Capillary Electrophoresis System with Deep UV Native Fluorescence Detector

An instrument is proposed which provides a triage of methods for locating, isolating and characterizing a single of small number of microorganisms, down to the femtomole level, within a complex inorganic or organic matrix. The instrument comprises three methodologies: deep ultraviolet, in situ, native fluorescence imaging for rapidly searching a wide area and identifying potential DNA/RNA or DNA/RNA-bearing targets; a UV resonance Raman spectrometer for further elucidating these targets and making a higher level of decision regarding the prospect for their further interrogation; and finally, utilization of laser induced native fluorescence detection on a capillary electrophoresis column to do DNA sequencing without the need for dye derivatization. The capillary electrophoresis portion of the integrated instrument uses the same laser source as does the fluorescence imaging and Raman spectrometer. At the core of this instrument is a unique, compact, low power consumption, deep UV laser which is insensitive to ambient temperatures and pressures, requires no warm-up or pre-heating or temperature regulation, yet emits at several deep UV wavelengths with a very high degree of stability. This laser has the size, weight and power consumption of a helium neon laser yet emits a several deep UV wavelengths including 224nm, 248nm, 260nm, and 270nm.