Method and device for collecting and preserving cells for analysis

A method for collecting mammalian blood cells, comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a tube including preloaded compounds consisting of
• (i) acid citrate dextrose and
• (ii) diazolidinyl urea, the tube having an open end and a closed end that receives cells collected directly from a blood draw and wherein a majority of an interior portion of the tube is substantially free of contact with the preloaded components;
• (b) drawing a blood sample containing a plurality of blood cells into the tube whereby it contacts the preloaded compounds to yield a final composition, wherein a ratio of a volume of the preloaded compounds to a combined volume of the blood sample and the preloaded compounds is from about 1:100 to about 2:100, and so that the plurality of blood cells of the blood sample are stabilized directly and immediately upon the blood draw;
• and
• (c) transporting the blood sample, wherein the blood sample is drawn and transported in the same tube with no processing steps between the blood draw and transporting.

A method for preparing blood cells for analysis, said method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a closed collection container, said collection container having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure outside said container, wherein said collection container contains preloaded compounds consisting of:
• (i) acid citrate dextrose;
• and
• (ii) diazolidinyl urea;
• and
• wherein a majority of an interior portion of the collection container is substantially free of contact with the preloaded components;
• and
• (b) drawing a blood sample containing the blood cells into the collection container whereby the blood sample contacts the preloaded compounds to yield a final composition, wherein after collection of the blood cells in the container, a ratio of a volume of the preloaded compounds to a volume of the final composition is from about 1:100 to about 2:100.

A method for preparing blood cells for analysis, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a collection container for receiving a whole blood sample;
• (b) introducing into the collection container preloaded compounds consisting of:
• (i) acid citrate dextrose;
• and
• (ii) diazolidinyl urea;
• (c) evacuating the collection container to an internal pressure that is less than atmospheric pressure outside said collection container;
• (d) drawing a volume of the whole blood sample into the collection container, wherein a majority of an interior portion of the collection container is substantially free of contact with the preloaded compounds and whereby the whole blood sample contacts the preloaded compounds to yield a final composition, wherein a ratio of a volume of the preloaded compounds to a volume of the final composition is from about 1:100 to about 2:100.