High throughput systems and methods for parallel sample analysis

An analytical system comprising:

• the mass spectrometer of any of the preceding claims;
• and
• a plurality of fluid phase separation process regions;
• wherein each fluid phase separation process region of the plurality of fluid phase separation process regions is in fluid communication with the at least one ionization source.

A method for analyzing a plurality of samples in parallel, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one ionization source;
• providing a mass spectrometer having a plurality of modules in fluid communication with the at least one ionization source, each module of the plurality of modules being disposed within a common enclosure having at least one vacuum region, being adapted to operate in parallel, having an associated ion transfer optic element, and having an associated mass analyzer, the ion transfer optic element being disposed within the at least one vacuum region;
• providing a plurality of prepared samples;
• ionizing at least a portion of each prepared sample with the at least one ionization source to yield a plurality of gaseous streams, each gaseous stream of the plurality of gaseous streams including an ionized species and a non-ionized species;
• directing each gaseous stream of the plurality of gaseous streams into a different module of the plurality of modules, such that each module of the plurality of modules has an associated gaseous stream of the plurality of gaseous streams;
• for each module of the plurality of modules, directing at least a portion of the ionized species through the associated ion transfer optic element to the associated mass analyzer;
• and
• for each module of the plurality of modules, detecting at least a subset of the at least a portion of the ionized species using the associated mass analyzer.