Patent ID: 6280589
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A method of introducing a sample into a electrophoresis device, which electrophoresis device comprising a supply channel, which contains the sample, a drain channel, and an electrolyte channel, which contains an electrolyte buffer, wherein said supply and drain channels are each inclined with respect to the electrolyte channel, and which supply and drain channels intersect said electrolyte channel at a supply port and a drain port, respectively, such that a geometrically defined sample volume is defined by a section of said electrolyte channel located between said supply port and said drain port, wherein said sample is a composition which consists of components which have different electrophoretic mobilities and wherein electrophoretic separation of the sample takes place in the electrolyte channel, which method comprises the step of electrokinetically injecting the sample as a sample plug into said electrolyte channel by applying an electric field across the supply and drain channels, wherein said electric field is applied for a time period which is at least long enough that the component of said sample having the lowest electrophoretic mobility migrates into the geometrically defined sample volume, such that the injected sample plug reflects the original sample composition.