Method of detecting a microorganism using chromatographic enrichment

1. A method of detecting a target microorganism, comprising:

contacting a liquid sample with a porous carrier of a sample preparation device, the device comprising:

a casing comprising a first and second opening; and

the porous carrier;

wherein the porous carrier comprises a sample-receiving zone at a first predefined location and a target cell-binding zone at a second predefined location, the porous carrier defining a first fluid pathway extending from the sample-receiving zone through the target cell-binding zone;

wherein at least portion of the porous carrier is disposed in the casing;

wherein a second fluid pathway extends through the casing from the first opening to the second opening, the second fluid pathway intersecting the porous carrier at the target cell-binding zone;

allowing at least a portion of the liquid sample to move longitudinally through the porous carrier from the sample-receiving zone toward the target cell-binding zone;

after the at least a portion of the liquid has moved to the target cell-binding zone, urging a detachment member that is slidably engaged with the second fluid pathway through the second fluid pathway from the first opening to the second opening and thereby expelling a portion of the target cell-binding zone; and

processing the portion of the target cell-binding zone, or a cell released therefrom, to detect an indication of the target microorganism.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a first cover element that covers the first opening or a second cover element that covers the second opening, wherein urging a detachment member through the second fluid pathway comprises urging the detachment member through the first cover element or the second cover element.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is supported by a substrate, wherein urging a detachment member through the second fluid pathway to detach at least a portion of the target cell-binding zone further comprises using the detachment member to detach a portion of the substrate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, after the at least a portion of the liquid has moved to the target cell-binding zone, the method further comprises a step of passing a wash solvent through the porous carrier via the second fluid pathway.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a receptacle proximate the second opening, wherein expelling a portion of the target cell-binding zone or expelling the part of the release solution further comprises moving the portion of the target cell-binding zone or moving the part of the release solution into the receptacle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the portion of the analyte-binding zone or processing the part of the release solution to detect an indication of the target microorganism further comprises processing the portion of the analyte-binding zone or processing the part of the release solution to detect a biomolecule associated with the target microorganism.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the portion of the target cell-binding zone or processing the part of the release solution comprises amplifying a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence associated with the target microorganism.

8. A device, comprising:

a casing comprising an interior, a first opening, and a second opening;

a porous carrier comprising a sample-receiving zone and a target cell-binding zone; and

a detachment member dimensioned to traverse a second fluid pathway from the first opening to the second opening, wherein a portion of the detachment member is slideably engaged in the second fluid pathway;

wherein the porous carrier defines a first fluid pathway that extends from the sample-receiving zone to the target cell-binding zone;

wherein at least portion of the porous carrier is disposed in the interior of the casing;

wherein a second fluid pathway comprising a central axis extends through the casing from the first opening and the second opening, the second fluid pathway intersecting the porous carrier at the target cell-binding zone;

wherein the central axis is oriented orthogonal to the porous carrier.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a sample port that provides access to the sample-receiving zone, wherein the sample-receiving zone is disposed in the interior of the casing.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the casing further comprises a first conduit that extends from the sample port to the interior of the casing.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the casing further comprises a second conduit that extends from the first opening to the interior of the casing.

12. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a flow indicator disposed in the porous carrier in the first fluid pathway.

13. The device of claim 8 , further comprising an absorbent body disposed proximate the second opening.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the detachment member comprises a cutting structure.

15. A kit comprising the device of claim 8 , and a reagent for nucleic acid amplification.

16. The kit of claim 15 , further comprising a detachment member dimensioned to traverse the second fluid pathway from the first opening to the second opening.

17. The kit of claim 16 , wherein the detachment member comprises a cutting structure.