A system for sampling a liquid includes a sample fluid conduit including a membrane having pores. The membrane prevents the passage of the sample liquid through the pores at a first pressure of the sample liquid in the sample fluid conduit. A surface sampling capture probe has a distal end. The capture probe includes a solvent supply conduit and a solvent exhaust conduit. A solvent composition flowing at the distal end of the capture probe establishes a liquid junction with the membrane and establishes a second pressure within the liquid junction at the membrane. The second pressure is lower than the first pressure. Sample liquid will be drawn through the pores of the membrane by the second pressure at the liquid junction. A method for sampling a liquid and for performing chemical analysis on a liquid are also disclosed.

The invention relates to the detection of non-metabolized vitamin D. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting underivatized non-metabolized vitamin D by mass spectrometry.

Provided are methods for isolating biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, from a sample using a silica-containing surface and/or a high salt, low pH buffer.

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.

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.

A parallel accelerated solvent extraction system includes a plurality of extraction cells, a temperature controlled zone for maintaining the plurality of extraction cells at a desired temperature, a plurality of collection vessels, each fluidly coupled to a respective extraction cell via a flow restrictor configured to maintain a pressure, a solvent pump for supplying extraction solvent to the plurality of extraction cells, and a switching valve for sequentially directing extraction solvent flowing from the solvent pump to respective ones of the plurality of extraction cells. A method of parallel accelerated solvent extraction is also disclosed.

A diagnostic apparatus for analysing a sample to diagnose disease, the apparatus comprising: a separating element for separating gas derived from the sample into component parts; a sensor arrangement coupled to the separating element such that a component part of the gas is directed towards the sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement being configured to detect compounds which may be indicative of disease; and a processing element coupled to an output of the sensor arrangement, the processing element being configured to process a signal output by the sensor arrangement to provide a diagnosis.

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 invention describes several embodiments of a device that allows for the supporting, storage and deployment of large surface area thin film solid phase microextraction (TF-SPME) chemical samplers from within a sample fluid carrier. The utility of said supporting device originates from the process by which the extraction surface is stabilised within a sample carrying fluid for the extraction of chemical molecules from said sample carrying fluid. The device is also characterized by having a seating cavity, and moving mechanism or cap that can switch the supported TF-SPME chemical sampler between an open, sampling position or closed storage position.

The present invention relates to a micro device for solid phase extraction and more particularly provides a micro device which is configured to perform solid phase extraction by injecting a filler and a solvent and producing a uniform flow of the solvent.