In a general aspect, a swab sample is analyzed, for example, to test for disease. In some examples, a swab head of a swab sample is inserted through an opening into an internal reservoir of a sampling device. The sampling device includes the opening, an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and the internal reservoir. The internal reservoir is in fluid communication with the inlet channel, the outlet channel, and the opening. A liquid solvent is supplied to the swab head in the internal reservoir via the inlet channel of the sampling device. The swab head is held in the liquid solvent for a period of time to form an analyte in the internal reservoir. The analyte is extracted from the internal reservoir via the outlet channel of the sampling device. The analyte is transferred to and processed by a mass spectrometer to obtain mass spectrometry data.

Mass spectrometry cartridge including a base in mechanical communication with a spray substrate holder, an absorbent pad between the base and the spray substrate holder, a translatable sample well holder interposed between the spray substrate holder and a top cover, the top cover configured to house a conductive element, wherein when the translatable sample well holder is in a first position, the translatable well holder is vertically above the absorbent pad, when the translatable sample well holder is in a second position, the translatable well holder is vertically above a spray substrate are disclosed. Methods of analyzing a sample are also disclosed.

A unique fiber core sampler composition, related systems, and techniques for designing, making, and using the same are described. The sampler is used to interface with existing field instrumentation, such as Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) equipment. Desired sampler characteristics include its: stiffness/flexibility; thermal mass and conductivity; specific heat; trace substance collection/release dependability, sensitivity and repeatability; thickness; reusability; durability; stability for thermal cleaning; and the like. In one form the sampler has a glass fiber core with a thickness less than 0.3 millimeter that is coated with a polymer including one or more of: polymeric organofluorine, polyimide, polyamide, PolyBenzlmidazole (PBI), PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS), sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene (PFSA) and Poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene Oxide) (PPPO). Multiple polymer coatings with the same or different polymer types may be included, core/substrate surface functionalization utilized, and/or the core/substrate may be at partially filled with thermally conductive particles.

In a device adjustment process, when a solenoid valve is opened, a gas resulting from vaporization of PFTBA held in a container is drawn into an ion source, a relationship between ambient temperature and a correction coefficient for actual signal values is experimentally determined beforehand. In an actual adjustment process, an ambient temperature acquirer reads the ambient temperature and refers to the correction information to determine the correction coefficient corresponding to the ambient temperature at that moment. A signal value corrector multiplies an actually measured peak area value by the correction coefficient to correct the actual signal value. A device adjustment controller adjusts a voltage applied to an ion detector so that the corrected actual signal value matches with a reference signal value. The voltage applied to the ion detector can be thereby adjusted so that the detector has the same level of gain independent of the ambient temperature.

The invention generally relates to probes, systems, cartridges, and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a probe including a porous material and a hollow member coupled to a distal portion of the porous material.

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 method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

A mass spectrometer, MS, 100 is described. The MS 100 comprises: a first chamber 110, comprising a set of ports P close able by respective doors, for receiving sample plates including respective unique device identifiers, UDIs, therein and/or there through, wherein the set of ports P includes a first port P1 having a first door D1 and a second port P2 having a second door D2; a second chamber 120, fluidically couple able with the first chamber 110 via the second port P2, wherein the second chamber 120 is fluidically coupled to and/or comprises an ion source 130, an analyser 140 and an ion detector 150, for mass spectrometry of samples included on the sample plates received therein; and an imager 160, coupled to the second chamber 120, configured to image the UDIs of the sample plates; a controller 170 configured to control the imager 160; wherein the MS 100 is arrangeable in: a first arrangement, wherein a first sample plate 1A of a set of sample plates 1 is received in the first chamber 110 via the first port P1, wherein the first door D1 is open and wherein the second door D2 is closed, and wherein the first sample plate 1A includes a first UDI U1A of a set of UDIs; a second arrangement, wherein the first sample plate 1A is in the first chamber 110, wherein the first door D1 is closed and wherein the second door D2 is closed; and a third arrangement, wherein the first sample plate 1A is received in the second chamber 120 via the second port P2, wherein the second door D2 is closed; wherein the controller 170 is configured to control the imager 160 to image the first UDI U1A of the first sample plate 1A, when the MS 100 is arranged in the third arrangement.

A mass spectrometer, MS, 100 is described. A mass spectrometer comprises: a set of chambers, for receiving sample plate holders therein and/or therethrough, wherein the sample plate holders are arranged to hold respective subsets of sample plates therein and/or thereon and wherein the sample plate holders include respective identifiers, wherein the set of chambers is fluidically coupled to and/or comprises an ion source, an analyser and an ion detector, for mass spectrometry of samples included on the sample plates received therein; a reader configured to read a first identifier, of a set of identifiers, included on a first sample plate holder, of a set of sample plate holders, optionally including a first sample plate, of a set of sample plates, held therein and/or thereon, received in the set of chambers; and a controller configured to control the reader to read the first identifier of the first sample plate holder received in the set of chambers.

Disclosed herein are mass spectrometry sample substrates. Also disclosed herein are mass spectrometry sample strips and cartridges that include a solid phase extraction (SPE) element. The mass spectrometry sample substrates, sample strips, and cartridges can be used in paper spray mass spectrometry to detect and quantify one or more analytes present in a biological sample. Also disclosed are methods for collecting and concentrating one or more analytes from a biological sample, as well as for storing a biological sample that includes one or more analytes. Methods for analyzing the one or more analytes from the biological sample are also provided.