A method of preparing a nucleic acid sample for analysis with target enrichment, the method comprising the steps of: a. in a reaction vessel with a recess, adding a chelating agent to the nucleic acid sample until cells are lysed, to provide a crude lysate, in which the sample is heated with the chelating agent at a temperature in the range of 70°C and 99.5°C, and the chelating agent concentration is in the range of 1% w/v to 20% w/v with respect to the sample and b. providing a PNA probe at a concentration sufficient for binding and capture of discernible levels of target nucleic acid, c. providing paramagnetic or magnetic beads having a coating to bind to the PNA probes, said beads being dispersed in a solid oil or wax plug in the recess, said oil or wax being located at the surface of the sample, heating is applied using said applied heating for lysing to free the beads whereby the wax remains on top of the surface while molten due to floating, and the beads are magnetically removed after the target nucleic acid has attached to the PNA probes, and wherein: the oil or wax is in liquid form during the binding and capture reaction without application of a magnetic field, and is caused to solidify by cooling after the magnetic field has been applied and the beads have been attracted into the oil or wax, or the molten oil or wax provides a fluid-fluid interface through which an intact bead-PNA probe-target nucleic acid complex is drawn into an analytical vessel. a. in a reaction vessel with a recess, adding a chelating agent to the nucleic acid sample until cells are lysed, to provide a crude lysate, in which the sample is heated with the chelating agent at a temperature in the range of 70°C and 99.5°C, and the chelating agent concentration is in the range of 1% w/v to 20% w/v with respect to the sample and b. providing a PNA probe at a concentration sufficient for binding and capture of discernible levels of target nucleic acid, c. providing paramagnetic or magnetic beads having a coating to bind to the PNA probes, said beads being dispersed in a solid oil or wax plug in the recess, said oil or wax being located at the surface of the sample, heating is applied using said applied heating for lysing to free the beads whereby the wax remains on top of the surface while molten due to floating, and the beads are magnetically removed after the target nucleic acid has attached to the PNA probes, and wherein: the oil or wax is in liquid form during the binding and capture reaction without application of a magnetic field, and is caused to solidify by cooling after the magnetic field has been applied and the beads have been attracted into the oil or wax, or the molten oil or wax provides a fluid-fluid interface through which an intact bead-PNA probe-target nucleic acid complex is drawn into an analytical vessel. the oil or wax is in liquid form during the binding and capture reaction without application of a magnetic field, and is caused to solidify by cooling after the magnetic field has been applied and the beads have been attracted into the oil or wax, or the molten oil or wax provides a fluid-fluid interface through which an intact bead-PNA probe-target nucleic acid complex is drawn into an analytical vessel. <EOS>