Method for separating an analyte from a sample

A method for extracting nucleic acid from a sample, the sample containing cells, spores, or microorganisms, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having:
• i) a lysing chamber for lysing the cells, spores, or microorganisms to release the nucleic acid therefrom;
• ii) a desiccant adjacent to the lysing chamber;
• iii) a capture region containing capture material for capturing the nucleic acid;
• iv) at least one waste chamber;
• and
• v) at least a third chamber for receiving the nucleic acid extracted from the sample;
• b) contacting the sample with paper or membrane material in the lysing chamber, the paper or membrane material being impregnated with at least one chemical for lysing the cells, spores, or microorganisms in the sample, while drying the sample on the paper or the membrane material by heating and absorbing moisture with the desiccant;
• c) lysing the cells, spores, or microorganisms with the chemical to release the nucleic acid from the cells, spores, or microorganisms, while binding contaminants or inhibitors in the sample to the paper or membrane material;
• d) removing the nucleic acid from the lysing chamber by placing fluid in the lysing chamber, releasing the nucleic acid from the paper or membrane material into the fluid while the contaminants or inhibitors remain bound to the paper or membrane material, and forcing the fluid containing the nucleic acid to flow out of the lysing chamber and through the capture region, thereby capturing the nucleic acid from the fluid with the capture material in the capture region;
• e) forcing the fluid that has flowed through the capture region to flow into the waste chamber;
• and
• f) eluting the captured nucleic acid from the capture region and forcing the eluted nucleic acid to flow into the third chamber.