Apparatus for point-of-care detection of nucleic acid in a sample

Apparatus for diagnosing a condition in an individual, the condition being associated with presence of a target nucleic acid in the individual, the target nucleic acid being produced by a pathogen, the apparatus comprising:

• a containment vessel being a sealable tube, wherein the containment vessel has a container body defining a single unpartitioned cavity;
• a sample collection element configured for removable coupling to the containment vessel and comprising a lumen;
• a nucleic acid binding element positioned within the containment vessel,
• wherein the sample collection element is configured to collect the sample and to transfer the sample to the nucleic acid binding element when the sample collection element is removably coupled to the containment vessel, and
• wherein the sample collection element includes a lumen and a swab at one end of the lumen, the lumen being configured to deliver through the swab a fluid to the containment vessel;
• a waste collection unit comprising a chamber and a plate, the chamber comprising a first gap, the plate coupled with the chamber and comprising a second gap,
• wherein the chamber and the plate surround the lumen and at least one of the chamber and the plate is configured to be rotatable, and
• wherein when the first gap overlaps with the second gap, content of the containment vessel is adapted to flow into the waste collection unit;
• a plurality of reagents enveloped within a plurality of reagent cartridges, the plurality of reagents comprising nucleic acid purification reagents and nucleic acid amplification reagents, the plurality of reagent cartridges each comprising a capsule and a plug, the capsule connecting to the lumen through an opening, the plug sealing the opening, and
• wherein the plurality of reagent cartridges are configured to load the plurality of reagents through the lumen for placement in fluid communication with the nucleic acid binding element upon removal of the plug from the opening;
• and
• a heater configured to heat the nucleic acid amplification reagents when the nucleic acid amplification reagents are in fluid communication with the nucleic acid binding element, the heater being a disposable heater applied on an external surface around the containment vessel.