In one embodiment, a cartridge includes at least one compartment and a reagent in the at least one compartment. The reagent is a chemical composition for testing at least one of soil and vegetation for a chemical contained in the soil or vegetation. The reagent can be used in a soil and/or vegetation analysis test. The cartridge can contain an authentication chip to ensure that the reagent is the correct reagent for the analysis test.

Methods for isolating proteins from solution by precipitation and compositions generated thereby are provided. A nonvolatile precipitation agent is added to an aqueous protein solution at a low concentration. Water is then removed from the resulting solution until the precipitant and the protein content of the solution increase to a concentration that provides the desired segregation of proteins between supernatant and precipitate. Additional water can be removed from the supernatant to provide additional fractionation. Water can be removed by evaporation (e.g. under reduced pressure) and/or diafiltration.

A kind of online PM.sub.2.5 concentrated collection instrument and method are provided including five parts: PM.sub.2.5 cutting head, water tank system, virtual cropping system, condenser circulation system and online concentrated collection system. Connected with PM.sub.2.5 cutting head, a water tank system contains water tank, electrical heating rod and temperature-controlled digital display device. Virtual cropping system contains virtual cutter, concentrated air vacuum pump, and main air vacuum pump. The condenser circulation system circulating condensate condenses to grow the saturated particles, condenser circulation system contains condensate circulation tube, condensing machine. The online concentrated collection system contains biological sampling bottle, solenoid valve with relay, automatic distillate collector and computer subdivision constant-current pump. Real PM.sub.2.5 samples could be concentrated by this instrument to 7-10 times with high efficiency which would provide technical support for the following on-line chemical component or toxicity test.

A device for collecting contaminants from water samples is provided. The device includes a solid sorbent that collects and stores the contaminants from water samples. The solid sorbent is configured to allow for the preservation of the stored contaminants. The concentrations of the contaminants in the water samples are determined via analysis of the solid sorbent or via elution of the stored contaminants from the sorbent and analysis of the eluate solution.

In various embodiments a capture surface for capturing high velocity and hypervelocity dust and ice particles is provided. In certain embodiments the capture surface is comprised of a soft metal that is chosen to optimize particle capture efficiency, to minimize thermal degradation of chemicals and biochemical in the particles, and to present the captured particles to an analyzer for chemical and biochemical analysis of the particles and their contents. In various embodiments capture chambers comprising one or more such capture surfaces are provided as well as methods of use thereof.

A technique for comprehensively analyzing bile acids, sterols, and hormones is achieved. A method for analyzing bile acids, sterols, and hormones includes: a step of separating a plurality of molecules selected from among bile acids, sterols, and hormones in a sample by reversed-phase liquid chromatography; and a step of ionizing the molecules that have been separated; and a step of detecting, through MS analysis, the molecules that have been ionized.

A gas-liquid separator according to an embodiment of the present invention separates a mobile phase containing a gas and a liquid into a gas and a liquid. The gas-liquid separator according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an introduction flow channel to which a mobile phase is introduced, and a plurality of discharge flow channels connected to the introduction flow channel. A gas and a liquid are discharged from a discharge port of the discharge flow channel.

Provided are methods for preparing a biological sample for analysis for the presence of a virus, or an exosome or other extra-cellular vesicle, by matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). The preparation involves mixing the sample with at least one cationic viral envelope/vesicle disruptor compound, or at least one disulphide reducing agent, or a combination thereof; and at least one mass spectrometry grade solvent. Also provided are methods for analysing a biological sample for the presence of a virus, or an exosome or other extra-cellular vesicle, using MALDI-ToF MS once prepared.

A method comprising the steps of: (a) collecting a stool sample with the analyte and transferring a defined amount of stool sample into a prepared vessel having a sieve filter and a predetermined amount of extraction solution; (b) suspending and extracting the stool sample in the extraction solution so that the analyte goes into solution; (c) filtering the extraction solution through the sieve filter and transferring a defined amount of extraction solution to a cellulosic fibrous web having predetermined absorbency; (d) rapid drying of the extraction solution on the cellulose fibrous web at ambient temperature by the capillary action of the fibrous web, wherein the fibrous web with the sample extraction solution represents a storage and transport form stable over days and weeks, on which analyte and digestive enzymes are physically separated from each other; (e) collecting and extracting the analyte from the fibrous web in a predetermined amount of assay buffer; (f) separating the fibrous web from the assay buffer with the analyte; and (g) quantitatively or qualitatively determining the analyte in the assay buffer.

The present subject matter provides processes and kits for identifying the presence of waste water or human-derived pathogens, particularly those associated with the presence of human fecal matter, in surface or subsurface water sources.