Devices and Methods for Transferring Fluid Samples

A set of components usable together for transferring a fluid sample for testing, the set of components comprising:

• a reaction container assembly comprising a reaction container having an opening and a pierceable cover covering the opening of the reaction container;
• and
• a syringe assembly, the syringe assembly comprising:
• a housing comprising a side wall, a proximal end, and a distal end;
• a barrel comprising an interior, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein at least the distal end of the barrel is located inside the housing;
• a plunger reciprocally moveable in the interior of the barrel in a proximal direction and in a distal direction;
• a narrow tube having an interior, wherein a proximal end of the interior of the narrow tube is in fluid communication with the interior of the barrel, wherein a distal tip of the narrow tube has an opening, and wherein the plunger, barrel, and narrow tube define a fluid chamber within the syringe assembly;
• and
• a metering actuator configured to control movement of the plunger at least in a proximal direction relative to the barrel;
• wherein the barrel, the plunger, and the narrow tube are configured such that relative movement between the plunger and the barrel expanding the fluid chamber within the syringe assembly causes a fluid sample to be drawn through the opening of the narrow tube into the fluid chamber within the syringe assembly;
• wherein the housing is configured to receive the reaction container assembly at the distal end of the housing;
• wherein the fluid chamber is configured to hold the fluid sample after the fluid sample has been drawn into the fluid chamber and before the fluid sample is expelled from the fluid chamber into the reaction container;
• wherein the syringe assembly is configured such that while the fluid chamber holds the fluid sample, the distal tip of the narrow tube remains covered;
• and
• wherein the barrel, the plunger, and the narrow tube are configured such that relative movement between the plunger and the barrel contracting the fluid chamber causes the fluid sample to be expelled from the fluid chamber through the opening of the narrow tube into the reaction container.

A method of transferring a fluid sample for testing, the method comprising:

• (i) using a syringe assembly to draw a fluid sample, the syringe assembly comprising:
• a housing comprising a side wall, a proximal end, and a distal end;
• a barrel comprising an interior, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein at least the distal end of the barrel is located inside the housing;
• a plunger reciprocally moveable in the interior of the barrel in a proximal direction and in a distal direction;
• a narrow tube having an interior, wherein a proximal end of the interior of the narrow tube is in fluid communication with a distal end of the interior of the barrel, wherein a distal tip of the narrow tube has an opening, and wherein the plunger, barrel, and narrow tube define a fluid chamber within the syringe assembly;
• and
• a metering actuator configured to control movement of the plunger at least in a proximal direction relative to the barrel;
• wherein using the syringe assembly to draw the fluid sample comprises creating relative movement between the plunger and the barrel expanding the fluid chamber within the syringe assembly thereby causing the fluid sample to be drawn through the opening of the narrow tube into the fluid chamber within the syringe assembly;
• (ii) causing a reaction container to be received at the distal end of the housing;
• (iii) holding the fluid sample in the fluid chamber after the fluid sample has been drawn into the fluid chamber and before the fluid sample is expelled from the fluid chamber into the reaction container, wherein while the fluid chamber is holding the fluid sample, the distal tip of the narrow tube remains covered;
• and
• (iv) creating relative movement between the plunger and the barrel contracting the fluid chamber thereby causing the fluid sample to be expelled from the fluid chamber through the opening of the narrow tube into the reaction container.