Sample collection tube

A sample collection tube 10 having one or more side walls 12 and a bottom 14 that together form a chamber for containing a sample, and a base part 16 formed underneath the bottom of the chamber 13, the base part having a polygonal shape when viewed from below. The polygonal shape may be a square, octagon or hexagon and allows the tube to be locked in automated decapping equipment such that the tube will not rotate during cap removal. The base part further comprises means for uniquely identifying the tube from underneath such as a barcode or QR code. The base part may comprise a socket (fig 7; 15)which receives an insert (fig 7; 40) upon which the identifying code is present (fig 7;41). The bottom of the tube may have an inverted V shape 18 extending into the chamber. The shape maybe a conical or pyramidal shape which causes the head of a swab inserted into the tube to be diverted to one side, facilitating passage of a pipette. A screw on cap 30 is provided which engages with one or more internal threads 20 of tube. A method of collecting a sample using the tube, and a method of processing the tube is disclosed.