Elution and detection

An elution apparatus including:

• a sample trap configured to trap a sample;
• one or more pumps and/or valves configured to move a liquid eluent and a liquid eluate, wherein the eluate includes an extracted portion of the sample that is extracted by the eluent, the pumps including a positive displacement pump configured to mobilise a first volume of the eluent through and/or over and/or past a swabbed area that includes a portion of the sample trap;
• an electronic controller configured to control the one or more pumps and/or valves to move the eluate;
• one or more filters configured to filter the eluate of large particulates and debris;
• a degassing system configured to degas the eluate;
• and
• a capillary with a Low-Voltage (LV) end, wherein the one or more pumps and/or valves are configured to move the degassed eluate to the LV end of the capillary for capillary electrophoresis, and
• wherein the sample trap has a surface structure configured to absorb the sample.

An elution method, the elution method including:

• trapping a sample in a sample trap including:
• trapping or adsorbing the sample to a trapping material, wherein the sample trap includes the trapping material with surface characteristics that trap or adsorb the sample, or
• absorbing the sample to the sample trap, wherein the sample trap has a surface structure that absorbs the sample;
• moving a liquid eluent and a liquid eluate, wherein the eluate includes an extracted portion of the sample that is extracted by the eluent,
• wherein the elution method includes:
• initiating a sample processing method controlled by an electronic controller,
• wherein the sample processing method includes:
• mobilising, via a positive displacement pump, a first volume of the eluent through and/or over and/or past a swabbed area that includes a portion of the sample trap;
• moving the eluate through one or more filters to filter the eluate of large particulates and debris;
• moving the eluate through a degassing system to degas the eluate;
• and
• moving the degassed eluate to a Low-Voltage (LV) end of a capillary for capillary electrophoresis.

An elution method including:

• trapping a sample in a sample trap, including swabbing with the sample trap to trap the sample in a portion of a material of the sample trap;
• moving a liquid eluent and a liquid eluate, wherein the eluate includes an extracted portion of the sample that is extracted by the eluent,
• wherein the elution method includes initiating a sample processing method controlled by an electronic controller, the sample processing method includes:
• mobilising, via a positive displacement pump, a first volume of the eluent through and/or over and/or past a swabbed area that includes a portion of the sample trap;
• moving the eluate through one or more filters to filter the eluate of large particulates and debris;
• moving the eluate through a degassing system to degas the eluate;
• and
• moving the degassed eluate to a Low-Voltage (LV) end of a capillary for capillary electrophoresis, and
• wherein:
• the first volume of the eluent constitutes a first reagent;
• and
• the sample processing method further includes:
• forcing the first reagent through or past the portion of the material, including the portion of the sample trap, to form the eluate;
• moving the degassed eluate to a ground manifold such that the degassed eluate is positioned at the Low-Voltage (LV) end of the capillary;
• injecting the degassed eluate into the capillary;
• flushing a ground manifold with electrolyte to position an electrolyte solution at the LV end of the capillary;
• and/or
• energizing a High Voltage (HV) power supply to separate the sample.

A system including:

• an elution apparatus including:
• a sample trap configured to trap a sample,
• one or more pumps and/or valves configured to move a liquid eluent and a liquid eluate, wherein the eluate includes an extracted portion of the sample that is extracted by the eluent, the pumps including a positive displacement pump configured to mobilise a first volume of the eluent through and/or over and/or past a swabbed area that includes a portion of the sample trap,
• an electronic controller configured to control the one or more pumps and/or valves to move the eluate,
• one or more filters configured to filter the eluate of large particulates and debris,
• a degassing system configured to degas the eluate, and
• a capillary with a Low-Voltage (LV) end, wherein the one or more pumps and/or valves are configured to move the degassed eluate to the LV end of the capillary for capillary electrophoresis;
• and
• a detection apparatus including a conductivity detector coupled to a high-voltage (HV) end portion of the capillary and configured to generate signals based on conductivity of a monitored portion of the capillary in the HV end portion,
• wherein the conductivity detector is electrically isolated from the LV end.