Abstract: The present invention provides a device, system, and methods of use comprising an absorbent hydrophobic polyolefin matrix, and methods of use thereof, for storage, preserving, and recovering liquid suspension of biological specimens containing analytes of interest in a dry state. The dried biological specimens containing analytes of interest absorbed on the polyolefin matrix are reconstituted such as with molecular-grade water and released by compressing the polyolefin matrix. The reconstituted biological analytes are qualified for subsequent analysis, such as for qualitative and quantitative analysis of viral nucleic acids, such a viral load testing, genotyping, and sequencing. Also provided are kits with instructions, and methods of use thereof, for storage, preserving, and recovering biological specimens containing analytes of interest using the compression device of the invention.