# US 2021/0278320 A1 · Decontamination Assessment

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- Number: US 2021/0278320 A1
- Document ID: US20210278320A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/810,661
- Filed: 2020-03-05
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05
- Inventors: Robert Laughlin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278320A1

## CPC

- G01N 1/02: Devices for withdrawing samples {(sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08)}
- G01N 1/04: in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
- G01N 33/36: Textiles
- G01N 2001/028: {Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising}
- 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 device and method of use for assessing the state of decontamination or contamination of the surface of an article. The device is comprised of a handle and a collector assembly. The collector assembly has a collector surface that is rubbed onto the surface being tested thereby capturing a sample of contaminants on that surface. The collector assembly is then hermetically sealed in a bag and returned to the testing laboratory for analysis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A decontamination assessment device comprised of a handle assembly and a collector assembly;
the collector assembly is affixed to an end of the handle assembly;
the collector assembly has a collection surface that when rubbed onto a substrate collects a surface contaminant from the substrate;
the collector assembly is hermetically sealed in a container and delivered to a testing facility to determine if the substrate has been decontaminated.

### Claim 2

A process for decontamination assessment comprised of the steps of:
providing a substrate that has undergone a decontamination procedure;
providing a handle assembly with a grip on a first end and a connector on a second end;
providing a collector assembly, clean and sealed inside a first container;
wherein the collector assembly has an integral collection surface;
unsealing the container;
grasping the grip and affixing the collector assembly to the connector on the handle assembly without the collection surface being contaminated by a non-intended-surface;
grasping the grip and rubbing the collection surface on the substrate;
inserting the collector assembly into a second container;
separating the handle assembly from the collector assembly wherein the collector assembly remains inside the second container;
hermetically sealing the second container with the collector assembly inside;
sending the collector assembly sealed inside the second container to a testing facility;
receiving a result from an analysis of the collection surface performed by the testing facility;
determining whether the substrate has been sufficiently decontaminated by the decontamination procedure and is therefore suitable for continued use.