Methods and devices for collecting blood
OwnerStanley N. Lapidus, Anthony P. Shuberinventors
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Abstract
The invention provides methods and devices for drawing blood, in which the blood collected into a container closely resembles the blood as it existed before collection (i.e., as it existed in vivo). In some embodiments this may be achieved by modulating a flow rate of blood into the collection container in order to preserve the integrity of the blood. By modulating the flow rate of the blood, shear forces acting on cells and cellular components in the blood are reduced. This preserves the integrity of such cells and cellular components and facilitates more accurate detection and analysis of low-abundance analytes.
Claims20
A device for collecting a blood sample, the device comprising:
- a collection container having a structure that substantially preserves the integrity of cells and cellular components in a blood sample when the blood is drawn into the collection container.
A method for obtaining a blood sample, the method comprising the steps of:
- withdrawing blood from a vein or artery in a manner that substantially preserves the integrity of cells and cellular components in the blood sample.
A method for collecting blood, the method comprising the steps of:
- withdrawing blood from a vein or an artery in a manner that preserves an in vivo ratio of mutant-to-wild-type nucleic acids.
A sample for medical analysis, the sample comprising a container having within it a volume of blood in which a ratio of mutant-to-wild-type nucleic acid is substantially identical to that of blood in vivo.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.