Abstract:
A device (11) for collecting, shipping and analyzing a pathological specimen comprises a collector stick (19) projecting from the inside of the stopper (14) of a first tubular vessel (12) containing a solution (16). The bottom (15) of the first vessel (12) has an aperture (30) sealed by a frangible barrier (31). When the first vessel is inserted into a second vessel (22) containing a signaling element (29) and having a pintle (32) projecting inwardly from its bottom (33), the frangible barrier is broken by the pintle and part of the solution flows into the second vessel where it contacts the signaling element. A pin (39) projecting from the inside of a cap (36) for the second vessel punctures the stopper of the first vessel facilitating the flow of solution from the first to the second vessel. The analytical process can be performed in the absence of any contacting or manipulating of the first vessel and specimen collector by simply screwing the cap to its farthest position.