Microbial sample collection, transport and processing apparatus and method

A microbial sample collection, transport and processing (MSCTP) container assembly, comprising:

• an enclosure including an access region for adding and removing contents from the enclosure, the enclosure including at least one chamber therein for storing the contents;
• a double-sided attachment member situated in the at least one chamber of the MSCTP container assembly as contents thereof;
• and
• a sampling member situated in the at least one chamber of the MSCTP container assembly as contents thereof, the sampling member being configured to cumulatively collect microbial samples when installed on a selected surface via the double-sided attachment member.

A method of processing samples, comprising:

• placing, prior to microbial sample collection, a double-sided attachment member and a sampling member in a microbial sample collection, transport and processing (MSCTP) container, the MSCTP container including at least one chamber to receive the double-sided attachment member and the sampling member, the MSCTP container including an access portion that opens and closes to provide access to the at least one chamber;
• opening, in preparation for microbial sample collection, the access portion of the MSCTP container to remove the double-sided attachment member and the sampling member therefrom;
• adhering a side of the double-sided attachment member to the sampling member;
• adhering another side of the double-sided attachment member to a surface within a breathing area of a subject such that the sampling member collects samples from the subject over a predetermined period of time, thus providing the sampling member with collected samples thereon;
• moving the sampling member with samples thereon to the at least one chamber in the open MSCTP container;
• and
• closing the access portion of the open MSCTP container with the sampling member having microbial samples thereon inside the MSCTP container, thus providing a closed MSCPT container.