Point-of-care diagnostic cartridge

A specimen delivery cartridge comprising:

• a first housing portion;
• a second housing portion;
• a fluid dispenser;
• a plunger comprising a plunger body having a first side and a second side, the second side facing away from the first side, and further comprising at least one post extending from the first side of the plunger body, wherein the second side of the plunger body comprises at least one actuation surface that is sized and configured to apply a compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed;
• a specimen collection chamber;
• a leaching chamber operable to store a reagent fluid;
• and
• a conduit providing a fluid flow path from an outlet of the leaching chamber to an inlet of the specimen collection chamber,
• wherein the plunger is operable to actuate the fluid dispenser, and
• wherein the specimen delivery cartridge further comprises a sealed piston disposed in the leaching chamber and operable to displace the reagent fluid from the leaching chamber and into the specimen collection chamber through the conduit and a spring-loaded actuator, and wherein the spring-loaded actuator is operable to actuate the piston upon closing the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion.

A specimen delivery cartridge comprising:

• a first housing portion;
• a second housing portion;
• a fluid dispenser;
• a plunger comprising a plunger body having a first side and a second side, the second side facing away from the first side, and further comprising at least one post extending from the first side of the plunger body, wherein the second side of the plunger body comprises at least one actuation surface that is sized and configured to apply a compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed;
• a specimen collection chamber;
• a leaching chamber operable to store a reagent fluid;
• and
• a conduit providing a fluid flow path from an outlet of the leaching chamber to an inlet of the specimen collection chamber,
• wherein the plunger is operable to actuate the fluid dispenser, and
• wherein the specimen collection chamber comprises a swab gasket, the swab gasket comprising a series of ridges.

A method of dispersing a reagent to a testing substrate, the method comprising:

• closing a first housing portion of a specimen delivery cartridge toward a second housing portion of the specimen delivery cartridge, the specimen delivery cartridge further comprising
• a plunger having a plunger body having a first side and a second side, the second side facing away from the first side, and further comprising at least one post extending from the first side of the plunger body, wherein the second side of the plunger body comprises at least one actuation surface, wherein the specimen delivery cartridge comprises a fluid dispenser aligned with and proximate to a fluid conduit of the specimen delivery cartridge, wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a fluid, wherein closing the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion comprises:
• delivering a compressive force to depress the post;
• urging the actuation surface of the plunger to compress the fluid dispenser;
• and
• collapsing the fluid dispenser to urge fluid from the fluid dispenser to the fluid conduit,
• wherein the at least one actuation surface is sized and configured to apply a compressive force onto the fluid dispenser when the plunger is depressed,
• wherein the plunger is operable to actuate the fluid dispenser, and
• wherein the post of the plunger protrudes through a lower intermediate member of the specimen delivery cartridge and engages an upper intermediate member of the specimen delivery cartridge when the first housing portion is closed relative to the second housing portion.