Chromatography column-electrophoresis system

A system for separating fluid components and conditioning at least certain of the components for analysis or other use, comprising the combination of:

• a horizontal flow liquid chromatography column;
• a capillary type electrophoresis apparatus;
• and
• means for interconnecting said column with said electrophoresis apparatus and controlling flow of fluid components from said column into said electrophoresis apparatus;
• said column being removably mounted on said means such that associated fluid components separated in said column are controllably deposited directly into said electrophoresis apparatus, said column including disposable fluid separation material, and a fluid distribution and component collection system in which associated fluid to be separated is adapted to be directed around at least a portion of one of side of the fluid separation material and directed radially through the fluid separation material with separated fluid components being collected at an opposite side of the fluid separation material for discharge into said means;
• said electrophoresis apparatus including at least one capillary tube operatively connected to said means, a reservoir for electrically conducting buffer material operationally connected to said means, and means for connecting a positive terminal of a high voltage source on buffer material contained in said reservoir;
• said means including a multi-port valve assembly operationally connected to said component collection system of said column to said capillary tube and to said buffer material reservoir, for selectively directing associated fluid components and associated buffer material into said capillary tube.