# US 2017/0282177 A1 · Multiple Path Sample Collection Card > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282177 A1 - Document ID: US20170282177A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/089,847 - Filed: 2016-04-04 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04 - Assignees: Advance Dx, Inc. - Applicants: Advance Dx, Inc. - Inventors: Ned Bedrio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282177A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/5023: {with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis} - A61B 5/150022: {for capillary blood or interstitial fluid} - A61B 5/150358: {Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent} - B01L 2200/185: Long distance transport, e.g. mailing - B01L 2300/02: Identification, exchange or storage of information - B01L 2300/069: Absorbents; Gels to retain a fluid - B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions - B01L 2300/0825: Test strips - B01L 2300/0864: comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting - B01L 2300/0887: Laminated structure - G01N 2001/005: {Packages for mailing or similar transport of samples} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A fluid sample collection card in one embodiment includes an absorbent strip including a sample application portion, a first absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion, and a second absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion and spaced apart from the first absorbent strip portion by the sample application portion, a non-absorbent layer positioned beneath the absorbent strip, and a sample application portion indicium configured to identify the sample application portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid sample collection card comprising: an absorbent strip including a sample application portion, a first absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion, and a second absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion and spaced apart from the first absorbent strip portion by the sample application portion; a non-absorbent layer positioned beneath the absorbent strip; and a sample application portion indicium configured to identify the sample application portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The collection card of claim 1, further comprising an upper layer including a sample receiving portion, a first sample viewing portion, and a second sample viewing portion, wherein: the sample application portion indicium comprises the sample receiving portion; the sample application portion is directly accessible from above the collection card through the sample receiving portion; the first absorbent strip portion is at least partially viewable through the first sample viewing window; and the second absorbent strip portion is at least partially viewable through the second sample viewing window. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The collection card of claim 2, wherein the absorbent strip is configured to separate components of a collected sample. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The collection card of claim 3, wherein: the first sample viewing window is a first opening in the upper layer extending completely through the upper layer; and the second sample viewing window is a second opening in the upper layer extending completely through the upper layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The collection card of claim 4, the upper layer further comprising: a first indicium associated with a first volume of the collected sample which, when absorbed by the absorbent strip, separates into a first component of the first volume of collected sample along the first absorbent strip portion to an extent sufficient to perform a first test on the first component, and separates into a second component of the first volume of collected sample along the second absorbent strip portion to an extent sufficient to perform a second test on the second component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The collection card of claim 4, the upper layer further comprising: a second indicium associated with a second volume of the collected sample which, when absorbed by the absorbent strip, separates into a first component of the second volume of collected sample along the first absorbent strip portion to an extent sufficient to perform a first test and a second test on the first component, and separates into a second component of the second volume of collected sample along the second absorbent strip portion to an extent sufficient to perform a third test and a fourth test on the second component. ### Claim 7 A method of collecting a fluid sample comprising: identifying a sample application portion of an absorbent strip of a collection card using a sample application portion indicium; applying a volume of fluid onto the sample application portion of the absorbent strip; moving a first portion of the applied volume of fluid along a first absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion and positioned on a nonabsorbent layer of the collection card; and moving a second portion of the applied volume of fluid along a second absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion and positioned on the nonabsorbent layer, wherein the second absorbent strip portion is spaced apart from the first absorbent strip portion by the sample application portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein: identifying the sample application portion comprises identifying a sample receiving portion in an upper layer of the collection card; and applying the volume of fluid comprises applying the volume of fluid to the sample application portion from above the collection card through the sample receiving portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein: moving the first portion of the applied volume of fluid along the first absorbent strip portion comprises separating a first component of the first portion of the applied volume of fluid along the first absorbent strip portion; and moving the second portion of the applied volume of fluid along the second absorbent strip portion comprises separating a second component of the second portion of the applied volume of fluid along the second absorbent strip portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: drying the separated first component; and drying the separated second component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: drying the separated first component comprises exposing the separated first component directly to atmosphere through a first sample viewing window extending completely though the upper layer; and drying the separated second component comprises exposing the separated second component directly to atmosphere through a second sample viewing window extending completely though the upper layer, the second sample viewing window spaced apart from the first sample viewing window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining, prior to drying the separated first component, that a sufficient volume of fluid has been applied to the sample application portion to perform a test on the dried first component by viewing a portion of the first portion of the applied volume of fluid in the first absorbent strip portion through a first sample viewing window of the upper layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein determining that a sufficient volume of fluid has been applied to the sample application portion comprises: using an indicium of the upper layer to determine that a sufficient volume of fluid has been applied to the sample application portion. ### Claim 14 A method of obtaining a plurality of separated components of a fluid sample comprising: receiving a collection card with an absorbent strip positioned on a nonabsorbent layer; identifying a first absorbent strip portion on a first side of an identified sample receiving portion of the absorbent strip and spaced apart from the identified sample receiving portion, the first absorbent strip portion including a first separated component of a fluid sample; detaching the identified first absorbent strip portion from the absorbent strip; identifying a second absorbent strip portion on a second side of the identified sample receiving portion of the absorbent strip and spaced apart from the identified sample receiving portion, the second absorbent strip portion spaced apart from the first absorbent strip portion by the sample application portion, the second absorbent strip portion including a second separated component of the fluid sample; and detaching the identified second absorbent strip portion from the absorbent strip. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: detaching the identified first absorbent strip portion comprises accessing the absorbent strip through a first window extending completely through an upper layer of the collection card, the identified first absorbent strip portion aligned with the first window; and detaching the identified second absorbent strip portion comprises accessing the absorbent strip through a second window extending completely through an upper layer of the collection card, the identified second absorbent strip portion aligned with the second window. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: separating a first portion of the nonabsorbent layer from the detached first absorbent strip portion; and separating a second portion of the nonabsorbent layer from the detached second absorbent strip portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first separated component of the fluid sample and the second separated component of the fluid sample are dried components of the fluid sample