Abstract: An apparatus and method for temporally regulating analysis of nucleic acids in a specimen. The specimen, such as blood or hair, is contained in a vessel pre-packaged with all reagents needed for the analysis, having one or more barriers that can be selectively breached. Preferably, the barrier is a wax having a discrete melting point. The vessel may be stored until specimen is added, then the vessel containing the specimen can again be stored. Breaching the barrier allows the user to select when reagents will contact the specimen. A number of barriers can be incorporated to segregate a number of reagents. This invention provides a simple, self-contained and portable vessel for collecting, transporting, and processing a specimen for nucleic acid analysis at a desired time. The invention also avoids sample and environmental contamination.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for temporally regulating analysis of nucleic acids in a specimen. The specimen, such as blood or hair, is contained in a vessel pre-packaged with all reagents needed for the analysis, having one or more barriers that can be selectively breached. Preferably, the barrier is a wax having a discrete melting point. The vessel may be stored until specimen is added, then the vessel containing the specimen can again be stored. Breaching the barrier allows the user to select when reagents will contact the specimen. A number of barriers can be incorporated to segregate a number of reagents. This invention provides a simple, self-contained and portable vessel for collecting, transporting, and processing a specimen for nucleic acid analysis at a desired time. The invention also avoids sample and environmental contamination.