Patent ID: 8551714

Claim:
A method for processing and analyzing an analyte comprising the steps of: a) concentrating a polypeptide-containing analyte in a macroscale module by: (i) providing a sample comprising a polypeptide-containing analyte in an initial volume into an off-chip macroscale module configured to hold a volume of a milliliter to a liter; (ii) capturing the polypeptide-containing analyte from said initial volume onto a plurality of magnetic beads in the macroscale module; (iii) immobilizing the magnetic beads with the captured polypeptide-containing analyte in the macroscale module with a magnet; (iv) washing the magnetic beads with the captured polypeptide-containing analyte; and (v) releasing the washed beads into a reduced volume compared with said initial volume to concentrate the polypeptide-containing analyte; b) introducing, with pressure from a pressure source, the released magnetic beads with the captured polypeptide-containing analyte in the reduced volume into a bioprocessor module that is fluidically integrated with the macroscale module, wherein introducing comprises passing the magnetic beads with the captured polypeptide-containing analyte from the macroscale module through a microfluidic channel in a microfluidic chip and into a reaction chamber in the bioprocessor module wherein the microfluidic channel is in fluidic communication with the macroscale module and with the reaction chamber; c) labeling the polypeptide-containing analyte; and d) detecting the labeled polypeptide-containing analyte in an analysis module fluidically integrated with the bioprocessor module.