Apparatus and methods for sampling

A sampler comprising

• a handheld body to hold:
• a. a sample collecting device holder adapted in use to accommodate a sample collecting device, and
• b. an actuator adapted to drive a sample collecting device from the sample collecting device holder, to contact the item to remove a sample from the item,
• a reader unit engaged to said handheld body and including:
• i. a sample identification reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “sample information”) associated with the collecting device, and
• ii. an item ID reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “item ID”) associated with the item from which the sample is to be taken,
• wherein the reader unit is configured to measure and/or record time between capturing said item ID and taking the sample, and/or taking the sample and capturing said item ID,
• wherein the reader unit is further configured to compare the measured and/or recorded time against a predetermined time, and
• wherein if said measured and/or recorded time exceeds the predetermined time, the handheld body or reader unit provides directly or indirectly at least one of audio, visual, or haptic feedback to a user of the sampler.

A method of taking a biological sample from an item and placing the sample into a storage container using a sampler, said sampler comprising a handheld body presenting:

• a sample collecting device holder adapted in use to accommodate a sample collecting device,
• an actuator adapted to drive the sample collecting device from the sample collecting device holder, to remove the sample from the item,
• an ID reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “item ID”) associated with the item from which the sample is to be taken, the method comprising:
• a) supplying the sampler with a sample collecting device at the sample collecting device holder,
• b) driving the actuator to remove a sample from the item, and
• c) capturing the item ID,
• wherein the time duration (hereinafter “sampling time duration”) between steps (b) and (c) is monitored and/or the time of each of steps (b) and (c) are recorded as time stamps, regardless of whether step (b) occurs before or after step (c), and
• wherein the sampling time duration is compared with a predetermined time limit, and at least at least one of audio, visual and haptic feedback is provided to a user if said sampling time duration is longer than said predetermined time limit.

A method of taking a sample from an item using a sampler, said sampler comprising:

• a handheld body including
• a sample collecting device holder adapted in use to accommodate a sample collecting device, an actuator adapted to drive the sample collecting device from the sample collecting device holder, to remove the sample from the item, and
• an ID reader, the ID reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “item ID”) associated with the item from which the sample is to be taken,
• the method comprising:
• a) supplying the sampler with a sample collecting device at the sample collecting device holder,
• b) driving the actuator to remove a sample from the item,
• c) capturing the item ID,
• wherein the time duration (hereinafter “sampling time duration”) between steps (b) and (c) is monitored and/or the time of each of steps (b) and (c) are recorded as time stamps, regardless of whether step (b) occurs before or after step (c), and
• wherein the sampling time duration is compared with a predetermined time limit, and at least one of audio, visual, and haptic feedback is provided to a user if said sampling time duration is longer than said predetermined time limit.

A sampling system to collect a sample from an item, comprising:

• a sampler comprising a handheld body defining a sampling region at where a sample collecting device can be held,
• the handheld body carrying an actuator adapted to drive the sample collecting device to remove the sample from the item,
• a reader unit removably engageable to said handheld body and including:
• a sample identification reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “sample information”) associated with the collecting device, and
• an item ID reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “item ID”) associated with the item from which the sample is to be taken,
• wherein the reader unit is configured to measure and/or record time between:
• a) capturing said item ID and taking the sample, and/or
• b) taking the sample and capturing said item ID,
• and wherein the reader unit is further configured to compare the measured and/or recorded time against a predetermined time, wherein if said measured and/or recorded time exceeds the predetermined time the handheld body or reader unit provides directly or indirectly at least at least one of audio, visual and haptic feedback to a user of the sampler,
• wherein in a first mode of use, the sampler, with the reader unit engaged to the handheld body, presents a sample collecting device holding region where said sample collecting device can be held, and
• wherein in a second mode of use, the sampler, without the reader unit engaged to the handheld body, presents a sample collecting device holding region where said sample collecting device can be held.

A sampling system to remove a sample from an item, comprising:

• a sampler including a handheld body defining a sampling region at where a sample collecting device can be held,
• the handheld body carrying an actuator adapted to drive the sample collecting device to remove the sample from the item,
• a reader unit (preferably removably engageable to said handheld body, or able to be located remote yet proximate thereto), and including a sample identification reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “sample information”) associated with the collecting device, and an ID reader adapted to capture identification information (hereinafter “item ID”) associated with the item from which the sample is to be taken,
• wherein the reader unit is configured to measure and/or record time between
• a. capturing said item ID and taking the sample, and/or
• b. taking the sample and capturing said item ID, and
• wherein the reader unit is further configured to compare the measured and/or recorded time against a predetermined time, wherein if said measured and/or recorded time exceeds the predetermined time the handheld body or reader unit provides directly or one of indirectly audio, visual and haptic feedback to a user of the device.

A method of taking and storing a sample from an item, the method comprising:

• (i) taking an item identification reading (e.g., a photo of the item or a reading of an ID carried by the item) and digitally storing the read item identification,
• (ii) taking a sample from the item and locating the sample with a sample holder,
• (iii) taking an identification reading of the sample holder and digitally storing the read sample holder identification reading,
• (iv) taking a reading of the geolocation of the location of the item and digitally storing the geolocation reading,
• (v) measuring the time lapse or lapses between at least two of steps (i)-(iv) above,
• (vi) comparing the time lapse or lapses against a predetermined time, and
• (vii) if at least one of the time lapse or lapses exceeds the predetermined time causing the sampler to provide directly or indirectly at least one of audio, visual and haptic feedback.