Sample Tube Having Particular Utility For Nucleic Acid Amplification

1) A polymeric sample tube, comprising:

• a. a closure portion,
• b. a strap integrally connected to the closure portion and being configured for defining a living hinge;
• c. a body portion having a longitudinal axis and an outer wall generally circumscribing the longitudinal axis, and being integrally and hingedly connected with the closure portion by way of the strap, the body portion including a head portion that has an opening through which a sample is dispensed, and a sample portion having a first outer wall dimension and including a closed distal end and a wall structure that includes an outer wall and an inner wall structure that defines a hollow cavity within which the sample resides as a sample volume after is dispensed through the head portion, the closed-ended hollow sample portion being generally elongated along the longitudinal axis and being configured for elastic deformation along a portion of its length, including in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis so that at least a portion of the wall structure compressively and resiliently deforms and engages a wall defining an opening in a sample block of a polymerase chain reaction amplification device, and the first outer wall dimension of sample portion reduces to a smaller second outer wall dimension.