Microscale fluid handling system

A method for analyzing a liquid comprising the steps of:

• providing a microscale liquid handling system comprising a substrate having one or more channels integrated in said substrate, said one or more channels terminating in one or more exit ports in an outer surface of said substrate;
• loading a liquid sample into one of said one or more channels;
• causing said liquid sample to travel in said channel in the direction of said exit port;
• and
• causing said liquid sample to exit said substrate through said exit port of said channel and transfer off said substrate by electrospray ionization to an inlet of a mass spectrometer, said inlet of said mass spectrometer being proximate to but separate from said exit port of said channel.

A method for processing microscale quantities of a liquid comprising the steps of:

• providing a microscale liquid handling system comprising a substrate having one or more channels integrated in said substrate, said one or more channels terminating in one or more exit ports in an outer surface of said substrate;
• loading a liquid sample into one of said one or more channels;
• causing said liquid sample to travel in said channel in the direction of said exit port;
• and
• causing said liquid sample to exit said substrate through said exit port of said channel and transfer off said substrate by droplet, spray or stream to an external analytical and/or collection system, said system having an inlet that is proximate to but separate from said exit port.