Abstract: A method is provided for testing for presence of a particulate selected from the group consisting of: a microorganism, a fungus, a bacteria, a spore, a virus, a mite, a biological cell, a biological antigen, a protein, a protein antigen, and a carbohydrate antigen. The method includes (a) collecting, in a tube (22), fluid that potentially contains the particulate, (b) using a plunger (24) to push the fluid through a filter (26) disposed at a distal portion of the tube or at a distal end of the plunger, and subsequently, (c) while the filter is inside the tube, ascertaining if any of the particulate was trapped by the filter by applying a particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution to the filter. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A filter unit (20, 320, 420, 820, 1020) is provided that includes a filtration chamber (30, 330, 430, 830, 1030) and a filter assembly (32, 132, 232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 1032). A filter cartridge (28, 128, 328, 428, 528, 728, 828, 1028) of the filter assembly (32, 132, 232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 1032) includes a support shell (44, 144, 344, 444, 744, 844) and a filter (60, 860) coupled to a support-shell side wall (50, 350, 850) so as to cover support-shell side openings (52, 352, 852). A handle (62, 162, 262, 362, 662, 762, 862, 1062) of the filter assembly (32, 132, 232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 1032) is coupled to a proximal end of the support shell (44, 144, 344, 444, 744, 844).

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample. The sampling device includes a filtration assembly and a filter-collection receptacle disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. The filtration assembly includes a tubular container and a plunger, which is insertable into the tubular container via a proximal container opening. The filtration assembly is configured such that movement of the plunger within the tubular container, when a liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and a filter is disposed in the tubular container, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter. The sampling device is configured such that the filter is advanceable into the filter-collection receptacle while the filter-collection receptacle is disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided including a tube and a plunger sized and shaped to be inserted into the tube. A distal end of the plunger is shaped to define one or more first passageways therethrough, and the plunger is shaped to define one or more compartments in fluid communication with the first passageways. A filter is coupled to the distal end of the plunger. The plunger is shaped to define a second passageway that passes through the plunger from a proximal end of the plunger to the distal end of the plunger, and is positioned to facilitate testing of the filter. The apparatus is configured such that while the plunger is advanced within the tube while fluid is within the tube, the fluid in the tube is pushed through the filter, through the first passageways, and into the one or more compartments. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for testing a biological fluid for presence of a biological particulate. The apparatus includes a tube, a plunger sized and shaped to be inserted into and advanced within the tube, and a filter. The apparatus is configured such that as the plunger is advanced within the tube while the biological fluid is within the tube, the biological fluid in the tube is pushed through the filter, thereby trapping, by the filter, the biological particulate present in the biological fluid. The apparatus is shaped so as to define at least one enclosed cavity containing a biological particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution configured to test for the presence of the biological particulate trapped by the filter. The enclosed cavity is configured to open while the plunger is inside the tube, so as to release the biological particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution within the tube. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes rinsing an oral cavity of a subject with a rinse liquid. Thereafter, a gargle liquid is introduced into the oral cavity and gargled by the subject. Thereafter, at least a portion of the gargled liquid is collected as a specimen sample. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (22). The testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) includes a liquid container (30, 730) for containing the liquid (22); a filter (32, 132, 732), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (30, 730); a liquid-pressure source (34, 734), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid (22) contained in the liquid container (30, 730) through the filter (32, 132, 732); and a filter chamber (36, 136, 236, 336, 736) that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (30, 730), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (38, 138, 238, 738, 838), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (32, 132, 732). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (22). The testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) includes a liquid container (30, 730) for containing the liquid (22); a filter (32, 132, 732), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (30, 730); a liquid-pressure source (34, 734), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid (22) contained in the liquid container (30, 730) through the filter (32, 132, 732); and a filter chamber (36, 136, 236, 336, 736) that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (30, 730), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (38, 138, 238, 738, 838), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (32, 132, 732). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for testing a biological fluid for presence of a biological particulate. The apparatus includes a tube, a plunger sized and shaped to be inserted into and advanced within the tube, and a filter. The apparatus is configured such that as the plunger is advanced within the tube while the biological fluid is within the tube, the biological fluid in the tube is pushed through the filter, thereby trapping, by the filter, the biological particulate present in the biological fluid. The apparatus is shaped so as to define at least one enclosed cavity containing a biological particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution configured to test for the presence of the biological particulate trapped by the filter. The enclosed cavity is configured to open while the plunger is inside the tube, so as to release the biological particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution within the tube. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes intranasally dispensing nasal wash fluid (26) into a nasal cavity (22) of a subject such that the nasal wash fluid (26) washes biological material into an oropharynx (30) of the subject from (a) the nasal cavity (22), (b) a nasopharynx (32) of the subject, or (c) the nasal cavity (22) and the nasopharynx (32). Thereafter, a specimen sample (24) is collected that passed out of an anterior opening (34) of an oral cavity (36) of the subject and contains at least a portion of the biological material washed into the oropharynx (30) by the nasal wash fluid (26). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample. The sampling device includes a filtration assembly and a collection vial disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. The filtration assembly includes a tubular container and a plunger, which is insertable into the tubular container via a proximal container opening. The filtration assembly is configured such that movement of the plunger within the tubular container, when a liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and a filter is disposed in the tubular container, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter. The sampling device is configured such that the filter is advanceable into the collection vial while the collection vial is disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided including a tube and a plunger sized and shaped to be inserted into the tube. A distal end of the plunger is shaped to define one or more first passageways therethrough, and the plunger is shaped to define one or more compartments in fluid communication with the first passageways. A filter is coupled to the distal end of the plunger. The plunger is shaped to define a second passageway that passes through the plunger from a proximal end of the plunger to the distal end of the plunger, and is positioned to facilitate testing of the filter. The apparatus is configured such that while the plunger is advanced within the tube while fluid is within the tube, the fluid in the tube is pushed through the filter, through the first passageways, and into the one or more compartments. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing a non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample (22) taken from a human or non-human animal for the presence of a virus, the method including passing the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample (22) through one or more porous filters (32, 1932) to separate epithelial cells from the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample by size-based filtration. Thereafter, an extraction liquid is prepared by extracting cellular components of the epithelial cells separated from the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample (22). Thereafter, the extraction liquid is tested for the presence of the virus. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes introducing a fluid sample (19) into a fluid container (2, 502, 702) of a filtration assembly (20, 500, 720) and passing the fluid sample (19) through a porous filter (5, 705) by distally advancing a plunger (3, 610, 703) within the fluid container (2, 502, 702), thereby capturing, on or within the porous filter (5, 705) at least a portion of any particulate present in the fluid sample (19). Thereafter, a cavity (28, 628, 728) is created within the fluid container (2, 502, 702) between a distal end of the plunger and a distal end (49, 549, 749) of the fluid container (2, 502, 702) by proximally partially withdrawing the plunger (3, 610, 703) within the fluid container (2, 502, 702), while one or more vacuum-prevention openings (11, 711) are open. An extraction liquid (30) is prepared by introducing one or more extraction reagents (29) into the cavity (28, 628, 728) and bathing the porous filter (5, 705).

Abstract: A method is provided that includes intranasally dispensing nasal wash fluid into a nasal cavity of a subject such that the nasal wash fluid washes biological material into an oropharynx of the subject from (a) the nasal cavity, (b) a nasopharynx of the subject, or (c) the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. The method further includes, thereafter, collecting a specimen sample that passed out of an anterior opening of an oral cavity of the subject and contains at least a portion of the biological material washed into the oropharynx by the nasal wash fluid. Thereafter, information is derived from extracellular vesicles present in the specimen sample. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing for presence of a particulate selected from the group consisting of: a microorganism, a fungus, a bacteria, a spore, a virus, a mite, a biological cell, a biological antigen, a protein, a protein antigen, and a carbohydrate antigen. The method includes (a) collecting, in a tube (22), fluid that potentially contains the particulate, (b) using a plunger (24) to push the fluid through a filter (26) disposed at a distal portion of the tube or at a distal end of the plunger, and subsequently, (c) while the filter is inside the tube, ascertaining if any of the particulate was trapped by the filter by applying a particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution to the filter. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) is provided for testing for the presence of particulate in a liquid (22). The testing device (20, 120, 220, 290, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 1020, 1120) includes a liquid container (30, 730) for containing the liquid (22); a filter (32, 132, 732), disposed in or downstream of the liquid container (30, 730); a liquid-pressure source (34, 734), which is arranged to apply pressure to drive the liquid (22) contained in the liquid container (30, 730) through the filter (32, 132, 732); and a filter chamber (36, 136, 236, 336, 736) that is (a) disposed downstream of the liquid container (30, 730), (b) shaped so as to define an inlet (38, 138, 238, 738, 838), and (c) in fluid communication with the filter (32, 132, 732). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes collecting, from a patient, gargled fluid that potentially contains a particulate selected from the group consisting of: a bacterium and a virus; passing the gargled fluid through a filter; and subsequently, testing for the presence of the particulate trapped by the filter. Other embodiments are also described.