Methods and apparatus for the continuous treatment of biological samples

An automated method for a column separation and/or purification of predetermined components in biological samples by the use of an automated apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a) at least one column comprising an upper and a lower part, wherein an adsorbent layer is sandwiched between two porous filters in the bottom part of said column, said filters not allowing permeation of the samples into the adsorbent layer, but allowing permeation of the predetermined components in the samples, and wherein the top part of the column forms a reservoir;
• b) at least three vessels connected via supply means to said reservoir, said vessels, respectively, being disposed so as to contain (i) said samples, pretreatment liquid for lysing said samples, (ii) washing liquid for use in the washing of the adsorbent, and (iii) eluants to recover said predetermined components of said samples from said adsorbent, said reservoir being a space where said samples are lysed with said pretreatment liquid prior to adsorption of said components of said samples to said adsorbent layer;
• c) two valve means, a first valve means at the upper side of the reservoir for opening said column to atmospheric pressure and a second valve means at the outlet of said column for retaining contents of said column;
• d) a collecting means for the separated/purified predetermined components;
• and
• e) a means for automatically controlling said supply means and collecting means;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• i) supplying said samples from said corresponding vessel to said reservoir via said supply means or supplying said samples directly to said reservoir;
• ii) supplying said pretreatment liquid from said corresponding vessel to said reservoir via said supply means or supplying said pretreatment liquid directly to said reservoir, so that said samples are lysed with said pretreatment liquid within said reservoir prior to adsorption of said predetermined components of said sample to said adsorbent layer;
• iii) allowing said lysed samples to permeate the adsorbent layer of said column, which comprises the steps of opening said second valve at the outlet of said column, closing said first valve at the upper side of the reservoir and making air flow to the reservoir by said supply means, so that said column becomes an open system and the lysed samples in the reservoir permeate into the adsorbent layer, and which causes said adsorbent to adsorb components of said lysed samples to be separated and/or purified;
• and
• iv) supplying washing liquid to the adsorbent layer from the vessels via the supply means, so that said adsorbent layer is washed;
• v) supplying eluants to the adsorbent layer via the supply means to cause the predetermined components to be eluted from the adsorbent layer, said supply of the samples, the pretreatment liquid, the washing liquid and the eluants by the use of said supply means being controlled by said controlling means;
• and,
• vi) collecting the separated/purified predetermined components by the use of said collecting means being controlled by said controlling means.