Patent ID: 6558946
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for rapidly identifying biological agents in a sample suspected of containing the same, said apparatus comprising:releasing means for releasing biomarkers from the biological agents in the sample; at least one sample processing module fluidly connected to the releasing means, said at least one sample processing module including a cleanup and concentration column for separating the contaminants from the biomarkers contained in the sample and concentrating the volume of the sample; an ionization source fluidly connected to said at least one sample processing module, for ionizing the biomarkers and forming a stream of ionized biomarkers; a detector for analyzing the stream of ionized biomarkers to obtain at least one parameter of the ionized biomarkers indicative of the identity of the biological agent; and a controller operatively connected to the releasing means, the sample processing module, the separation module, the ionization source and the detector to provide programmed coordination of said components for orderly passage of the sample therethrough.