Patent ID: 8592759

Claim:
A method for the preparation of samples for ionization with matrix-assisted laser desorption, comprising: (a) depositing an analyte material containing soluble analyte molecules of interest and in-soluble components onto a deposition site; (b) providing a sample site which is a distance away from the deposition site and is intended as a substrate for a matrix crystal layer; (c) establishing a liquid communication between the deposition site and the sample site, thereby promoting a transfer of soluble analyte molecules of interest from the deposition site to the sample site as a result of ever-present molecular processes in liquids and without exerting additional driving forces on the soluble analyte molecules for transferring them from the deposition site to the sample site while generally impeding the insoluble components from being transferred from the deposition site to the sample site; and (d) discontinuing the liquid communication after a pre-determined time period.