In an embodiment of the invention, a frictional tissue sampling device with a head designed to be swept across or rotated without rotating off the designated site can be used to remove and obtain cell and tissue biopsy samples. A frictional tissue sampling device with a head designed to be applied to a designated site can be used to remove cells or debride tissue from, or obtain an epithelial or sub-epithelial tissue biopsy sample from lesions. The device can be otherwise used to sample specific locations. In various embodiments, the head of the device is coated with an abrasive frictional material on a platform applicator or gloved finger. The applicator tip may be trumpet shaped, propeller shaped, cone shaped, capsule shaped, narrow, or tapered, covered with a facet that can be round, diamond shaped, oval, or another geometric shape to match the device contour in contact with a tissue surface. The facet contour on applicator or finger can be concave, convex or flat. The abrasive material may exist coincidentally with a second absorptive material, which can be adherent anywhere on the applicator. The absorptive material is placed as to not oppose or contact the abrasive material. The abrasive material contacts the target tissue with the aim of scraping and dislodging tissue and cells, then sweeping and collecting the dislodged tissue and cells from the tissue surface, within the second absorptive material.
