Calypte Biomedical Corp, Portland, Ore, a developer and manufacturer of HIV diagnostic tests, has introduced Aware Messenger, an oral fluid sample collection device for collecting oral fluid specimens for high-throughput lab testing.
The device may meet sample collection needs of customers seeking an alternative to blood testing but prefer the advantages of high-volume batch testing provided by traditional diagnostic methods such as EIA.
The device uses an untreated, soft, tasteless swab and takes 15 to 20 seconds to collect a sample rich in oral mucosal transudate. It yields a sample that is ready for testing without additional processing by the testing lab, either immediately upon receipt or at a later time at a remote testing lab. The sample buffer promotes sample stability and compatibility with a range of clinical lab tests.
The current device is generic and requires validation by users for each individual application for diagnostic use by the lab. It will be available for shipment next month in boxes of 50 devices.
