Medical body fluid sampling container

A container has an upper fluid receiving portion and a lower fluid discharge portion which is closed off at its bottom by a closure. In carrying out the method of the invention, a blood sampling from the umbilical cord of a newly born infant is taken by first clamping off a section of the cord. The clamped section is then separated from the main portion of the cord and deposited into the container. One of the clamps is then removed to permit the blood in the cord section to drain into the container. The drained blood is then transferred to a second container, which may comprise a test tube or syringe, through the fluid discharge portion of the container, this being achieved by either causing a needle attached to the container and sealed with a needle cover to penetrate the needle cover as well as the test tube cover, penetrating the closure with a needle if it be a diaphragm or the like or opening a valve at such closure by a mechanical actuation with the nose of a syringe. The needles employed are protected by shielding hoods to prevent accidental needle sticking.