Method for separating analyte from a sample

• US 6,893,879 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cepheid (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cepheid (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Petersen, Kurt E., Kovacs, Gregory T. A., Chang, Ronald, Northrup, M. Allen, McMillan, William A., Pourahmadi, Farzad, Christel, Lee A., Ching, Jesus
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/005,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 435/91.2, 435/259, 435/287.2, 435/288.5, 435/288.6, 435/297.5, 435/303.1, 435/306.1, 435/308.1, 422/100, 422/102, 422/101, 422/68.1, 422/70, 422/82, 436/177, 436/178, 436/53, 210/198.2, 210/656, 536/25.4, 536/25.41
• US Class Current: 436/178
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00432 Photolithographic masks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00529 DNA chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0631 Purification arrangements, e.g. solid phase extraction [SPE]
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0636 Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/046 Chemical or electrochemical formation of bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/02 Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/06 Hydrolysis; Cell lysis; Extraction of intracellular or cell wall material lysis of microorganisms C12N1/06; extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/708 : Measuring the time taken to traverse a fixed distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6091 : Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 : including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

An analyte is separated from a fluid sample by introducing the sample into a cartridge having an extraction chamber containing capture material for capturing the analyte. The sample is forced to flow through the extraction chamber to capture the analyte with the capture material in the extraction chamber. The captured analyte is then eluted from the extraction chamber by forcing an elution fluid to flow through the extraction chamber. The cartridge may optionally include a lysing region for lysing sample components (e.g., cells spores, or microorganisms), a waste chamber for storing waste fluid, and reaction or detection chambers for chemically reacting or detecting the eluted analyte.

Claims

1. A method for extracting an analyte from a fluid sample, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a lysing chamber for lysing sample components to release the analyte therefrom, wherein the lysing chamber contains at least one filter for capturing the sample components by size exclusion as the sample flows through the lysing chamber;

ii) an analyte capture region containing capture material for capturing the analyte; and

iii) a reaction chamber;

b) forcing the sample to flow through the lysing chamber to capture the sample components with the filter, wherein the volume of sample forced flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume capacity of the lysing chamber;

c) lysing the sample components in the lysing chamber to produce a lysate containing the analyte;

d) forcing the lysate to flow through the capture region, thereby capturing the analyte with the capture material;

e) eluting the analyte from the capture region;

f) forcing the eluted analyte to flow into the reaction chamber;

g) reacting the analyte in the reaction chamber; and

h) detecting a reaction product;

wherein the reaction requires temperature control of the reaction chamber, the portion of the cartridge defining the reaction chamber protrudes from the rest of the cartridge body, and the method further comprises the steps of inserting the reaction chamber into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the reaction chamber according to a time/temperature profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte comprises nucleic acid, and wherein the steps of reacting the analyte and detecting the reaction product comprise amplifying the nucleic acid and detecting the amplified nucleic acid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the eluted analyte with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the analyte to flow into the reaction chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of lysing the sample components comprises transferring ultrasonic energy to the lysing chamber using an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a wall of the lysing chamber.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of placing a lysis buffer in the lysing chamber, the lysis buffer containing a lysing reagent.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the transducer comprises an ultrasonic horn for contacting the wall.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of lysing the sample components further comprises agitating particles or beads in the lysing chamber to rupture the sample components.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture region comprises a channel or chamber containing the capture material, and the method further comprises the step of forcing a wash solution to flow through the capture region after the step of forcing the lysate to flow through the capture region and prior to eluting the analyte from the capture region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture region comprises a channel or chamber containing the capture material, and wherein the capture material comprises at least one solid support selected from the group consisting of filters, membranes, beads, fiber, glass wool, filter paper, polymers, and gel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture region comprises an extraction chamber formed in a microfluidic chip, and wherein the capture material comprises an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber, each of the microstructures having an aspect ratio (height to width) of at least 2:

1.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture region comprises a channel or chamber containing the capture material, and wherein the analyte is eluted from the capture region by heating the channel or chamber containing the capture material while forcing elution fluid to flow through the channel or chamber.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartridge has a first flow path that includes the lysing and capture regions, the first flow path leading to a waste chamber, the cartridge has an elution flow path passing through the capture region and diverging from the first flow path, the lysate is forced to flow through the capture region and into the waste chamber via the first flow path, and the elution fluid is forced to flow through the capture region and along the diverging elution flow path.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte is eluted from the capture region by forcing elution fluid to flow through the capture region, and wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume of elution fluid forced to flow through the capture region, whereby the analyte extracted from the sample is concentrated in the smaller volume of elution fluid.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber to the volume capacity of the lysing chamber is at least 2:

1.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is at least 1 ml.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture region comprises an extraction chamber containing the capture material, and wherein the volume of lysate forced to flow through the extraction chamber is greater than the volume capacity of the extraction chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ratio of the volume of lysate forced to flow through the extraction chamber to the volume capacity of the extraction chamber is at least 2:

1.

18. A method for extracting an analyte from a fluid sample, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a lysing chamber for lysing sample components to release the analyte therefrom, wherein the lysing chamber contains at least one filter for capturing the sample components by size exclusion as the sample flows through the lysing chamber; and

ii) an analyte capture region containing capture material for capturing the analyte;

b) forcing the sample to flow through the lysing chamber to capture the sample components with the filter, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume capacity of the lysing chamber;

c) lysing the sample components in the lysing chamber to produce a lysate containing the analyte;

d) forcing the lysate to flow through the capture region, thereby capturing the analyte with the capture material;

e) eluting the analyte from the capture region;

f) forcing the eluted analyte to flow into a reaction vessel coupled to the cartridge;

g) reacting the analyte in the reaction vessel; and

h) detecting a reaction product;

wherein the reaction requires temperature control of the reaction vessel, and the method further comprises the steps of inserting the vessel into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the vessel according to a time/temperature profile.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyte comprises nucleic acid, and wherein the steps of reacting the analyte and detecting the reaction product comprise amplifying the nucleic acid and detecting the amplified nucleic acid.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the eluted analyte with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the analyte to flow into the reaction vessel.

21. A method for extracting an analyte from a fluid sample, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a lysing chamber for lysing sample components to release the analyte therefrom, wherein the lysing chamber contains at least one filter for capturing the sample components by size exclusion as the sample flows through the lysing chamber; and

ii) an analyte capture region containing capture material for capturing the analyte;

b) forcing the sample to flow through the lysing chamber to capture the sample components with the filter, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume capacity of the lysing chamber;

c) lysing the sample components in the lysing chamber to produce a lysate containing the analyte;

d) forcing the lysate to flow through the capture region, thereby capturing the analyte with the capture material; and

e) eluting the analyte from the capture region;

wherein the lysate is forced to recirculate through the capture region.

22. A method for extracting nucleic acid from a fluid sample and for amplifying the nucleic acid, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a lysing chamber for lysing sample components to release the nucleic acid therefrom, wherein the lysing chamber contains solid phase material for capturing the sample components as the sample flows through the lysing chamber;

ii) a capture region comprising a channel or chamber containing capture material for capturing the nucleic acid;

iii) at least one waste chamber; and

iv) a reaction chamber for amplifying the nucleic acid;

b) forcing the sample to flow through the lysing chamber and into the at least one waste chamber to capture the sample components with the solid phase material, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume capacity of the lysing chamber;

c) lysing the sample components in the lysing chamber to produce a lysate containing the nucleic acid;

d) forcing the lysate to flow through the capture region, thereby capturing the nucleic acid with the capture material;

e) forcing the lysate that has flowed through the capture region to flow into the waste chamber;

f) forcing an elution fluid to flow through the capture region to elute the captured nucleic acid from the capture region;

g) forcing the eluted nucleic acid to flow into the reaction chamber; and

h) amplifying the nucleic acid in the reaction chamber, wherein the temperature of the reaction chamber is controlled by inserting the reaction chamber into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the reaction chamber according to a time/temperature profile.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of detecting the amplified nucleic acid in the reaction chamber.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the eluted nucleic acid with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the nucleic acid to flow into the reaction chamber.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the lysate is forced to recirculate through the capture region prior to being forced to flow into the waste chamber.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of lysing the sample components comprises transferring ultrasonic energy to the lysing chamber using an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a wall of the lysing chamber.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the solid phase material comprises at least one membrane or filter for capturing the sample components, and wherein the step of lysing the sample components further comprises agitating particles or beads in the lysing chamber to rupture the sample components.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of lysing the sample components further comprises placing a lysis buffer in the lysing chamber, the lysis buffer containing a lysing reagent.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the transducer comprises an ultrasonic horn for contacting the wall of the lysing chamber.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume of elution fluid forced to flow through the capture region, whereby the nucleic acid extracted from the sample is concentrated in the smaller volume of elution fluid.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the ratio of the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber to the volume capacity of the lysing chamber is at least 2:

1.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is at least 1 ml.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the volume of lysate forced to flow through the capture region is greater than the volume capacity of the capture region.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the ratio of the volume of lysate forced to flow through the capture region to the volume capacity of the capture region is at least 2:

1.

35. The method of claim 22, wherein the capture material comprises at least one solid support selected from the group consisting of filters, membranes, beads, fiber, glass wool, filter paper, polymers, and gel.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein the capture region comprises an extraction chamber formed in a microfluidic chip, and wherein the capture material comprises an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber, each of the microstructures having an aspect ratio (height to width) of at least 2:

1.

37. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of heating the capture region while forcing the elution fluid to flow through the capture region.

38. A method for separating nucleic acid from a fluid sample and for amplifying the nucleic acid, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a lysing chamber for lysing sample components to release the nucleic acid therefrom, wherein the lysing chamber contains solid phase material for capturing the sample components as the sample flows through the lysing chamber;

ii) a capture region comprising a channel or chamber containing capture material for capturing the nucleic acid; and

iii) at least one waste chamber;

b) forcing the sample to flow through the lysing chamber and into the at least one waste chamber to capture the sample components with the solid phase material, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume capacity of the lysing chamber;

c) lysing the sample components in the lysing chamber to produce a lysate containing the nucleic acid;

d) forcing the lysate to flow through the capture region, thereby capturing the nucleic acid with the capture material in the capture region;

e) forcing the lysate that has flowed through the capture region to flow into the waste chamber;

f) forcing an elution fluid to flow through the capture region to elute the captured nucleic acid from the capture region;

g) forcing the eluted nucleic acid to flow into a reaction vessel coupled to the cartridge; and

h) amplifying the nucleic acid in the reaction vessel, wherein the temperature of the reaction vessel is controlled by inserting the vessel into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the vessel according to a time/temperature profile.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of detecting the amplified nucleic acid in the reaction vessel.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the eluted nucleic acid with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the nucleic acid to flow into the reaction vessel.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the lysate is forced to recirculate through the capture region prior to being forced to flow into the waste chamber.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of lysing the sample components comprises transferring ultrasonic energy to the lysing chamber using an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a wall of the lysing chamber.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the solid phase material comprises at least one membrane or filter for capturing the sample components, and wherein the step of lysing the sample components further comprises agitating particles or beads in the lysing chamber to rupture the sample components.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of lysing the sample components further comprises placing a lysis buffer in the lysing chamber, the lysis buffer containing a lysing reagent.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the transducer comprises an ultrasonic horn for contacting the wall of the lysing chamber.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is greater than the volume of elution fluid forced to flow through the capture region, whereby the nucleic acid extracted from the sample is concentrated in the smaller volume of elution fluid.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the ratio of the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber to the volume capacity of the lysing chamber is at least 2:

1.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the lysing chamber is at least 1 ml.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein the volume of lysate forced to flow through the capture region is greater than the volume capacity of the capture region.

50. The method of claim 38, wherein the ratio of the volume of lysate forced to flow through the capture region to the volume capacity of the capture region is at least 2:

1.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein the capture material comprises at least one solid support selected from the group consisting of filters, membranes, beads, fiber, glass wool, filter paper, polymers, and gel.

52. The method of claim 38, wherein the capture region comprises an extraction chamber formed in a microfluidic chip, and wherein the capture material comprises an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber, each of the microstructures having an aspect ratio (height to width) of at least 2:

1.

53. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of heating the capture region while forcing the elution fluid to flow through the capture region.

54. A method for extracting nucleic acid from a fluid sample and for amplifying the nucleic acid, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a capture region, the capture region comprising a channel or chamber containing capture material for capturing the nucleic acid; and

ii) a waste chamber for receiving waste fluid from the capture region;

b) forcing the sample to flow through the capture region, thereby extracting the nucleic acid from the sample with the capture material in the capture region;

c) forcing the remaining sample fluid that has flowed through the capture region to flow into the waste chamber;

d) forcing an elution fluid to flow through the capture region to elute the captured nucleic acid from the capture region;

e) forcing the eluted nucleic acid to flow into a reaction vessel coupled to the cartridge; and

f) amplifying the nucleic acid in the reaction vessel, wherein the temperature of the reaction vessel is controlled by inserting the vessel into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the vessel according to a time/temperature profile.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising the step of detecting the amplified nucleic acid in the reaction vessel.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the sample is forced to recirculate through the capture region prior to being forced to flow into the waste chamber.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the eluted nucleic acid with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the nucleic acid to flow into the reaction vessel.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the capture region is greater than the volume of elution fluid forced to flow through the capture region, whereby the nucleic acid extracted from the sample is concentrated in the smaller volume of elution fluid.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein the ratio of the volume of sample forced to flow through the capture region to the volume capacity of the capture region is at least 2:

1.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the capture region is at least 1 ml.

61. The method of claim 54, wherein the capture material comprises at least one solid support selected from the group consisting of filters, membranes, beads, fiber, glass wool, filter paper, polymers, and gel.

62. The method of claim 54, wherein the capture region comprises an extraction chamber formed in a microfluidic chip, and wherein the capture material comprises an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber, each of the microstructures having an aspect ratio (height to width) of at least 2:

1.

63. The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of lysing the sample prior to forcing the lysed sample to flow through the capture region.

64. A method for extracting nucleic acid from a fluid sample and for amplifying the nucleic acid, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a flow path through a capture region, the capture region comprising a channel or chamber containing capture material for capturing the nucleic acid;

ii) a waste chamber for receiving waste fluid from the capture region; and

iii) a reaction chamber for amplifying the nucleic acid;

b) forcing the sample to flow through the capture region, thereby capturing the nucleic acid with the capture material;

c) forcing the remaining sample fluid that has flowed through the capture region to flow into the waste chamber;

d) forcing an elution fluid to flow through the capture region to elute the captured nucleic acid from the capture region;

e) forcing the eluted nucleic acid to flow into the reaction chamber; and

f) amplifying the nucleic acid in the reaction chamber, wherein the temperature of the reaction chamber is controlled by inserting the reaction chamber into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the reaction chamber according to a time/temperature profile.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of detecting the amplified nucleic acid in the reaction chamber.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the sample is forced to recirculate through the capture region prior to being forced to flow into the waste chamber.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the eluted nucleic acid with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the nucleic acid to flow into the reaction chamber.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the capture region is greater than the volume of elution fluid forced to flow through the capture region, whereby the nucleic acid extracted from the sample is concentrated in the smaller volume of elution fluid.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the capture region is greater than the volume capacity of the capture region.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the ratio of the volume of sample forced to flow through the capture region to the volume capacity of the capture region is at least 2:

1.

71. The method of claim 64, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the capture region is at least 1 ml.

72. The method of claim 64, wherein the capture material comprises at least one solid support selected from the group consisting of filters, membranes, beads, fiber, glass wool, filter paper, polymers, and gel.

73. The method of claim 64, wherein the capture region comprises an extraction chamber formed in a microfluidic chip, and wherein the capture material comprises an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber, each of the microstructures having an aspect ratio (height to width) of at least 2:

1.

74. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of heating the capture region while forcing the elution fluid to flow through the capture region.

75. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of lysing the sample prior to forcing the lysed sample to flow through the capture region.

76. A method for separation an analyte from a fluid sample, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a lysing region for lysing sample components to release the analyte therefrom;

ii) a flow-through chip for capturing the analyte, the chin comprising a body having an extraction chamber and an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber for capturing the analyte, wherein each of the microstructures has an aspect ratio (height to width) of at least 2;

1; and

iii) a reaction chamber;

b) lysing the sample components in the lysing region;

c) forcing the lysed sample to flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip, thereby capturing the analyte with the microstructures in the extraction chamber;

d) eluting the captured analyte from the chip by forcing an elution fluid to flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip;

e) forcing the eluted analyte to flow into the reaction chamber;

f) reacting the analyte in the reaction chamber; and

g) detecting a reaction product;

wherein the reaction requires temperature control of the reaction chamber, and the method further comprises the steps of inserting the reaction chamber into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the reaction chamber according to a time/temperature profile.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the analyte comprises nucleic acid, and wherein the steps of reacting the analyte and detecting the reaction product comprise amplifying the nucleic acid and detecting the amplified nucleic acid.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the nucleic acid with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the nucleic acid to flow into the reaction chamber.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein the step of lysing the sample components comprises transferring ultrasonic energy to the lysing region using an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a wall of the lysing region.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the extraction chamber is greater than the volume of elution fluid forced to flow through the extraction chamber, whereby the analyte extracted from the sample is concentrated in the smaller volume of elution fluid.

81. The method of claim 76, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the extraction chamber is greater than the volume capacity of the extraction chamber.

82. The method of claim 76, wherein the ratio of the volume of sample forced to flow through the extraction chamber to the volume capacity of the extraction chamber is at least 2:

1.

83. The method of claim 76, wherein the volume of sample forced to flow through the extraction chamber is at least 1 ml.

84. A method for separating an analyte from a fluid sample, the method comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having;

i) a lysing region for lysing sample components to release the analyte therefrom; and

ii) a flow-through chip for capturing the analyte the chip comprising a body having an extraction chamber and an array of microstructures extending into the extraction chamber for capturing the analyte, wherein each of the microstructures has an aspect ratio (height to width) of at least 2;

1;

b) lysing the sample components in the lysing region;

c) forcing the lysed sample to flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip, thereby capturing the analyte with the microstructures in the extraction chamber;

d) eluting the captured analyte from the chip by forcing an elution fluid to flow through the extraction chamber and out of the chip;

e) forcing the eluted analyte to flow into a reaction vessel coupled to the cartridge;

f) reacting the analyte in the reaction vessel; and

g) detecting a reaction product;

wherein the reaction requires temperature control of the reaction vessel, and the method further comprises the steps of inserting the vessel into a thermal sleeve and heating or cooling the vessel according to a time/temperature profile.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the analyte comprises nucleic acid, and wherein the steps of reacting the analyte and detecting the reaction product comprise amplifying the nucleic acid and detecting the amplified nucleic acid.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein the cartridge further includes a reagent chamber containing dried or lyophilized reagents, and the method further comprises the step of mixing the eluted nucleic acid with the reagents in the reagent chamber prior to forcing the nucleic acid to flow into the reaction vessel.