The present invention is directed to a method and device to generate a chemical signature for a mixture of analytes. The present invention involves using a SPME surface to one or both absorb and adsorb the mixture of analytes. In an embodiment of the invention, the surface is then exposed to different temperature ionizing species chosen with appropriate spatial resolution to desorb a chemical signature for the mixture of analytes.

A presumption-free pipeline is provided that employs experimental and analytic modules to profile samples, including clinical samples, regardless of the complexity and abundance. The experimental and analytic modules can work independently of each other if the user so desired. The experimental module for ultra-sensitive DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing can be used to extract information from any samples to feed into analytical pipelines chosen by the user. Alternatively, the analytic module for universal species detection can be fed with data generated with other experimental pipelines and different sequencing platforms.

In a chromatography system, including within the system an extraction vessel which receives a mixture of mobile phase and co-solvent and provides a mixture of mobile phase and co-solvent with sample to a chromatography column to increase sample concentration within the mixture. In addition, adding a reservoir to the chromatography system to form an extraction-pressurization system, wherein the mixture with sample may be collected in the reservoir and may diffuse and equilibrate to an approximately uniform sample concentration before being provided to the chromatography column. Also in addition, providing a plurality of extraction-pressurization systems to allow near-simultaneous extraction of sample and loading of the column, or concurrent extraction and loading by the plurality of extraction-pressurization systems.

In a process for thermally desorbing a phase material (20), in particular for conditioning a fiber for carrying out a solid-phase microextraction, the phase material (20) is heated along a temperature curve. The temperature curve of the phase material (20) during desorption includes at least one low point.

A vial cap for removing a matrix component from a liquid sample is described. The vial cap includes a cap body, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion. The cap body is configured to have a slidable gas and liquid seal with a side wall of a sample vial. The inlet portion includes a counterbore section that holds a filter plug. The filter plug includes a polyethylene resin and a material selected from the group consisting of an ion exchange material and a reversed-phase material. The vial cap is adapted for solid phase extraction for use in an autosampler with a plurality of sample vials.

The invention provides a capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) system based on a sandwich injection method for automated chemical mobilization. This system was coupled with an electrokinetically pumped nanoelectrospray interface to a mass spectrometer. The nanoelectrospray emitter employed an acidic sheath electrolyte. To realize automated focusing and mobilization, a plug of ammonium hydroxide was first injected into the capillary, followed by a section of mixed sample and ampholyte. As focusing progressed, the NH.sub.3H.sub.2O section was titrated to lower pH buffer by the acidic sheath buffer. Chemical mobilization started automatically once the ammonium hydroxide was consumed by the acidic sheath flow electrolyte.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for analytical sample preparation. In some embodiments, the system includes a container having disposed therein an analytical sample treatment composition including -cyclodextrin and/or an -cyclodextrin co-polymer. Also provided is a method of reducing matrix effects in an analytical sample. In some embodiments, the method includes: contacting a sample including a matrix-interfering agent and an analyte with a cyclodextrin composition to produce a matrix-cyclodextrin complex, wherein the cyclodextrin composition comprises an -cyclodextrin and/or an -cyclodextrin co-polymer; separating the complex from the contacted sample to produce a matrix-reduced composition; and detecting the analyte in the matrix-reduced composition. Kits and compositions for use in the subject systems and methods are also provided.

Disclosed is a sample pretreatment method of microextraction tube injection, comprising providing a capillary micro-extraction tube with extracting medium in it as an injector, passing a sample through the capillary micro-extraction tube, during which an analyte is extracted into an extracting medium inside the capillary micro-extraction tube; then, filling the capillary micro-extraction tube with an organic solvent and keeping the filling for a certain period of time, so that the extracted analyte is dissolved in the organic solvent inside the capillary micro-extraction tube to form an injection solution; finally, keeping one end of the capillary micro-extraction tube sealed and inserting the other end directly into an injection port of a gas chromatography, such that the injection solution is automatically ejected out from the capillary micro-extraction tube into the injection port.

Methods and systems for delivering a liquid sample to an ion source for the generation of ions and subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry are provided herein. In accordance with various aspects of the present teachings, MS-based systems and methods are provided in which the flow of desorption solvent within a sampling probe fluidly coupled to an ion source can be selectively controlled such that one or more analyte species can be desorbed from a sample substrate inserted within the sampling probe within a decreased volume of desorption solvent for subsequently delivery to the ion source. In various aspects, sensitivity can be increased due to higher desorption efficiency (e.g., due to increased desorption time) and/or decreased dilution of the desorbed analytes. The methods and systems described herein can additionally or alternatively provide for the selective control of the flow rate of the desorption solvent within the sampling interface so as to enable additional processing steps to occur within the sampling probe (e.g., multiple samplings, reactions).

The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a compound, comprising the steps of: contacting a compound with a solid analytical surface (SAS), thereby forming an SAS with an absorbed compound; contacting the SAS with the absorbed compound with a mass tag, wherein the mass tag reacts with the absorbed compound, thereby forming an SAS with a covalently mass-tagged absorbed compound; and detecting the covalently mass-tagged absorbed compound by mass spectrometry. Also disclosed is a device for collecting breath aerosol, comprising a card or an envelope, wherein the card or the envelope comprise a tab, wherein the tab is a SAS.