JP2000258308A - Screening container, sample collection method and sample collection container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Problem] To provide a screening container, a method for collecting a sample, and a stool collection container. A container body 1 for storing a liquid sample therein,
A medical examination container comprising: a plug body 2 formed in the container main body; wherein the plug body has a guide portion 8. A medical examination container comprising a container body 1 for accommodating a liquid sample therein and a stopper 2 formed in the container body, wherein the liquid sample is pressed by pressing the outside of the container body. A medical examination container and a method of collecting a sample, wherein the container passes through the stopper portion via a guide portion 8 and is accommodated in a liquid reservoir 4 provided above the stopper portion. . A container body 1 for storing therein a liquid for suspending feces, a stool collection rod 9 inserted into the container body from a lower end portion of the container body, and a plug body formed at an upper portion in the container body 2 and a liquid reservoir 4 formed at the upper end of the plug body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical examination container, a method for collecting a sample and a stool collection container, and more particularly, to a liquid sample stored in an upwardly opened liquid reservoir and taken into an automatic analyzer by a nozzle. The present invention relates to a screening container, a method for collecting a sample, and a stool collection container which can be directly applied to an automatic analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, liquid samples such as fecal suspensions,
Urine and blood provide useful information for diagnosis because they are suitable as clinical test samples. In particular, the detection of occult blood in feces is very useful for the diagnosis of digestive diseases, especially for colorectal cancer, etc. It has become indispensable.

[0003] As a method for detecting occult blood in feces, a detection method based on an immunological reaction principle (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 5064) is superior in terms of specificity and sensitivity as compared with a conventional detection method using a test paper using a guaiac reagent, and is widely used as a new screening method for the above-mentioned diseases.

However, when performing the method of detecting occult blood in feces based on this immunological reaction principle, feces are quantitatively collected in advance to a certain extent, and the feces are suspended in an appropriate liquid to obtain predetermined feces. A suspension must be prepared.

[0005] Since the immunological detection reagent is set so as to obtain a sensitivity corresponding to a certain amount of stool, if the amount of stool to be tested is too small, the sensitivity is lowered. Conversely, if the amount of stool to be examined is too large, it is inconvenient to transport, for example, by mail, causing odor, and an extra sample (test stool) after the test is completed.
There are also problems when disposing of

Various stool collection containers have been proposed so far to solve this problem. For example,
Since a substantially constant amount of a stool sample is held in a notch, a concave portion, or a through hole formed near the distal end, a stool collection container that can limit the amount of stool collected to a certain extent has been proposed (actually opened). JP-A-62-69160). However, in this collection container, there is a limit in controlling the amount of feces collected only by the tip structure of the feces sampling rod. For example, depending on the physical properties of the feces, there is a problem that the amount of collection may be excessive or insufficient. .

In order to solve this problem, a sampling rod is pierced into feces as a subject to collect a certain amount of feces at the tip thereof, and then the sampling rod is passed through a hole in the separation wall to remove the inside of the container body. A stool container has been proposed in which excess feces can be rubbed off by a hole when inserted into the stool, and as a result, a fixed amount of stool sample can be easily collected in the notch (Jpn. 42454).

[0008] On the other hand, a stool collection rod is pierced into the stool which is a subject to collect a certain amount of stool at the distal end, and then the stool collection rod is inserted through the hole of the separation wall into the container body. ,
At this time, excess feces can be scraped off by the peripheral surface of the separation wall. As a result, a fixed amount of feces sample is easily collected in the spiral groove, and this is used as a test sample by suspending it in a liquid. There has been proposed a stool collection container which can be used (JP-A-6-186227).

However, when the feces collection rod is inserted, the outer peripheral surface of the feces collection container slides airtightly over the entire length of the hole wall of the separation wall in the axial direction. The dynamic resistance was large, and it was difficult to insert the stool bar into the container body while maintaining sufficient sealing performance.

When the stool collection rod passes through the hole of the separation wall, the peripheral surfaces of the two members are slid airtightly and the liquid container in the container body is partitioned from the upper part by the separation wall. When the stool collection rod is inserted into the container body, the pressure inside the container body increases, and the operation during the inspection may cause the suspension to squirt or scatter, thereby contaminating the outside.

[0011] In order to solve this problem, a ridge is provided around the separation wall in a manner airtightly engaging with the outer peripheral wall of the stool collection rod, and the ridge of the separation wall is provided on at least a part of the peripheral surface of the stool collection rod. There has been proposed a stool container in which a concave portion longer than the axial length is formed so as to face the separation wall (JP-A-7-12808).

In the stool collection container described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-12808, a cap having a drip portion provided with a filter inside a container body is mounted in a sealed state, and a hole is formed in the cap to form a flexible container. The stool suspension chamber made of a plastic is pressed from the outside, and the suspension in the chamber is dropped from the dropping portion to the outside through the filter.

As described above, in the conventional stool collection container, the stool suspension is passed from the upper portion to the lower portion by the pressing force or weight applied from the outside of the stool suspension chamber through the filter portion at the lower position. Since the stool suspension is stored in a container such as a test tube that is open upward, the sample suction nozzle of the analyzer is inserted into the test tube from above, and a certain amount is aspirated. It has to be applied to an analyzer, and there is a problem that the operation process is complicated, inefficient and time-consuming.

For the purpose of solving this problem, the filtrate receiver is pushed into the stool suspension chamber and at the same time the stool suspension is discharged from the stool suspension chamber through a filter section from below against gravity. There has been proposed a stool collection container having a push-in forced filtration structure that can be stored in a liquid reservoir, suctioned from above with a nozzle and applied to an automatic analyzer to determine occult blood in feces (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-160728). Gazette).

[0015]

However, in the above-mentioned stool collection container, there is a possibility that an excessive stool suspension may accumulate in the liquid reservoir. In order to quantitatively collect the suspension, an extra specimen sample remaining in the liquid reservoir had to be discarded, which still required a complicated operation and was unsanitary for disposal.

[0016] A first object of the present invention is to provide a method in which a liquid sample is provided on an upper portion of a plug body having a guide portion formed in the container body by pressing the outside of the container body. After being inserted in the liquid reservoir part and inserting the nozzle directly from above and quantitatively sucking it into the automatic analyzer,
Since the liquid sample remaining in the liquid reservoir can be returned to the inside of the container body again by eliminating the pressing, a screening container, a method for collecting a sample, and a sample method that do not require a complicated operation of discarding an excess liquid sample are provided. To provide a stool collection container.

A second object of the present invention is to press the outside of the container body with a constant pressure so that the liquid sample passes through the stopper body having a guide formed in the container body, and the liquid sample passes through the stopper body. A fixed amount is accommodated in the liquid reservoir provided at the upper part, and the nozzle is inserted directly from above so that the fixed amount of the liquid sample can be quantitatively sucked into the automatic analyzer, so that the excess liquid sample is discarded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical examination container, a method for collecting a sample, and a stool collection container which do not require such complicated operations.

[0018]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention have made intensive studies to solve the above first problem, and as a result, a liquid sample has been formed in the container body by pressing the outside of the container body. Is passed through the plug body portion having a liquid storage portion provided above the plug body portion, and a nozzle is directly inserted from above so that the liquid can be sucked into the automatic analyzer. Since the liquid sample remaining in the liquid reservoir returns to the inside of the container body again when pressing is eliminated by forming the concave portion in the dropping portion of the portion, the inventors have found that the first problem can be solved, and have reached the present invention. .

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to solve the second problem, and as a result, a fixed amount of a sample is formed in the container body by pressing the outside of the container body with a certain pressure. By passing through the plug body portion having the guide portion and being accommodated in the liquid reservoir provided at the top of the plug body portion, and further forming a convex portion on the drip portion of the plug body portion as necessary, Since the fixed amount of liquid sample contained in the liquid reservoir does not return to the inside of the container body even if the pressing is eliminated, the fixed amount of liquid sample can be directly inserted into the nozzle from above and sucked into the automatic analyzer. The present inventors have found that the second problem can be solved, and have reached the present invention.

The examination container of the present invention comprises a container body for accommodating a liquid sample therein, and a stopper formed in the container body, wherein the stopper is provided. It has a guide part.

[0021] The examination container of the present invention comprises a container body for accommodating a liquid sample therein and a stopper formed in the container body. By pressing the liquid sample, the liquid sample passes through the plug body via the guide section and is accommodated in a liquid reservoir provided above the plug body.

In the method for collecting a sample according to the present invention, the outside of a container main body containing a liquid sample is pressed, and the liquid sample stored in the container main body is pressed into the container main body by the pressing. The liquid sample is stored in a liquid reservoir provided above the plug and passed through the formed plug, and the liquid sample stored in the liquid reservoir is sampled.

The stool collection container of the present invention comprises a container body for storing therein a liquid for suspending feces, a stool collection rod inserted into the container body from a lower end of the container body, And a liquid reservoir formed at the upper end of the plug body, wherein the feces suspension is performed by pressing the outside of the container body. The liquid is passed through the stopper and stored in the liquid reservoir.

[0024]

According to the structure of the present invention, a container for examination contains a collected liquid sample and is sealed, and then sent to an inspection organization, where the liquid sample stored in the container body is stored. To an automatic analyzer. The liquid sample to be supplied is passed through a stopper formed in the container body by pressing the outside of the container body, and is accommodated in a liquid reservoir formed above the stopper body. At this time, the stopper portion formed on the stopper body portion extends downward in the container body as a guide portion having a predetermined pore diameter, and when a pressure is applied from the outside of the container body, the liquid sample is guided. Through the stopper portion, the filter portion, and the dropping portion in this order, and is stored in the liquid storage portion. The stored liquid sample is applied to an automatic analyzer for determining fecal occult blood or the like by being sucked by a nozzle.

In the present invention, after a certain amount is quantitatively sampled by the nozzle, a concave portion is formed in the stopper so that the liquid sample remaining in the liquid reservoir can be removed when the external pressure of the container body is eliminated. Since it can be returned to the body, a complicated operation of discarding an extra sample can be eliminated.

Further, in the present invention, by forming a convex portion on the stopper body, the outside of the container body is pressed with a constant pressure, so that a fixed amount of the liquid sample is formed in the container body. A certain amount of the liquid sample contained in the liquid reservoir is stored in the liquid reservoir provided at the upper part of the plug and passed through the stopper through the plug, and even if the pressure is eliminated, the liquid sample is returned into the container body. Therefore, the fixed amount of the sample sample can be directly inserted into the nozzle and aspirated into the automatic analyzer, so that a complicated operation of discarding an extra sample can be eliminated.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a plug body formed in a container body according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a container body, 2 is a stopper, 3 is a sealing means, 4 is a liquid reservoir, 5 is a stopper, 6 is a filter, 7 is a dropping part, and 8 is a guide.

The examination container of the present invention comprises a container body 1 and a stopper 2 formed in the container body 1. The shape of the container body 1 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape or a rectangular tube shape, but is preferably a substantially cylindrical shape in terms of strength and ease of manufacture.

Although the size of the container body 1 is not particularly limited, it is preferable that the maximum diameter is 10 mm or less so that the container body 1 can be sent and / or returned by a mailing envelope (standard form). The material of the container main body 1 is selected from known plastics as long as a liquid sample, for example, fecal suspension, urine, blood, particularly a component that does not react with the components in the feces and is easily deformed in a vertically elongated shape can be obtained. What is necessary is just to select suitably. Above all, polyethylene or polypropylene is preferable from the viewpoint of easily extruding the liquid sample in the container body 1. Further, the sealing means 3 is provided at the upper end of the container body 1 to prevent foreign matter from entering the liquid reservoir 4.

As long as the plug body 2 can be formed in the container body 1, it may be formed by appropriately selecting from known means.
For example, it may be formed integrally with the container body 1 or may be mounted inside the container body 1 as a separate member. This plug 2 is
By pressing the outside of the container body 1, the liquid sample housed inside is made to pass through the stopper 2 and formed at a position where it can be housed in the liquid reservoir 4 provided on the upper part of the container body 1. The stopper 2 is constituted by a stopper 5, a filter 6 and a drip 7 in this order.

The most characteristic feature of the present invention is that the stopper portion 5 extends downward in the container body 1 as the guide portion 8 having a predetermined pore diameter. When the guide portion 8 is formed into a straw shape and pressure is applied from the outside of the container body 1, the liquid sample passes through the guide portion 8, the stopper portion 5, the filter portion 6, and the dropping portion 7 in this order, and the liquid sample is collected. It is housed in the unit 4. At this time, the guide section 8
Is formed in the shape of a straw, so that the liquid sample can be supplied to the liquid reservoir 4 even with a relatively small pressure, and the height of the liquid surface of the liquid sample can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the length of the guide portion 8. We can respond freely. The hole diameter of the guide portion 8 is
There is no particular limitation as long as the liquid sample can be introduced into the liquid reservoir 4, but it can be supplied to the liquid reservoir 8 with a smaller pressure.
Preferably, it is about 0.5 to 3 mm. Further, a material for forming the guide portion 8 may be appropriately selected from known plastics, and a transparent resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester is particularly preferable.

The filter section 6 is provided for the purpose of filtering a solid substance in a test sample, which is an obstacle during the test, and its material is not particularly limited as long as it is inert to a substance to be analyzed. Specific examples include porous substances such as polyurethane sponge and filter paper, and a glass wool filter or a membrane filter having a predetermined pore diameter is particularly preferable. Such a filter may be composed of one type, or may be formed by laminating two or more types of filters.

The drip portion 7 preferably has a shape formed in a concave portion. By forming the dropping portion 7 in such a shape, a certain amount is sucked from above into the liquid reservoir portion 4 containing the liquid sample by a nozzle and taken into the automatic analyzer. Since the liquid sample can be returned to the inside of the container main body 1 by eliminating it, a complicated operation of discarding an excess liquid sample is not required, and sampling can be performed hygienically.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the drip portion 7 has a shape formed in a convex portion (see FIG. 2). By forming the drip portion 7 in such a shape, after a certain amount of the liquid sample is stored in the liquid storage portion 4, the liquid sample returns to the inside of the container body 1 even if the pressing is not applied from the outside of the container body 1. Therefore, a fixed amount of the liquid sample stored in the liquid reservoir 4 can be quantitatively aspirated by the nozzle and taken into the automatic analyzer. At this time, since an excess liquid sample does not remain in the liquid reservoir, a complicated operation is not required for discarding the liquid sample, and moreover, a sanitary sampling can be performed. When an excess liquid sample remains, the container main body is hermetically sealed and discarded by the sealing means 3 provided at the upper end of the container main body 1, so that sanitary disposal can be performed. As the sealing means 3, for example, a lid or a membrane formed so as to be freely opened and closed is attached to the container body 1.

As the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, a container body 1 for storing therein a liquid for suspending feces, and a stool collection rod 9 inserted into the container body 1 from the lower end of the container body 1
And a stopper body 2 formed at the upper part of the container body 1 and a liquid reservoir 4 formed at the upper end of the stopper body 2, , The fecal suspension is provided to be stored in the liquid reservoir 4 by passing the stopper 2 by pressing the feces suspension.
(See FIG. 3).

As the liquid for suspending feces, any liquid can be appropriately selected as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. If necessary, buffers, stabilizers, preservatives, pigments,
An additive such as a deodorant may be contained. Any buffer can be used as long as it can maintain the pH in a certain region, and examples thereof include HEPES, PIPES, TES, MOPS, and Tris. Examples of the stabilizer include inactive proteins such as bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, and ovalbumin.
/ V%.

The shape of the stool collection rod 9 to be inserted into the container body 1 may have a stool collection means for quantitatively collecting stool at the tip. Specific examples of the fecal collection means, for example,
At least one selected from a cutout portion, a concave portion, and a through hole formed at the distal end portion is included. Any material can be used as long as it has a hardness such as synthetic resin which can be easily inserted into feces.

[0039]

The examination container and the sampling method of the present invention are as follows.
By pressing the outside of the container main body, the liquid sample passes through the plug body having the guide formed in the container main body so as to be accommodated in the liquid reservoir provided at the upper part of the plug body, After the nozzle is inserted directly from above and quantitatively sucked into the automatic analyzer, the liquid sample remaining in the liquid reservoir can be returned into the container body again by eliminating the pressing.
Therefore, according to the screening container and the sampling method of the present invention,
A complicated operation of discarding an extra specimen sample is not required, and fecal occult blood or the like can be determined hygienically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a medical examination container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a medical examination container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a stool container according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container main body 2 Plug part 3 Sealing means 4 Liquid storage part 5 Stopper part 6 Filter part 7 Dripping part 8 Guide part 9 Stool collection rod

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A medical examination container comprising a container main body for accommodating a liquid sample therein and a plug body formed in the container main body, wherein the plug body has a guide part. Characteristic examination container. 2. A medical examination container comprising: a container main body for accommodating a liquid sample therein; and a stopper formed in the container main body. A medical examination container, wherein a liquid sample passes through the stopper via a guide part and is accommodated in a liquid reservoir provided above the stopper. 3. The plug body according to claim 1, wherein the plug portion is constituted by a drip portion, a filter portion, a stopper portion, and a guide portion in this order.
The examination container described. 4. The examination container according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion is formed in a straw shape at the stopper portion. 5. The medical examination container according to claim 1, wherein the drip portion is formed in a concave portion. 6. The examination container according to claim 1, wherein the dripping portion is formed in a convex portion. 7. The examination container according to claim 1, wherein the filter section is formed of a material capable of filtering solids in the test sample. 8. The examination container according to claim 1, wherein a sealing means is formed at an upper end of the container body. 9. The examination container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid sample is a stool suspension, urine, or blood. 10. A container body for storing a liquid sample therein is pressed against the outside thereof, and said liquid sample stored in said container body is pressed through said stopper body formed in said container body. Stored in the liquid reservoir provided above the plug body,
A method for collecting a sample, comprising sampling the liquid sample contained in the liquid reservoir. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the stopper is formed in the order of a dropping part, a filter part, and a stopper part, and a guide part is formed in the stopper part in a straw shape. 12. The sample specimen according to claim 10, wherein a drop portion is formed in the concave portion, and after the sampling is completed, the liquid sample remaining in the liquid reservoir portion can be returned to the inside of the container body again without pressing. Sampling method. 13. The sample specimen according to claim 10, wherein the liquid sample remaining in the liquid storage section does not return to the inside of the container body even after the sampling is completed, even if the pressure is eliminated after the sampling is completed. Collection method. 14. The method for collecting a sample according to claim 10, wherein the solid matter in the test sample is filtered through a filter portion. 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein a sealing means is formed at an upper end of the container body to prevent foreign matter from entering the liquid reservoir. 16. A container body for accommodating therein a liquid for suspending feces, a stool collection rod inserted into the container body from a lower end of the container body, and an upper portion formed in the container body. A stool collection container comprising a stopper body portion and a liquid reservoir formed at an upper end portion of the stopper body portion, wherein a feces suspension is applied to the stopper body portion by pressing the outside of the container body. A stool collection container, wherein the stool container is passed through the container and is accommodated in the liquid reservoir. 17. The stool collection container according to claim 16, wherein the stopper portion is formed in the order of a drip portion, a filter portion, and a stopper portion, and the guide portion is formed in the stopper portion in a straw shape. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drip portion is formed in a concave portion.
18. The stool collection container according to 6 or 17. 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dripping portion is formed on the convex portion.
18. The stool collection container according to 6 or 17. 20. The stool collection container according to claim 16, wherein a sealing means is formed at an upper end portion of the container body.