Specimen collection and test unit

A specimen collection and test unit, comprising:

• an elongated hollow swab shank having an uninterrupted passage formed therethrough;
• an absorbent swab tip at one end of said shank in direct communication with said passage;
• an elongated base having an internal chamber and connected generally at one end to the opposite end of said swab shank with said chamber in direct communication with said passage, said base being formed from a sufficiently resilient material to permit at least partial collapse upon manual pressing thereof;
• at least one frangible ampoule within said base and containing a liquid reagent, said ampoule being breakable upon deformation of said base to release the reagent therein for delivery upon manual pressing of said base through said passage to said swab tip;
• a cap removably mounted on said base, said cap enclosing said swab when mounted on said base, said cap having an elongated shape defining an open end for receiving said swab and a closed, opposite end defining a wall for retaining a portion of the reagent pumped to said swab tip in a position with said swab tip immersed within the reagent;
• seal means on said cap for substantial sealing with said swab shank at a position above the swab tip when said swab is received through the interior of said cap into said well and to prevent leakage of the portion of the reagent from said well;
• and
• means within said cap for storing an additional reagent and for selectively delivering said additional reagent to said well.

A specimen collection and test unit, comprising:

• an elongated hollow swab shank having an uninterrupted passage formed therethrough;
• an absorbent swab tip at one end of said shank in direct communication with said passage;
• an elongated base formed as an elongated, open-ended cylinder having a fitting at the open end thereof for mating reception of the opposite end of said swab shank, said fitting having a bore permitting direct communication between said shank passage and an internal chamber formed within said base;
• at least one frangible ampoule within said base and containing a liquid reagent, said ampoule being breakable upon deformation of said base to release the reagent therein for delivery upon manual pressing of said base through said passage to said swab tip;
• an elongated, open-ended cap for receiving said swab shank and said swab tip, said base and said cap including telescopically interfitting means for cooperatively enclosing said swab shank and said swab tip, said interfitting means comprising an extension sleeve on said base for removably receiving the open end of said cap;
• the end of said cap opposite said open end comprising a closed end defining a well and including means for substantially sealed engagement with said swab shank at a position above the swab tip when said swab tip is received through the interior of said cap into said well;
• and
• means within said cap for storing an additional reagent within said cap for storing an additional reagent and for selectively delivering said additional reagent to said well.