The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis using swabs. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a probe having a conductive proximal portion coupled to a porous material at a distal portion of the probe that is configured to retain a portion of a sample that has contacted the porous material, and a mass spectrometer having an inlet. The system is configured such that the porous material at a distal portion of the probe is aligned over the inlet of the mass spectrometer.

A sample injection device for sample collection and thermal desorption includes: a sample collection structure; a piston type adsorber having an adsorption cavity communicating with the sample collection structure; a piston cylinder defining a piston chamber accommodating the adsorber and communicating with the adsorption cavity; a thermal desorption chamber communicating with the adsorption cavity and the piston chamber; and a pump configured to pump a sample diffused in an ambient gas into the adsorption cavity through the sample collection structure and the piston chamber; the adsorber is movable between a sample collecting position where the adsorption cavity is outside the thermal desorption chamber and adsorbs the sample collected by the sample collection structure and a sample desorbing position where the adsorption cavity is inside the thermal desorption chamber so that the adsorbed sample is thermally desorbed in the thermal desorption chamber.

Disclosed herein is a system for desorbing and detecting an analyte sorbed on a solid phase microextraction (SPME) device. The system includes a desorption chamber sized to accept the SPME device while defining a void volume of less than about 50 L; a flow injector in fluid connection with the desorption chamber, the desorption chamber and the flow injector being fluidly connected by at least a flow-insulating fluid connector; a solvent source in fluid connection with the flow injector; and a fluid switch that: in a desorption position, allows the solvent to be sprayed from the flow injector while flow-insulating any desorption solution in the desorption chamber, and in an detecting position, turns off the solvent source while maintaining the fluid connection between the flow injector and the desorption chamber, transferring the desorption solution through the flow-insulating fluid connector to the flow injector as a substantially undiluted plug of liquid.

A vacuum processing apparatus 1 includes a processing chamber 3 that can bring an inside of the processing chamber into a vacuum state, a load lock chamber 2 that is coupled to the processing chamber 3 and that is switchable between an atmospheric state and the vacuum state, a communication unit 10 configured to communicate the processing chamber 3 and the load lock chamber 2, a stage 5 on which a processing object 9 is placed, the stage being movable between the processing chamber 3 and the load lock chamber 2 through the communication unit 10, and a sealing unit 6 fixed to the stage 5, the sealing unit being larger than an opening 300 of the communication unit 10 on a side of the processing chamber 3.

Methods, systems and devices that provide fluid devices with at least one SPE bed adjacent (upstream of) a separation channel which may be in communication with an inlet of a Mass Spectrometer. The fluid device can be configured to operate using independently applied pressures to a BGE reservoir and a sample reservoir for pressure-driven injection that can inject a discrete sample plug into a separation channel that does not require voltage applied to the sample reservoir and can allow for in-channel focusing methods to be used. The methods, systems and devices are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer but optical or other electronic detectors may also be used with the fluidic devices.

This relates to sampling systems, wherein the sampling is based on removal of material from a sample immersed in a fluid by cavitation induced by high-intensity focused ultrasound. The system includes also a feeding unit for transporting at least part of the removed material from the fluid to a detecting unit. The invention relates also to a method for feeding material from the sample to a detecting unit using the sampling system.

A method for full Os isotope static measurement by NTIMS includes steps of: selecting and weighing rock samples, and dissolving the rock samples to obtain dissolution liquid; chemically separating Os from the dissolution liquid to obtain purified Os solution; loading the purified Os solution on a Pt filament to obtain a sample to be determined; selecting Faraday cups and ion counters, as well as 10.sup.12? and 10.sup.13? amplifiers in NTIMS based on natural abundances of different Os isotopes, thereby establishing a cup configuration for the full Os isotope static measurement; establishing a yield calibration method for ICs; performing full Os isotopes static measurement based on the yield-calibrated ion counters and gain-calibrated faraday cups; and processing analytical data to obtain a final data of Os isotopic composition. The method enables the determination of the full Os isotope and oxygen isotope compositions of low-content or small-size samples.

A method for individuating with high sensitivity and specificity ADA metabolites from dried blood spot. The method described herein can be used to extract Adenosine and Deoxyadenosine from a sample under conditions that permit concurrently extracting other metabolites, such as amino acids, free carnitine, or acylcarnitines. For example, harsh extraction conditions (such as extreme acidity and high temperature) can be avoided. The method can be used, along with other neonatal screenings, on blood samples and preferably on dried blood spots (Guthrie cards) and more preferably on Guthrie cards obtained in the II-IV day of life. The method is reliable and reproducible, easy to perform and gives a definitive response within a short time (1-2 days). One or more kits for use in the method of the disclosure are also described.

A system includes a mass spectrometer and associated sample interfacing equipment. The sample interfacing equipment includes a platform structured to support a sample thereon, a fluid source, a high voltage source, a dispensing probe electrically coupled to the high voltage source and defining a fluid dispensing passage therethrough, a collection probe defining a collection passage therethrough, a sensing arrangement coupled to the dispensing probe, and control logic responsive to the sensing arrangement to control distance between the dispensing probe and the sample. The dispensing probe facilitates formation of one or more ionized sample analytes when dispensing the fluid through the dispensing passage proximate to the sample on the platform. The collecting probe receives at least some of the one or more ionized sample analytes to pass through the collection passage into the mass spectrometer for analysis.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.