Systems and methods for electrophoretic separation and analysis of analytes

An electrophoresis cell configured to be removably disposed within a receptacle of an assay device to assay a biological sample for a presence of a target analyte, the electrophoresis cell comprising:

• a body having an inner surface that defines an inner volume and that forms a recess area, the body including a lifter at least partially disposed in the inner volume of the body, the lifter having a first position and a second position, a surface of the lifter being substantially flush with a surface of the recess area when in the first position;
• a chip disposed within the recess area, the chip including a polymeric separation medium with functional groups configured to covalently bond to a target analyte within the biological sample disposed on the chip in response to being activated, a top surface of the polymeric separation medium being substantially flush with a non-recess area of the inner surface of the body;
• a conductive contact pad coupled to the body, the conductive contact pad configured to be electrically connected to a power supply of the assay device when the electrophoresis cell is disposed within the receptacle;
• an electrode coupled to the body and disposed within the inner volume, the electrode electrically connected to the conductive contact pad, the electrode configured to produce an electric field across the chip disposed in the recess area in response to a flow of electric current from the power supply when the electrophoresis cell is disposed within the receptacle;
• and
• a weir structure disposed within the inner volume of the body above and on at least one side of the recess area such that the weir structure is spaced apart from the electrode and is between the at least one side of the recess area and the electrode, the weir structure configured to control a flow of a solution across the chip disposed in the recess area.