A system for extracting a sample from a sample surface with a liquid, comprising: a device for collecting a sample comprising - an absorptive layer comprised by the sample surface and comprising a porous material for collecting a sample, the porous material for collecting a sample being capable of absorbing the sample such that the sample penetrates below the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample, a sample region for collecting a sample and peripheral portions of the porous material for collecting a sample defining barrier regions for containing a flow of sample extraction liquid around the sample region; and, - a hydrophobic material impregnated into the porous material for collecting a sample in the peripheral portions for containing the flow of sample extraction liquid, characterised in that said hydrophobic material is embedded in the porous material for collecting a sample to form a hydrophobic barrier peripheral to the sample, and defines patterns in the porous material for collecting a sample, forming sample wells; - a liquid extraction surface sampling probe for applying the extraction liquid to the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample, and for withdrawing extraction liquid containing an extracted sample from the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample through the liquid extraction surface sampling probe, said liquid extraction surface sampling probe being able to disperse the liquid containing extracted sample into an ionization source, so as to ionize the extracted dissolved sample material downstream of the porous material and the liquid extraction surface sampling probe. a device for collecting a sample comprising - an absorptive layer comprised by the sample surface and comprising a porous material for collecting a sample, the porous material for collecting a sample being capable of absorbing the sample such that the sample penetrates below the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample, a sample region for collecting a sample and peripheral portions of the porous material for collecting a sample defining barrier regions for containing a flow of sample extraction liquid around the sample region; and, - a hydrophobic material impregnated into the porous material for collecting a sample in the peripheral portions for containing the flow of sample extraction liquid, - an absorptive layer comprised by the sample surface and comprising a porous material for collecting a sample, the porous material for collecting a sample being capable of absorbing the sample such that the sample penetrates below the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample, a sample region for collecting a sample and peripheral portions of the porous material for collecting a sample defining barrier regions for containing a flow of sample extraction liquid around the sample region; and, - a hydrophobic material impregnated into the porous material for collecting a sample in the peripheral portions for containing the flow of sample extraction liquid, characterised in that said hydrophobic material is embedded in the porous material for collecting a sample to form a hydrophobic barrier peripheral to the sample, and defines patterns in the porous material for collecting a sample, forming sample wells; - a liquid extraction surface sampling probe for applying the extraction liquid to the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample, and for withdrawing extraction liquid containing an extracted sample from the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample through the liquid extraction surface sampling probe, said liquid extraction surface sampling probe being able to disperse the liquid containing extracted sample into an ionization source, so as to ionize the extracted dissolved sample material downstream of the porous material and the liquid extraction surface sampling probe. - a liquid extraction surface sampling probe for applying the extraction liquid to the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample, and for withdrawing extraction liquid containing an extracted sample from the surface of the porous material for collecting a sample through the liquid extraction surface sampling probe, said liquid extraction surface sampling probe being able to disperse the liquid containing extracted sample into an ionization source, so as to ionize the extracted dissolved sample material downstream of the porous material and the liquid extraction surface sampling probe.