Microfluidic detection of analytes

A method for introducing an analyte of interest in a sample to a microfluidic device, comprising:nproviding an aqueous sample in a large volume reservoir, said sample containing the analyte and having a volume of greater than or equal to 1 microliter, wherein the analyte is charged or has been associated with a charged molecule;electrophoresing the analyte from the large volume reservoir to a microfluidic device via a connector, wherein the microfluidic device comprises an analyis area, and the large volume reservoir and the microfluidic device are fluidically connected via the connector; andcontinuously flowing the analyte to the analysis area for a time sufficient to result in a higher concentration of the analyte in the analysis area than in the sample.

A method for introducing an analyte of interest in a sample to a microfluidic device, comprising:nproviding an aqueous sample in a large volume reservoir comprising a first microelectrode operably attached thereto, said sample containing the analyte and having a volume of greater than or equal to 1 microliter, wherein the analyte of interest is charged or has been associated with a charged molecule;electrophoresing the analyte via a connector from the large volume reservoir to a staging reservoir positioned in a microfluidic device, wherein the connector fluidically connects the large volume reservoir and the staging reservoir, and wherein the microfluidic device comprises an analysis area, a second microelectrode located in the staging reservoir and a third microelectrode located in or distal to at least a portion of the analysis area, said microelectrodes being configured such that an electric field may be generated between the electrodes and a charged analyte electrophoresed from the first microelectrode to the second microelectrode and from the second microelectrode to the third microelectrode; andtransporting the analyte to the analysis area for a time sufficient to result in a higher concentration of analyte in the analysis area than in the sample.

A method for introducing an analyte of interest to a microfluidic device, comprising:nintroducing a solid phase hound analyte into a large volume reservoir to provide a sample, said sample having a volume of greater than or equal to 1 microliter, wherein the analyte is charged or has been associated with a charged molecule;exposing the solid phase-bound analyte to conditions sufficient to free the analyte from the solid phase;electrophoresing the analyte from the large volume reservoir to a microfluidic device via a connector, wherein the microfluidic device comprises an analysis area, and the large volume reservoir and the microfluidic device are fluidically connected via the connector; andtransporting the analyte to the analysis area for a time sufficient to result in a higher concentration of analyte in the analysis area than in the sample, wherein the analyte is continuously flowed from the large volume reservoir to the analysis area during said time.