WO2008006746A2

WO2008006746A2 - Container for providing and transferring liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2008006746A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/056712
Authority: WO
Inventors: Beat Glauser
Original assignee: Tecan Trading Ag
Priority date: 2006-07-11
Filing date: 2007-07-04
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: WO2008006746A3; EP1899066A2

Abstract

Relates to a container (1) for providing and transferring liquids, which is implemented as essentially tubular and comprises an intake opening (2) for introducing the liquid, and which comprises an external wall (4) and the floor (5), which are impermeable to liquids. The container according to the present invention is characterized in that this floor (5) comprises an area (6) which, to discharge liquids (7) from the inner chamber (8) of the container (1) into another container (9), may be opened or at least made permeable to these liquids (7). In addition, those containers (1) are disclosed which are characterized in that they are suitable as collecting containers (1') for collecting and providing forensically relevant samples using a sample carrier (3), in that they comprise retention means (13) that are permeable for these liquids (7), using which the sample carrier (3) is retained in these collecting containers (1') when the area (6) of the floor (5) is pierced, made permeable, or opened.

Description

Container for providing and transferring liquids

The present invention relates to a container for providing and transferring liquids, which is implemented as essentially tubular and comprises an intake opening for introducing a liquid, and which comprises an external wall and a floor which are impermeable to liquids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to such a container which is suitable as a collecting container for collecting and providing for- ensically relevant samples using a sample carrier as well as a corresponding method for collecting and providing forensically relevant samples.

In pharmaceutical research, chemical or biochemical compounds and/or substances are routinely assayed in regard to potential pharmaceutical effect. For this purpose, such compounds must be provided in hundreds of thousands within a very short time. A selection of typically several hundred or several thousand small sample quantities, so-called aliquots, is required for this purpose. Such sample aliquots may be decanted into individual containers and provided in racks. Such racks preferably have the dimensions of a standard microplate, so that the racks may be automatically grasped, transported, and placed in a microplate store or a microplate processing station, for example, using a microplate handling robot. The processing of large quantities of such sample aliquots is also referred to as "high throughput screening", automated HTS facilities being able to profit from the sample provision in the cited racks. A handling system for providing sample aliquots in racks having microplate dimensions is known from the patent EP 0 904 841 Bl. The racks used therein have a peripheral frame and a top side and a bottom side. These racks comprise latticed partition walls which define multiple depressions or cavities, each of which is capable of receiving a sample tube, which contains an aliquot of a chemical or biochemical compound. Special retention means, which snap in between two edges of the external wall of the sample tube, prevent the sample tubes from falling out of their cavities, from which they may be removed upward or downward and may also be inserted from the top or bottom.

The collection of samples containing nucleic acid to use the genetic code is currently increasingly gaining in significance. In connection with combating crime, the collection of genetic samples in the meaning of a "genetic fingerprint" is becoming more and more important in two regards: firstly, the genetic code is to be acquired from criminals who have already been arrested and secondly the acquired data is to be compared to unknown traces found at a crime scene, for example. In the first case, fresh and clearly identified samples are used to build up a data bank, which may be accessed in the second case. However, the findable samples are often incomplete, contaminated, and damaged, thus complicating the forensic work. Individual countries have changed over in the meantime to preventively acquiring the genetic code of all individuals entering the country or even all the inhabitants of the country.

The attribute "forensic" refers to anything which has a legal or criminological character. The term is thus not only restricted to the fields of criminal law (e.g., legal medicine), but rather comprises any professional activity within any legal proceeding. Forensically relevant samples also comprise proteins (e.g., the prions causing Creutzfeld-Jacob syndrome, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE respectively), viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms, human or animal bodily fluids (such as blood, sputum, feces, sperm, and urine), and single cells (such as oral mucosa cells and hair follicles). Methods for isolating and analyzing human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are known from the prior art (cf., for example, Molecular Diagnostics: Isolation and Analysis of Human Genomic DNA, 1998 Promega Notes No. 68, p. 20). These methods comprise PCR methods (PCR = Polymerase Chain Reaction) for increas- ing the sample yield and thus the sensitivity of the analysis.

Containers for collecting samples and for manually preparing the collected samples for an analysis or a PCR reaction are known from WO 2004/105949 Al. Containers for performing the collection and subsequent PCR reaction in the field are known from US 2004/0214200 Al. However, these known methods appear quite complicated and the containers appear unsuitable for automated and/or robotic processing of samples.

The object of the present invention is to suggest an alternative device and/or an alternative method, using which the collection or provision of liquids, in particular of forensically relevant samples, is simplified.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect by a container for providing and transferring liquids according to the features of independent Claim 1. This container is implemented as essentially tubular and comprises an intake opening for introducing a liquid, an external wall, and a floor, external wall and floor being impermeable to liquids. A container according to the present invention is characterized in that this floor comprises an area which, to discharge liquids from the inner chamber of the container into another container, may be opened or at least made permeable to the liquids.

This object is achieved according to a second aspect according to the features of Claim 8, in that a container is suggested which is characterized in that it is suitable as a collecting container for collecting and providing forensically relevant samples using a sample carrier, in that it has retention means that are permeable for these liquids, using which the sample carrier is retained in this collecting container when the area of the floor is pierced, made permeable, or opened. This object is achieved according to a third aspect by a method for providing liquids in containers according to the features of independent Claim 15, in which liquids are introduced through the intake opening into the interior of a container and which is characterized in that this floor comprises an area which, to dis- charge liquids from the inner chamber of the container into another container, may be opened or at least made permeable to these liquids, by which the liquids are transferred through the area of the container floor into another container.

This object is achieved according to a fourth aspect by a method according to the features of Claim 16, in which a collecting container for collecting and providing forensically relevant samples using a sample carrier is used, the collecting container comprising retention means that are permeable for these liquids. This method is characterized in that a sample carrier having forensically relevant samples is introduced into the interior of the collecting container through the in- take opening, the samples are then separated from the sample carrier using a liquid and transferred into another container through the area of the floor which is pierced, made permeable, or opened, the sample carrier being held back in this collecting container.

Additional preferred features according to the present invention result from the dependent claims. The present invention will be explained in greater detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments and schematic drawings which do not restrict the scope of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a vertical partial section through two different archive racks having different embodiments of the container according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a horizontal partial section through the archive racks of Figure 1 with the corresponding different embodiments of the container according to the present invention having retention webs for retaining the collecting containers in the archive racks; Figure 3 shows a vertical partial section through a collecting rack having different embodiments of the collecting container according to the present invention with a top view of the various retention means therein;

Figure 4 shows a horizontal partial section through the collecting rack of Figure 3 with the corresponding different embodiments of the collecting container according to the present invention having retention webs for retaining the collecting containers in the collecting rack and with a top view of the various retention means in the collecting containers;

Figure 5 shows the collecting rack of Figure 3, a piercing device being placed under some collecting containers for piercing their film-like floors, and the container floor being folded along an intended breakpoint in other collecting containers;

Figure 6 shows a vertical partial section through an archive or working rack along section line A— A in Figure 2 with the preferred implementation of retention elements and containers for producing a reinforced friction lock.

Figure 1 shows a vertical partial section through two different archive racks having different embodiments of the container according to the present invention. The containers 1 in the somewhat shorter, more compact archive rack 30 on the left have a film 20 as a closure of their intake openings 2. Such a film 20 is preferably welded on after the decanting of the liquid 7. The containers in the somewhat taller archive rack 30 on the right are closed using a cover 19 or a stopper 18. The archive rack 30 is implemented as precisely tall enough in each case that its compartments 24 may each receive a container 1 in such a way that it is not entirely flush on the top and bottom with the rack surface, i.e., does not reach it. The archive rack thus protects the inserted containers 1. In such an archive rack 30, the compartments 24 are open on the top and bottom, so that the containers 1 are insertable from top or bottom into a compartment 24 and are ejectable downward or upward from this compartment 24. By this implementation of the archive racks 30, which preferably have the dimensions of a standard microplate, the containers 1 having the liquid aliquot provided therein may be inserted into arbitrary compartments of working racks (not shown). Containers 1 are preferably pushed through into the compartments 24 of a working rack using a robot, the compartments 24 also being open on the top and bottom in the working racks, so that the containers 1 are insertable from the bottom or top into a compartment 24 and are ejectable downward or upward from this compartment 24. The containers 1 are preferably retained in the compartments 24 of the racks using retention webs 28. The containers 1 in turn pref- erably have an upper flange 31 and a lower thickened area 32, preferably having identical external diameters. This upper flange 31 and this lower thickened area 32 produce a friction lock with retention webs 28, which are preferably situated in the corners of the compartments 24 and extend essentially over the entire height of the compartments 24. Thanks to this friction lock, the containers are securely retained in the compartments 24 and may not fall out spontaneously. In addition, these retention webs 28 may have first and second protrusions 33,34, between which the lower thickened area 32 of the container 1 snaps upon insertion into the compartment 24, so that a specific height position of the containers 1 in the compartment 24 is predefined and the retention in this defined position is rein- forced further.

These containers 1 are especially implemented for providing and transferring liquids, in that they are implemented as essentially tubular, comprise an intake opening 2 for introducing a liquid, an external wall 4, and a floor 5. In a preferred embodiment, the containers 1 have a closure 17 in the form of a film 20 which is preferably welded on. This film 20, but also the external wall 4 and the floor 5 of the container 1, are preferably impermeable to liquids. Especially preferably, film 20, external wall 4, and floor 5 of the container 1 are also gas-tight, so that liquids 7 may be stored and transported in such a container 1 over a long time and without change. Storing a very specific quantity of a defined liquid 7, a so-called "aliquot" in each container, is especially preferred. A single aliquot or very many such aliquots may be stored and robotically transferred from an archive rack 30 into an essentially identically implemented working rack. These racks preferably have the shape and dimensions of a standard microplate, so that such racks may be grasped, transported, and set down again at arbitrary locations using a microplate handling robot.

The floor of this container 1 comprises an area 6, which, to discharge liquids 7 from the inner chamber 8 of the container 1 into another container 9, may be opened or at least made permeable to these liquids 7. Independently of the implementation of the floor, these containers 1 according to the present invention may be closed on top using a stopper 18, a cover 19, or a film 20. In such a con- tainer 1, this area 6 of the floor 5 is preferably implemented as flat and comprises a film 10, which may be pierced, according to a first embodiment. This film 10 which may be pierced may be produced from the same material as the external wall 4 and therewith in one work step. Alternatively thereto, this film 10 which may be pierced may comprise a different material than the external wall 4 and may be connected thereto in a further work step, e.g., by a welding procedure. The containers 1 may also be produced in a two-component or multicom- ponent injection molding method, the area 6 of the floor 5 being able to comprise a different plastic than the external walls 4, for example.

A second embodiment provides an area 6 of the floor 5 which is implemented as flat and comprises a film 10' which may be made permeable. This film which may be made permeable either comprises functional molecules which are preferably activatable by electromagnetic radiation, so that they release pores through which the liquids 7 may drain out as needed. This film which may be made per- meable may also comprise material soluble in special solvents, which is resistant to the liquids 7 and closes pores in a polymer film. Adding such a solvent to the liquid 7 or directly to the film 10' which may be made permeable at least partially dissolves this material clogging the pores, by which this film 10' becomes permeable to the liquid 7 (cf., for example, US 3,872,923).

These first two embodiments of containers 1 may also be combined with one another. To transfer the liquid 7 from the original container 1 into another container 9, e.g., into the wells of a microplate lying underneath, either centrifuging is performed or a gas overpressure is applied in the containers 1.

A third embodiment provides an area 6 of the floor 5, which is implemented so it may be at least partially separated and folded up in relation to the external wall 4 by intended breakpoints 11. Centrifuging is preferably performed to transfer the liquid 7 from this container 1 into another container 9, the centripetal force acting on the liquid 7 during centrifuging being used for opening the container floor 5 along at least one intended breakpoint 11. The area 6 of the floor 5 predeter- mined by the intended breakpoint opens like a trapdoor under this load due to the centrifuging and allows the liquid 7 to escape.

The container 1 preferably comprises an identification 12 in the area 6 of the floor 5, which is selected from a group which comprises a 2-D barcode, an RFID transponder, and a RuBee transceiver. The principle of 2-D barcodes is known to those skilled in the art and is based on the optical scanning of a high-contrast identification marking. The advantage of such an identification 12 is the relatively simple physical principle; however, there must be a visual contact between the scanning device and the identification 12. The RFID transponders known per se, which operate at high frequency (HF, such as 900 MHz) or ultra-high frequency (UHF), transmit and receive radio signals, while the newer RuBee transceivers operate at wavelengths below 450 kHz and emit and receive signals which are primarily based on magnetism. The passive RFID transponders may receive approximately 100 (HF) or 150-200 (UHF) messages per second. In contrast, the active RuBee transceivers may only receive approximately 10 messages/second; visual contact is not needed in any case. The type of identification 12 used is thus a function, inter alia, of the density of the data transfer and the presence of a visual contact. In the case of Figure 6, an RFID transponder or a RuBee transceiver is situated on the vertical wall 4 of the container 7 on the right side, while a 2-D barcode is situated on the foldable area 6 of the floor 5 on the left side.

Figure 2 shows a horizontal partial section through the archive rack of Figure 1 having the corresponding different embodiments of the container according to the present invention having retention webs for retaining the collecting containers in the archive rack. The intermediate walls 29 may be seen especially well, which define a lattice, in which the meshes represent the compartments 24. Archive racks 30 having the external dimensions of a standard microplate are espe- dally preferred, so that these archive racks may be placed in microplate magazines using microplate handling robots and retrieved therefrom again in a targeted way. Each archive rack 30 preferably comprises an identification 12 of the type already described. The retention webs 28, which are each situated in the corners of the compartments 24, are also well visible. The friction lock with the containers 1 to be inserted may be defined by the precise dimensions of these retention webs 28, but also by the extent of their flexibility. This friction lock is preferably only produced between an upper flange 31 and a lower thickened area 32 of a container 1 and the retention webs 28. For this purpose, the flange 31 and the thickened area 32 preferably have the same diameter and project be- yond all other container parts and the closure 17 thereof. It is thus guaranteed that a displacement of the container in its compartments 24 upward or downward does not disturb the stopper 18, the cover 19, and/or the film 20. The area 6 of the floor 5 also remains undisturbed.

A preferred embodiment of the container 1 according to the present invention relates to a collecting container 1'. It is capable of collecting and providing forensi- cally relevant samples using a sample carrier 3, in that it comprises retention means 13 that are permeable for liquids 7, using which the sample carrier 3 is retained in this collecting container I¹ when the area 6 of the floor 5 is pierced, made permeable, or opened. Figure 3 shows a vertical partial section through a collecting rack 23 having different embodiments of the collecting container I¹ according to the present invention with a top view of the different retention means 13 therein. These retention means 13 are preferably situated in the inner chamber 8. In this case, they are selected from a group which comprises an inserted filter 14, an inserted lattice 15, and molded-on webs 16.

The sample carrier 3 is preferably selected from a group which comprises a gauze pad, a finding, a filter paper, and a textile piece. Above all gauze pads or "swabs" have proven themselves for use in forensics. Such a collecting container 1' also comprises a closure 17 for the intake opening 2. This is preferably selected from a group which comprises a stopper 18, a cover 19, and a film 20. A stopper 18 has especially proven itself in practice. A collecting set 22 having at least one collecting container 1' has also proven itself. A collecting rack 23 especially preferably comprises twelve compartments 24 for receiving collecting containers I¹. The compartments 24 of this collecting rack 23 are also open on the top and bottom, so that the collecting containers 1' may be inserted from above or below into a compartment 24 and may be ejected downward or upward from this compartment 24. A collecting rack 23 may be implemented as only strip- shaped and may have six, eight (cf. Figures 3 and 4) or twelve compartments in a row. However, the collecting rack 23 may also be implemented as round or annular (not shown) or have the shape and external dimensions of a standard mi- croplate.

Figure 4 shows a horizontal partial section through the collecting rack 23 from Figure 3 with the corresponding different embodiments of the collecting container according to the present invention having retention webs for retaining the collecting containers in the collecting rack and with a top view of the different retention means in the collecting containers. These retention means 13 are, for example, (from left to right) implemented as a filter 14, inserted lattice 15, or molded-on webs 16. The shape of the collecting container 1' narrowing somewhat toward the floor 5 (cf. also Figure 3) allows secure placement of the inserted retention means 13, such as filter 14, lattice 15, and the like. Greater narrowing is pre- ferred for retaining the retention means 13, less narrowing is preferred for providing a foldable floor area 6, i.e., a larger area for the floor area 6.

The method according to the present invention comprises the use of the containers 1 and/or collecting containers I¹. To provide liquids in containers 1, in which liquids may be introduced into the inner chamber 8 of a container 1 through the intake opening 2, these containers 1 comprise a floor 5 having an area 6. This area 6 is opened or at least made permeable to these liquids 7 to discharge liquids 7 from the inner chamber 8 of the container 1 into another container 9, by which the liquids 7 are transferred through the area 6 of the container floor 5 into another container 9. A collecting container V₁ which comprises retention means 13 that are permeable for liquids 7, is used for collecting and providing forensically relevant samples using a sample carrier 3. A sample carrier 3 having forensically relevant samples is inserted through the intake opening 2 into the inner chamber 8 of the collecting container 1'. The samples are then separated from the sample carrier 3 using a liquid 7 and transferred through the area 6 of the floor 5, which is pierced, made permeable, or opened, into another container 9, the sample carrier 3 being held back in this collecting container 1'.

Figure 5 shows the collecting rack 23 of Figure 3, a piercing device 25 for piercing their film-like floors 10 being placed below some collecting containers 1' (see left side), and the container floor 6 being folded up along an intended breakpoint 11 in other collecting containers 1' (see right side). In each case, the sample carrier 3 is held back in its collecting container 1' and only the liquid 7 having forensically relevant samples dissolved therein, which are selected from a group comprising bodily fluids, cells, DNA, RNA, proteins, microorganisms, and viruses, are conducted into the container 9 placed underneath (a standard microplate is schematically illustrated here).

To accelerate the transfer of the samples having the liquid 7 into another container 9, centrifuging may be performed or a gas overpressure may be applied in the containers I¹. If exclusively collecting containers 1' having foldable floor areas 6 are used, in each case centrifuging of the collecting rack 23 together with the other containers 9 is executed, because the floor areas 6 are only opened in this way. Therefore, the centripetal force acting on the liquid 7 comprising the samples during centrifuging is used to open the container floor 5 along at least one intended breakpoint 11.

Depending on the closure 17 used for the collecting containers V₁ the closure 17 of the container 1' is removed (stopper 18 or cover 19) or perforated (film 20) before the transfer of the samples with the liquid 7 into another container 9 via centrifuging or gas overpressure. The removal of the stopper 18 or cover 19 may be executed using robot which grasps the stopper or cover on the grasping tube 21 provided for this purpose. Known robot tools also exist for the automated perforation of the terminus films 20.

A piercing device 25 may be used for penetrating the area 6 of the floor 5 implemented as a film 10 which may be pierced and/or for opening the container floor 5. This piercing device 25 preferably comprises a piercing mandrel 26 for each container 1 or collecting container 1'. The piercing device 25 preferably comprises multiple piercing mandrels 26, which are situated in an array whose lattice distance corresponds to the lattice distance of the collecting containers 1' situated in a collecting rack 23, so that all areas 6 of the container floor 5 are penetrated simultaneously. The piercing mandrels 26 may be implemented as star-shaped and/or conical and/or cylindrical and preferably comprise through openings 27 for letting through liquids 7. Such piercing devices 25 may be pro- duced from plastic or metal, the usually cost-effectively producible plastic devices being more suitable for single use and subsequent disposal (as disposables) than the somewhat more costly metal devices, whose extremely careful cleaning (e.g., autoclaving) pays for itself in the event of multiple uses.

All method steps, such as providing racks, equipping them with containers 1 or collecting containers 1', closing the containers 1 or collecting containers 1', transferring containers 1 or collecting containers 1' from one rack into another, etc., are preferably performed automatically using robots in a workstation equipped with robots and corresponding control systems.

The area 6 of the floor 5 of the containers 1,1' may be curved upward (inward) or downward (outward), notwithstanding the embodiment shown. A curvature downward (outward) is preferred, because this may successfully prevent a dead volume from arising in the floor area of the container 1,1', in which parts of the sample liquid are held back when the container floor 5 is opened or made permeable. It may thus be ensured that the liquid aliquots in the containers 1 or the sample liquids in the collecting containers 1' are transferred completely into another container 9. Like the containers in the racks of EP 0 904 841 Bl, the containers 1 and collecting containers 1' according to the present invention may also be transferred arbitrarily from one rack into another and rearranged as desired. It plays no role whether the starting rack is a collecting rack 23, a working rack, or an archive rack 30. The receiving rack may also be freely selected from at least the archive racks and working racks. This free ability to select and transfer the containers 1,1' makes the so-called "cherry picking" in the second screening of the high throughput screening method significantly easier.

List of reference numerals:

1,1' container, collecting container25

2 intake opening 18 stopper

3 sample carrier 19 cover

4 external wall 20 film

5 floor 21 grasping tube

6 floor area 30 22 collecting set

7 liquids 23 collecting rack

8 inner chamber 24 compartments

9 other container 25 piercing device

10,10' film which may be pierced or 26 piercing mandrel made permeable 35 27 through openings

11 intended breakpoint 28 retention web

12 identification 29 intermediate wall

13 retention means 30 archive rack

14 filter 31 upper flange

15 inserted lattice 40 32 lower thickened area

16 molded-on webs 33 first protrusion

17 closure 34 second protrusion

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A container (1) for providing and transferring liquids, which is implemented as essentially tubular and comprises an intake opening (2) for introducing a liquid, and which has an external wall (4) and a floor (5), which are impermeable to liquids, characterized in that this floor (5) comprises an area (6) which, to discharge liquids (7) from the inner chamber (8) of the container (1) into another container (9), may be opened or at least made permeable to these liquids (7).

2. The container (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that this area (6) of the floor (5) is implemented as flat and comprises a film (10) which may be pierced.

3. The container (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that this film (10) which may be pierced is produced from the same material as the ex- ternal wall (4) and therewith in one work step.

4. The container (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that this film (10) which may be pierced comprises a different material than the external wall (4) and is connected thereto in a further work step.

5. The container (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that this area (6) of the floor (5) is implemented as flat and comprises a film (10) which may be made permeable.

6. The container (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that this area (6) of the floor (5) is implemented so it may be separated and folded up at least partially in relation to the external wall (4) by intended breakpoints (11).

7. The container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this area (6) of the floor (5) has an identification (12), which is selected from a group which comprises a 2-D bar code, an RFID transponder, and a RuBee transceiver.

8. The container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is suitable as a collecting container ( I¹) for collecting and providing forensically relevant samples using a sample carrier (3), in that it comprises retention means (13) that are permeable for these liquids (7), using which the sample carrier (3) is retained in this collecting container (I¹) when the area (6) of the floor (5) is pierced, made permeable, or opened.

9. The collecting container (I¹) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the retention means (13) are situated in an inner chamber (8) and selected from a group which comprises an inserted filter (14), an inserted lattice (15) and molded-on webs (16).

10. The collecting container (I¹) according to one of Claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the sample carrier (3) is selected from a group which com- prises a gauze pad or swab, a finding, filter paper, and a textile piece.

11. The collecting container (I¹) according to one of the Claims 8 through 10, characterized in that it comprises a closure (17) for the intake opening (2), which is selected from a group which comprises a stopper ( 18), a cover ( 19), and a film (20).

12. A collecting set (22) having at least one collecting container (I¹) according to one of the Claims 8 through 11, characterized in that it comprises a collecting rack (23) having compartments (24) for receiving collecting con- tainers ( I¹).

13. The collecting set (22) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the compartments (24) of this collecting rack (23) are open on the top and bot- torn, so that the collecting containers (I¹) are insertable from above or below into a compartment (24) and are ejectable downward or upward from this compartment (24).

14. The collecting set (22) according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the collecting rack (23) has the dimensions of a standard microplate.

15. A method for providing liquids in containers (1) according to one of the Claims 1 through 8, in which liquids are introduced through the intake open- ing (2) into the inner chamber (8) of a container (1), characterized in that this floor (5) comprises an area (6) which, to discharge liquids (7) from the inner chamber (8) of the container (1) into another container (9), may be opened or at least made permeable to these liquids (7), by which the liquids (7) are transferred through the area (6) of the container floor (5) into another container (9).

16. The method according to Claim 15, in which a collecting container (I¹) for collecting and providing forensically relevant samples using a sample carrier (3) is used, the collecting container (I¹) comprising retention means (13) that are permeable for these liquids (7), characterized in that a sample carrier (3) having forensically relevant samples is inserted through the intake opening (2) into the inner chamber (8) of the collecting container (I¹), the samples are then separated from the sample carrier (3) using a liquid (7) and transferred into another container (9) through the area (6) of the floor (5), which has been pierced, made permeable, or opened, the sample carrier (3) being held back in this collecting container (I¹).

17. The method according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that centrifug- ing is performed or a gas overpressure is applied in the containers (1, I¹) to transfer the samples with the liquid (7) into another container (9).

18. The method according to Claim 17, characterized in that, before the transfer of the samples with the liquid (7) into another container (9) using centrifuging or gas overpressure, the closure (17) of the container (1, I¹) is removed or perforated.

19. The method according to one of the Claims 15 through 18, characterized in that a piercing device (25) is used for opening the container floor (5), this piercing device (25) having a piercing mandrel (26), for penetrating the area (6) of the floor (5) implemented as a film (10) which may be pierced, for each container (1) or collecting container (I¹).

20. The method according to Claim 19, characterized in that the piercing device (25) comprises multiple piercing mandrels (26), which are situated in an array whose lattice distance corresponds to the lattice distance of the collecting containers (I¹) situated in a collecting rack (23), so that all areas (6) of the container floor (5) are penetrated simultaneously.

21. The method according to Claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the piercing mandrels (26) are implemented as star-shaped and/or conical and/or cylindrical and comprise through openings (27) for letting through liquids

(7).

22. The method according to Claim 18, characterized in that the centripetal force acting on the liquid (7) comprising the samples during centrifuging is used to open the container floor (5) along at least one intended breakpoint (11).

23. The method according to one of the Claims 16 through 22, characterized in that the forensically relevant sample is selected from a group comprising bodily fluids, cells, DNA, RNA, proteins, microorganisms, and viruses.

24. The method according to one of the Claims 15 through 23, characterized in that it is performed automatically in a workstation equipped with robots and corresponding control systems.