| abstract |
A device 10 for collecting cells from a sample of biological fluid comprises first chamber 11 and second chamber 13 which are releasably connected and which define a fluid flow path from the first chamber to the second chamber, a porous membrane 14 held between the chambers, an absorbent body 17 positioned in close proximity to a downstream surface of the porous membrane, and a resilient member 18 which urges the absorbent body towards the porous membrane. In use, a sample introduced into the first chamber contacts an upstream surface of the porous membrane and fluid is drawn through the porous membrane and is absorbed by the absorbent body with cells from the sample retained upon the upstream surface of the porous membrane wherein after separation of the first and second chambers, the porous membrane can be removed from the device for analysis of the deposited cells. The resilient member may be a compressible body such as foam or a sponge so that the member is compressed as the absorbent swells (fig 3), or comprises a sheet of deformable, elastic material such that the member can expand to accommodate the swollen absorbent (fig 5). |