the present invention in which alternative embodiments of the attachment mechanisms for attachment of the adaptor and the container to the holder are employed in particular the sample container holder 60a of fig4 includes an external flange 96 for connection of the adapter 70a by a clamping device not shown such as a tri clamp as shown in fig4 the adapter 70a has a annular flange 100 which corresponds to the external flange 96 of the sample container holder 60a for connection by the clamping device the sample container holder 60a of fig4 and 5 also includes an internal rib 98 with a hemispherical cross section which provides a snap fit with the sample collecting container 90a as shown in fig5 the sample collecting container or bottle 90a has an external groove 102 in the neck the external groove 102 has a hemispherical concave cross section which corresponds with that of the rib 98 according to the embodiment of fig4 and 5 preferably the sample container holder 60a and or the neck of the sample collecting container 90a are resilient to allow the sample collecting container to be snapped into the sample container holder in a fluid tight manner the present invention has been described as employing threaded snap fitting or clamped connections between the sample container holder 60 60a the sample collecting container 90 90a and the adapter 70 70a however it should be understood that other attachment mechanisms may also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention the.