A container with a base 12, side walls 14, 16, 28, and a lid 22 selectively covering an opening 24 in the upper wall the container being formed from a folded fluid impermeable blank. Ideally the material is rigid corrugated cardboard with a laminated coated. The closing member could be provided with adhesive having release tape surrounding but not overlying the recess opening. The package should be able to fit through a letter box but be big enough to contain a removable plastic sample holder and enough material to absorb the full volume of the sample. The absorbent could also be reinforcing or cushioning and formed from materials such as foam, corrugated cardboard, cotton wool. The container could be opened by a line of perforations or other line of weakness on the base 12 opposite the lid 22. A unique identifier such as a bar code or QR code could be printed contactlessly on the outside of the package by methods such as CO2, YAG or fibre laser printing.
