proximal wall and the second portion of the distal wall abut the first portion of the proximal wall and the first portion of the distal wall;
• placing the jig in the open position;
• inserting the syringe into the jig such that the barrel is placed in the first recess of the proximal wall and the third recess of the distal wall;
• placing the jig in the closed position;
• pivoting the blade to cut the proximal end of the syringe barrel with the flanges and syringe plunger without contaminating the liquid specimen within the barrel.