Analyte extraction apparatus and method

An apparatus for automatically extracting of a glycopeptide antibiotic containing a phenol moiety from a complex sample matrix comprising cellular material, the apparatus comprising:

• a sample reception stage having an output for providing a defined quantity of the complex sample matrix;
• a mixing stage having a first input in fluidic connection with the output of the sample reception stage, a second input for receiving a lysing agent and an output for providing a mixture of the defined quantity of the complex sample matrix and the lysing agent;
• a delay stage having an input in fluidic connection with the output of the mixing stage and an output for providing a delayed mixture of the defined quantity of the complex sample matrix and the lysing agent;
• a filtering stage comprising a sorbent material for mechanically lysing the cellular material, said sorbent material having an affinity for binding of the glycopeptides antibiotic, said filtering stage having an input in fluidic connection with the output of the delay stage;
• and
• a controller for controlling the flow rate of the mixture of the defined quantity of the complex sample matrix and the lysing agent through said delay stage, wherein the apparatus further comprises a colorimetric measurement stage in fluid connection with the filtering stage and arranged to determine the colorimetric spectrum of an eluent received from the filtering stage including a reaction product of the glycopeptide antibiotic and the activated Gibbs reagent;
• and
• a processor coupled to the colorimetric measurement stage adapted to derive a concentration of the glycopeptide antibiotic in the complex sample matrix from a specific wavelength in the range of 580-600 nm.