Integrated sample processing system

A method for purifying molecules of interest from a sample with a sample purification system that comprises:

• a housing;
• an electric motor disposed in the housing;
• a sample container rack disposed in the housing, wherein the sample container rack is configured to hold one or more sample containers,
• a filter device holder disposed in the housing, wherein the filter holder is configured to hold one or more filter devices, wherein each of the filter devices comprises a filter matrix for binding molecules of interest;
• and
• a cylindrical magnet adjacent to the side of the sample container rack and external to the sample container rack, wherein
• the magnet rotates around a central, longitudinal axis of the magnet by an electric motor disposed in the housing and is located above the bottom of the sample container rack,
• wherein the method comprises following steps
• placing a sample container containing a liquid sample suspension, a magnetic stirrer and cell lysis beads on the sample container rack;
• homogenizing the liquid sample suspension in the sample container by rotating the cylindrical magnet at a speed such that cells in the sample suspension in the sample container are lysed by the magnetic stirrer and cell lysis beads;
• flowing the homogenized liquid sample suspension through the filter matrix of a filter device from the one or more filter devices under conditions such that the molecules of interest bind to the filter matrix, wherein the filter device is mounted on the filter device holder;
• washing the filters matrix of the filter device and
• eluting the molecules of interest bound to the filter matrix from the filter device, thereby purifying the molecules of interest from the sample.