Specimen collection and storage for pool testing and similar

A device for collecting a specimen for testing, the device comprising:

• a first swab including a first shaft and a first collection tip disposed on an end of the first shaft, the first collection tip structurally configured to acquire a first portion of a specimen thereon;
• a second swab including a second shaft and a second collection tip disposed on an end of the second shaft, the second collection tip structurally configured to acquire a second portion of the specimen thereon;
• one or more first couplers disposed along the first swab;
• and
• one or more second couplers disposed along the second swab, wherein the one or more first couplers are removably engageable with the one or more second couplers to establish a compound swab to collect the specimen on each of the first collection tip and the second collection tip, and wherein disengagement of the one or more first couplers and the one or more second couplers permits separate testing of the specimen.

A method of pool testing, the method comprising:

• collecting a specimen using a compound swab, the compound swab comprising:
• a first swab including a first shaft and a first collection tip disposed on an end of the first shaft;
• and
• a second swab coupled to the first swab, the second swab including a second shaft and a second collection tip disposed on an end of the second shaft;
• separating the first swab and the second swab;
• combining the first swab with a plurality of different swabs for pool testing the specimen with other, different specimens for presence or absence of a component;
• and
• based on results of the pool testing, testing the second swab for presence or absence of the component.