APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SALIVA COLLECTION AND VERIFICATION FOR DRIED SALIVA SPOT DRUG AND HIV ANTIBODY TESTING

摘要

A method is provided for rapidly determining during a saliva specimen collection procedure the presence of an amount of saliva, and for verifying that the sample obtained is in fact saliva. Color indication by dye markers and/or enzymatic activation of color indicators (125) provides an indication that at least a predetermined amount of saliva has beed applied to an absorbent (104) and the enzymatic reaction indicates that saliva is contained in the sample collected. Apparatus (100) for collecting a human saliva sample is provided having a dye indicator (125) for signalling the collection of a predetermined sample quantity. Alternatively, the apparatus (100) contains a chromogen capable of undergoing chemical conversion upon contact with saliva to produce a color change thereby verifying the presence of saliva as opposed to another fluid.