BIOLOGICAL SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

Disclosed are compositions for isolating populations of nucleic acids frombiological, forensic, and environmental samples. Also disclosed are methodsfor using thesecompositions as one-step formulations for killing pathogens, inactivatingnucleases, andreleasing polynucleotides from other cellular components within the sample,and stabilizingthe nucleic acids prior to further processing or assay. The disclosedcompositions safelyfacilitate rapid sample collection, and provide extended storage and transportof the samplesat ambient or elevated temperature without contamination of the sample ordegradation ofthe nucleic acids contained therein. This process particularly facilitates thecollection ofspecimens from remote locations, and under conditions previously consideredhostile forpreserving the integrity of nucleic acids released from lysed biologicalsamples without theneed of refrigeration or freezing prior to molecular analysis.