Total analysis system
Encyclopedia
Total Analysis System describes a device that automates
and includes all necessary steps for chemical
analysis
of a sample e.g. sampling, sample transport, filtration, dilution, chemical reactions, separation and detection.
A new trend today is creating Micro Total Analysis Systems - µTAS. Such a system shall shrink a whole laboratory
to chip-size lab-on-a-chip
. Because of its very small size, such a system can be placed close to a sampling site. It also can be very cost effective thinking of chip
technologies, sample sizes and analysis time.
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
and includes all necessary steps for chemical
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
analysis
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the study of the separation, identification, and quantification of the chemical components of natural and artificial materials. Qualitative analysis gives an indication of the identity of the chemical species in the sample and quantitative analysis determines the amount of...
of a sample e.g. sampling, sample transport, filtration, dilution, chemical reactions, separation and detection.
A new trend today is creating Micro Total Analysis Systems - µTAS. Such a system shall shrink a whole laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
to chip-size lab-on-a-chip
Lab-on-a-chip
A lab-on-a-chip is a device that integrates one or several laboratory functions on a single chip of only millimeters to a few square centimeters in size. LOCs deal with the handling of extremely small fluid volumes down to less than pico liters. Lab-on-a-chip devices are a subset of MEMS devices...
. Because of its very small size, such a system can be placed close to a sampling site. It also can be very cost effective thinking of chip
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
technologies, sample sizes and analysis time.