Abstract: A cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with an open-ended vessel capable of receiving and holding fluid specimens or other materials for analysis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between a fluid sample present in the vessel and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap having a frangible seal which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device. The cap further includes a filter for limiting dissemination of an aerosol or bubbles once the frangible seal has been pierced. The filter is positioned between the frangible seal and a retaining structure. The retaining structure is positioned on the cap above the filter and may be used to contain the filter within the cap. The material of the retaining structure may be penetrable by a fluid transfer device.

Abstract: A cap including a penetrable material adapted to be pierced by a fluid transfer device and an absorbent material positioned above the penetrable material. The absorbent material permits passage of the fluid transfer device and absorbs fluid material present on an outer surface of the fluid transfer device as it is being removed from the cap. The cap is useful for accessing the contents of an associated fluid-holding vessel multiple times.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oligonucleotides useful for determining the presence of SARS coronavirus in a test sample. The oligonucleotides of the present invention may be incorporated into detection probes, capture probes and amplification oligonucleotides, or used in various combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reagents for use in deactivating nucleic acids and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with an open-ended vessel capable of receiving and holding fluid specimens or other materials for analysis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between a fluid sample present in the vessel and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap having a frangible seal which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device. The cap further includes filtering means for limiting dissemination of an aerosol or bubbles once the frangible seal has been pierced. The filtering means is positioned between the frangible seal and retaining means. The retaining means is positioned on the cap above the filtering means and may be used to contain the filtering means within the cap. The retaining means may be comprised of a material which is penetrable by a fluid transfer device.

Abstract: Method for obtaining a fluid sample from a collection device which includes assembling cap and fluid-holding vessel components of the collection device to contain and isolate a specimen retrieval device adjacent a side wall of the vessel. The position of the specimen retrieval device within the collection device is such that the specimen retrieval device does not substantially interfere with the movement of a fluid transfer device into or out of the assembled collection device. The fluid transfer device is used to draw and remove a fluid substance from the collection device for analysis.