WO2009003730A1

WO2009003730A1 - System and method for carrying out analysis

Info

Publication number: WO2009003730A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/051446
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Thomsen; Claus Holm; Mette Blaabjerg
Original assignee: Foss Analytical A/S
Priority date: 2007-07-05
Filing date: 2008-02-06
Publication date: 2009-01-08

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated system (100; 200) and a method (300; 400) for performing analysis on a sample. The sample may e.g. be of grain, foodstuff or feed and the analysis may be for measuring the concentration of one or more specific constituents which might affect the quality of the grain, foodstuff or feed. Such constituents could e.g. be mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin, fumonisin, aflatoxin, and 1-2 toxin, and/or enzymes such as amylase in general, or alpha-amylase in specific. The system (100; 200) comprises containers (10; 12; 14; 16) for the sample and for liquids used during the measurements. The container (10) for the sample comprises grinding means (20) for grinding the sample and inlet means (11 ) for inletting solvent liquid from another container (12), preferably during the grinding so as to speed up the extraction of constituents from the first sample. The system (100, 200) moreover comprises a sensor (50) for measuring the concentration of the one or more specific constituents, which may be a biosensor or another type of biosensing system.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT ANALYSIS

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a system and a method for carrying out analysis on a first sample.

[0003] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Systems and methods for quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of sub-stances of interest in a test sample are well known. Within the area of analysis of foodstuff and/or feed, it is well known to analyse test samples for substances which may indicate poor quality of the foodstuff and/or feed.

[0005] One known example of testing equipment is the "rain damage test" pro-vided by the company QWCRC under the name WheatRite®. WheatRite® is a test kit suited for analysis of the concentration of alpha-amylase in wheat, and is a test kit to be used by an operator, who should perform steps of grinding kernel of a test sample, adding fluids, mixing, filtering as well as a visual comparison of a colour of a biosensing system test strip and a reference colour chart. Thus, the use of the WheatRite® test kit involves operator interaction throughout the analysis of the test sample.

[0006] Another test kit for analysing the presence of substances in grain, feed and/or foodstuff is the ROSA® Aflatoxin Kit provided by the company Charm Sciences Inc. This test kit comprises test strips, dilution buffer, an incubator and a reader. An operator should grind a test sample, mix it with ethanol or methanol, and take out some extract from the mix to be mixed with the dilution buffer. The resulting mix should be added to a biosensing system test strip for subsequent incubation for some minutes and readout. Thus, the use of the ROSA® Aflatoxin kit necessitates the presence of an operator who should handle the test kit in several steps.

[0007] Hence, an improved system and method for analysis would be advan-tageous, and in particular a more efficient and automatic system and method would be advantageous.

[0008] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior art. In particular, it may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method that solves the above mentioned problems of the prior art with the need for an operator being present and handling a test kit used for analy-sis of one or more constituents in a sample.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Thus, the above described object and several other objects are intended to be obtained in a first aspect of the invention by providing a system for carrying out analysis on a first sample, the system comprising: a first container for con-taining said first sample, the first container comprising grinding means for grind-ing said first sample, the first container further comprising first inlet and outlet means; a second container for containing a solvent liquid for extracting one or more specific constituents, the second container comprising second outlet means; control means arranged to control the operation of the grinding means and to direct solvent liquid from the second container via the second outlet means to the first inlet means of the first container, wherein said control means are arranged to time the direction of liquid from the second container to the first container relative to the operation of the grinding means; and a sensor arranged to measure the concentration of one or more specific constituents; wherein the control means moreover is arranged to outlet a second sample from the first container towards the sensor, where the second sample comprises solvent liquid and the extracted one or more specific constituents.

[0012] Thus, the system of the invention is a fully automated system. An operator should provide the first sample to the first container and possibly initiate the operation of the system. Typically, no more interaction will be needed before reading out a result from the sensor, in that the control means of system drives the grinding means in the first container, the inletting of solvent liquid into the first container as well as the outletting of the second sample from the first con-tainer towards the sensor. Moreover, the readout may also be automatic, e.g. an electric or electronic readout from the sensor to a storage in a storage device, so that no operator is needed for the step of reading out the results of the mea-sure-ment of the sensor. The sensor could store this result on the storage device for later analysis, comparison with reference values, etc.

[0013] Within the field of analysis of constituents in grain, feed and/or foodstuff, a sample is typically analysed by grinding e.g. 500 grams and providing e.g. 50 grams of the sample in ground form to liquids for reaction and/or analysis. In the system of the invention, a solvent liquid is inlet to the container comprising the whole first sample during, before or after grinding of the first sample. Thus, the system relies on the insight that the second sample extracted from the first container comprising the whole first sample will be representative of the first sample.

[0014] It should be noted that the term "the whole first sample" is meant to cover the first sample provided in the first container, and thus not just a part/fraction of the first sample. This term is independent of whether the first sample has been ground or not.

[0015] Moreover the term "grind" should cover any application of mechanical forces to the first sample, breaking the first sample into smaller pieces or changing the size, disposition and/or the shape of the first sample, such as crush, pulverize, mill or mince. The first sample may be a sample of foodstuffs, feed or grain, e.g. from wheat, rice, rye or corn, which are examples of solid materials.

[0016] The term biosensing system shall be understood in its broadest definition; a means of detecting an analyte that uses tissue, whole cells, organelles, proteins (e.g. antibodies, enzymes or lectins), nucleic acids (natural or modified), molecular imprinted polymers or any other means to directly or indirectly detect the analyte of interest. The analyte can be detected using electrical, radioactive, thermal, acoustic or optical signals. The definition shall be meant to include lateral flow sticks, dipsticks, immunochromatography, immobilised enzyme electrode, ELISA, DNA microarrays, protein microarrays and biosensors such as the optical, piezoelectric, and potentiometric types of biosensors, without being limited to these. The definition shall also be meant to include physical arrangements of the sensor in a flow cell or in other physical modes of operation such as physical movement of the sensor area to a detection means.

[0017] According to an aspect of the invention, the sensor of the system is a biosensing system and the system moreover comprises a third container for containing a tracer liquid for mixing with the second sample before presenting the resulting mixture of the second sample and the tracer liquid to the biosensing system and a fourth container for containing a substrate liquid for presenting to the biosensing system.

[0018] A biosensor is an advantageous choice of sensor in that it may be a multi analyte sensor capable of detecting the presence/concentration of more than one constituent in the first sample. Moreover, it is relatively cheap. Thus, a biosensor may be a one time use sensor, i.e. that a new biosensor is used for analysis of one sample only and is exchanged after each analysis. This alleviates the need for cleaning the sensor after each use of the system. Moreover, a biosensor may be provided with electronic readout which is useful for storage of data and/or results. The tracer and substrate liquid in the third and fourth container, respectively, are provided for facilitating the use of a biosensor as the sensor of the system.

[0019] A biosensing system provides a wider range of potential detection technologies than a biosensor, and therefore increased sensitivity, increased specificity or reduced cost may be realised by using a biosensing system, rather than a biosensor.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, the biosensing system is configured to measure mycotoxin as the one or more specific constituents. Preferably, said mycotoxin comprises one or more of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin, fumonisin, aflatoxin, and 1-2 toxin. These are examples of myco-toxins of interest in grain, feed and foodstuffs, in that their presence may reduce the quality of grain, feed and foodstuff to a large extent.

[0021] In yet another aspect of the invention the biosensing system is configured to measure one or more enzymes as the one or more specific consti-tuents. Advantageously, said enzymes comprise amylase, in particular alpha-amylase. Alpha-amylase in grain or flour is of particular interest due to its effect on the quality of grain or flour. Alpha-amylase may be caused by pre-harvest sprouting due to rainfall during or just prior to harvest.

[0022] Therefore it may be advantageous that the sensor has two sensor areas with different specificities for simultaneously measuring respectively the concentration of a mycotoxin such, as e.g. deoxynivalenol, and an amylase, such as alpha-amylase, or similarly for other types of biosensing systems, that the same system is configured to sense two constituents in one process. It should be noted that this is only possible due to the fact that these two consti-tuents may be analysed simultaneously by use of the same solvent and substrate liquids. Typically, the tracer liquid to be used is a mix of two different tracer liquids, one for each of the specific constituents to be measured.

[0023] In a similar manner the sensor may have two sensor areas with the same specificity, but with different sensitivities, allowing the same sensor to be used in a wider dynamic range compared to the case of a single sensitivity.

[0024] Preferably, the solvent liquid is a polar liquid. One example of such a polar solvent liquid is water. Optionally, detergent may be added to the water. Polar liquids are particularly well suited for extracting amylase and/or certain mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol from the first sample.

[0025] In yet a further aspect of the invention, the system is arranged for using the solvent liquid for rinsing the first container and/or flow cell of the sensor the between analyses. The liquid from the second container is thus used both as solvent liquid and as rinsing liquid. Thereby, automatic rinsing of the system can be performed between analyses without the need for an additional container for rinsing liquid. It should be noted that sensor itself might not have to be cleaned or rinsed, if it is a disposable type. How-ever, if the sensor is to be used more than once, the liquid from the second container may also be used for rinsing the sensor.

[0026] Preferably, the system moreover comprises a filter arranged between the first and the second containers. Hereby, the constitution of the second sample outlet from the first container after grinding may be controlled such that e.g. the second sample is substantially liquid or is a liquid with solid particles up to a specific particle size.

[0027] The invention moreover relates to a method of carrying out analysis on a first sample, the method comprising the step of: providing a first sample into a first container, the first container comprising grinding means for grinding said first sample, the first container further comprising first inlet and outlet means; opera-ting the grinding means by means of a control means in order to grind the first sample; under the control of the control means, directing solvent liquid from a second container, said solvent liquid being arranged for extracting one or more specific constituents from the first sample, via second outlet means of the second container to the first inlet means of the first container, so that the directing of the solvent liquid from the second container to the first container is timed relative to the operation of the grinding means under the control of the control means; out-let-ting a second sample from the first container towards a sensor arranged to measure the concentration of one or more specific constituents, where the second sample comprises solvent liquid and the extracted one or more specific consti-tuents. The method exhibits the same advantages as the corresponding system. Moreover, the method comprises features corresponding to those of the corre-sponding system.

[0028] Finally, the invention relates to the use of a biosensor having at least two sensor areas with different specificities for simultaneously measuring respectively the concentration of a mycotoxin and an amylase. This combination of constituents, the concentration of which are analysed, is especially advantageous in that deoxynivale-nol, a mycotoxin, and alpha-amylase are of particular interest within the field of analysis of grain, feed or foodstuff due to their influence on the quality of grain, feed and foodstuff.

[0029] The different aspects of the present invention may each be combined with any of the other aspects. These and other aspects of the invention will be appa-rent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

[0030] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0031] The system and method according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0032] Figures 1 and 2 are structural diagrams of systems according to the invention; and

[0033] Figures 3 and 4 are flow-charts of methods according to the invention.

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0035] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a system 100 according to the invention.

[0036] The system 100 comprises a first container 10 for containing said first sample, the first container 10 comprising grinding means 20 for grinding said first sample. The first sample may e.g. be a sample of grain, feed or foodstuff. The first container 10 further comprises first inlet and outlet means 11. In figure 1 , the inlet and out-let means 11 are shown as a single unit; of course, the inlet and outlet means could alternatively be two units: an inlet and a separate outlet.

[0037] The system 100 moreover comprises a second container 12 for containing a solvent liquid for extracting one or more specific constituents from a first sample in the first container. The second container moreover comprises second outlet means 13.

[0038] Control means 30, 40 are arranged to control the operation of the grinding means 20 in the first container and to direct solvent liquid from the second container 12 via the second outlet means 13 to the first inlet means 11 of the first container 10. The solvent liquid is led via a piping, pipe or conduct 61 from the second outlet means 13 to the inlet means 11 of the first container. The control means 30, 40 is arranged to time the direction of liquid from the second container 20 to the first container 10 relative to the operation of the grinding means 20. For instance, the grinding means may perform some grinding on the first sample prior to the inletting of solvent fluid from the second container. Subsequently, the grind-ing means may continue grinding for some time. In this instance, the grinding facilitates or speeds up the extraction of constituents from the first sample by the mechanical stirring of the first sample during the grinding. Alternatively, the solvent liquid may be inlet to the first sample before the activation of the grinding means.

[0039] The system moreover comprises a sensor 50 arranged to measure the concentration of one or more specific constituents.

[0040] The control means 30, 40 is arranged to outlet a second sample from the first container 10 towards the sensor 50, where the second sample comprises solvent liquid and the extracted one or more specific constituents. Thus, the ground first sample is to be retained in the first container or removed to waste, whilst the solvent containing the extracted constituent is led towards the sensor 50.

[0041] In figure 1 , the control means are shown as two separate control units 30 and 40. However, the control means 30, 40 may alternatively be one unit as indicated by the broken line oval in figure 1 , or the control means could be more than the two units shown in figure 1. The control unit 40 of figure 1 is a pump and multivalve unit 40 connected via a pipe, conduit or tube 62 to the second outlet means 13 of the second container 12 and via a pipe, conduit or tube 61 to the first inlet and outlet means 11 of the first container 10. Moreover, the pump and multivalve unit 40 is connected via a pipe, conduit or tube 65 to the sensor 50. The control unit 30 is arranged to control the operation the pump and multivalve unit 40 as well as the operation of the grinding means 20, by control signals 72 and 71 , respectively. Of course, the control unit 30 could be integrated in the pump and multivalve unit 40.

[0042] The sensor 50 outputs a sensor signal 73 representative of the measure-ment of the sensor 50. The sensor can be of any suitable type.

[0043] The system 100 combines the extraction of constituents and the analysis of the concentration of the constituents in one system, thus providing a highly automated system. The system 100 typically requires only a minimum of manual handling, thus permitting an operator to initiate the analysis, without having to perform any operations before the subsequent analysis on a subsequent sample.

[0044] Figure 2 is an alternative structural diagram of a system 200 according to the invention. Similar reference numbers are used in figures 1 and 2 to denote similar elements. The system 200 of figure 2 includes all the elements of the system 100 of figure 1 , which elements will not be described in further detail here. The system 200 moreover comprises a third container 14 for containing a tracer liquid for mixing with the second sample before presenting the resulting mixture of the second sample and the tracer liquid to the biosensor 50. The system 200 moreover comprises a fourth container 16 for containing a substrate liquid for presenting to the biosensor subsequent to the presenting of the mixture of the second sample and the tracer liquid to the biosensor 50. Optionally, the biosensor could be rinsed after the presenting of the mixture of the second sample and the tracer liquid and before presenting the substrate liquid to the biosensor; this could e.g. be done by means of solvent liquid from the second container 12 controlled by the pump and multivave unit 40.

[0045] The third container 14 comprises outlet means 15 connected to the pump and multivalve unit 40 via a pipe, conduit or tube 63, whilst the fourth container 16 comprises outlet means 17 connected to the pump and multivalve unit 40 via a pipe, conduit or tube 64. In the system 200 the sensor 50 is a biosensor in a flow cell. The tracer and sub-strate liquids are used in order to measure the specific constituents in the first sample, in that the tracer is mixed with the second sample outlet from the first container before the mixture of the sample and the tracer liquid is conducted to the biosensor 50 by means of the pump and multivalve unit 40 controlled by the control unit 30. Subsequently, the substrate liquid from the third container 16 is led to the biosensor 50 to facilitate an electric read-out signal from the biosensor.

[0046] As mentioned above, the solvent liquid may be water, optionally with a detergent added, and the first sample may be a sample of grain, feed or foodstuff.

[0047] When water is used as solvent liquid, simultaneous extraction of a mycotoxin, such as deoxynivale-nol, and an amylase, such as alpha-amylase, is possible. To this end, the biosensor 50 may contain two sensor areas with different specificities for simultaneously measuring respectively the concentration of deoxyni-valenol and alpha-amylase. Of course, more constituents may be detected by a biosensor comprising more than two sensor areas. Moreover, the solvent liquid might alternatively be based on ethanol or methanol, thus being able to extract other constituents. It should be noted that the above simultaneous measuring is only possible due to the fact that the consti-tuents may be analysed simultaneously by use of the same solvent and substrate liquids. Typically, the tracer liquid to be used is a mix of two different tracer liquids, one for each of the specific constituents to be measured.

[0048] The system 200 of figure 2 moreover comprises a waste container 80 to which content from the first container 10 and the sensor 50 may be led via pipes, tubes or conduits 66 and 67, respectively. This facilitates the automatic cleaning or rinsing of the elements of the system between analyses.

[0049] The system may also comprise a filter (not shown) placed downstream of the inlet and outlet means of the first container, e.g. in the pipe, tube or conduit 61. This filter will be able to filter the second sample outlet from the first container 10 so that only liquid with extracted constituent(s) is led towards the biosensor 50.

[0050] The system 200 is arranged for performing a number of subsequent analyses. Prior to the first analysis, the three containers 12, 14, 16 are filled with the appropriate liquids (solvent, tracer and substrate liquid, respectively) and a first sample is introduced into the first container. The system performs an analysis on the first sample as described below, succeeded by a rinsing of the elements of the system. In case the biosensor is a one-use sensor to be disposed after use it will be changed instead of being cleaned. Optionally, the flow cell of the biosensor may be changed after each analysis as well. The changing of the biosensor or the biosensor with its flow cell can be performed quickly, like changing a pipette tip. Moreover, the filter may be changed after each analysis. The changing of the filter, biosensor and flow cell may be carried out automatically so that the system may be fully automated.

[0051] In the case where the first sample is a sample of whole grains and the specific constituents are deoxynivalenol and alpha-amylase, the time to answer from the system is in the magnitude a few to 10 minutes. The manual handling time per sample will typically be less than 15 seconds, and the system may perform up to 20, typically five to 15, samples per hour. The system is user friendly since it is highly automated, in that it requires a minimum of manual handling per sample to be analysed. Again, the system 200 combines the extraction of constituents and the analysis of the concentration of the constituents in one system, thus providing a highly automated system. The operation of the system 200 typi-cally requires only a minimum of manual handling, thus permitting an operator to initiate the analysis, without having to perform any operations before the subse-quent analysis on a subsequent sample, apart from optionally changing the filter, the biosensor 50 and/or the flow cell of the biosensor 50.

[0052] Figure 3 is a flow-chart of a method 300 according to the invention to be performed by use of a corresponding system, such as the system 100 or 200 of figure 1 or 2, respectively. The method 300 starts in step 310 and continues to step 320 wherein a first sample is filled into the first container. In the next step 330, the grinding means are operated to grind the first sample, e.g. as controlled by the control means 30, 40 as described above. In the next sample solvent liquid is directed from the second container to the first container to mix with the first sample. Advantageously, the grinding means are operating before and after the inletting of solvent liquid into the first container, in that the mechanical grinding of the grinding means will work as a washing mechanism accelerating the extraction of the constituents to be measured. The solvent liquid for extraction the consti-tuents is advantageously based on water and will thus be able to extract water soluble constituents, such as deoxynivalenol and alpha-amylase. The solvent liquid might alternatively be based on ethanol or methanol, thus being able to extract other constituents. In the next step of the method 300, the second sample is outlet from the first container towards the sensor. The second sample com-prises the specific constituents and the solvent liquid used for extracting them. The method 300 comprises the step (not shown) of reading out the result from the sensor, by means such as visual read out or storage to a memory in an electronic device for storage and/or analysis. The method ends in step 360.

[0053] Figure 4 is a flow-chart of another method 400 according to the invention. Steps 410 to 450 of the method 400 corresponds to steps 310 to 350 of the method 300 and will thus not be described in further detail here.

[0054] After step 450, the method 400 comprises the step 460 of mixing the second sample output from the first container with tracer liquid from the third container 14 (see Fig. 2). The resulting mixture of the second sample and the tracer liquid is presented to a biosensor in step 470. Subsequently, in step 480, substrate liquid from the fourth container 16 (see Fig. 2) is presented to the biosensor 50 (see Fig. 2). The biosensor is arranged to output an electric read-out signal in response to the concentration of specific constituents in the mixture presented to it when being presented to substrate liquid.

[0055] The method 400 may comprise an optional rinsing step subsequent to step 470. This optional rinsing step could be transporting some solvent liquid from the second container 12 past the biosensor prior to the step 480 of presenting the substrate liquid to the biosensor, in order to wash off excess tracer not bound in the biosensor.

[0056] The method 400 of fig. 4 continues to step 490 consisting of rinsing elements of the system by use of solvent liquid from the second container. The parts of the system to be cleaned in this step are the first container, the pipes 61 , 65, and optionally the biosensor 50, optionally together with its flow cell (not shown in the figures). However, if the biosensor is a disposable biosensor arranged for one use only, it may of course be unnecessary to clean it.

[0057] The method 400 ends in step 500.

[0058] In summary, the present invention relates to an automated system and a method for performing analysis on a sample. The sample may e.g. be of grain, foodstuff or feed and the analysis may be for measuring the concentration of one or more specific constituents which might affect the quality of the grain, foodstuff or feed. Such constituents could e.g. be mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin, fumonisin, aflatoxin, and 1-2 toxin, and/or enzymes such as amylase in general, or alpha-amylase in specific. The system comprises containers for the sample and for liquids used during the measure-ments. The container for the sample comprises grinding means for grinding the sample and means for inletting solvent liquid from another container, preferably during the grinding so as to speed up the extraction of constituents from the first sample. The system moreover comprises a sensor for measuring the concen-tra-tion of the one or more specific constituents.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. Specifically the skilled person of the art will realise that where the term biosensor is used other types of biosensing systems may similarly be relevant.

[0060] The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms "comprising" or "comprises" do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as "a" or "an" etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.

Claims

1. A system (100; 200) for carrying out analysis on a first sample, the system comprising:

- a first container (10) for containing said first sample, the first container (10) comprising grinding means (20) for grinding said first sample, the first container (10) further comprising first inlet and outlet means (11);

- a second container (12) for containing a solvent liquid for extracting one or more specific constituents, the second container comprising second outlet means;

- control means (30; 40) arranged to control the operation of the grinding means (20) and to direct solvent liquid from the second container (12) via the second outlet means (13) to the first inlet means (11) of the first container (10), wherein said control means (30; 40) are arranged to time the direction of liquid from the second container (20) to the first container (10) relative to the operation of the grinding means (20); and

- a sensor (50) arranged to measure the concentration of one or more specific constituents; wherein the control means (30; 40) moreover is arranged to outlet a second sample from the first container (10) towards the sensor (50), where the second sample comprises solvent liquid and the extracted one or more specific constituents.

2. A system (100,200) according to claims 1 wherein said sensor (50) is a biosensing system preferably taken from a group comprising lateral flow sticks, dipsticks, immunochromatography, immobilised enzyme electrode, ELISA, DNA microarrays, protein microarrays and biosensors preferably taken from the group comprising optical, piezoelectric, and potentiometric types of biosensors.

3. A system (100; 200) according to claim 2, wherein said biosensing system (50) is arranged in a flow cell and wherein the system moreover comprises a third container (14) for containing a tracer liquid for mixing with the second sample before presenting the resulting mixture of the second sample and the tracer liquid to the biosensing system and a fourth container (16) for containing a substrate liquid for presenting to the biosensing system .

4. A system (100; 200) according to claim 2, or 3, wherein the biosensing system is configured to measure mycotoxin as the one or more specific constituents.

5. A system (100; 200) according to claim 5, wherein said mycotoxin comprises one or more of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin, fumonisin, aflatoxin, and T-2 toxin.

6. A system (100; 200) according to any of the claims 2 to 6, wherein the biosensing system is configured to measure one or more enzymes as the one or more specific constituents.

7. A system (100; 200) according to claim 7, wherein said enzymes comprise amylase, in particular alpha-amylase.

8. A system (100; 200) according to any of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the solvent liquid is a polar liquid.

9. A system (100; 200) according to any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the system is arranged for using the solvent liquid for rinsing the first container (10) and/or flow cell of the sensor the between analyses.

10. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the system (100; 200) moreover comprises a filter arranged between the first and the second containers.

11. A method of carrying out analysis on a first sample, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first sample into a first container (10), the first container (10) comprising grinding means (20) for grinding said first sample, the first container (10) further comprising first inlet and outlet means;- operating the grinding means (20) by means of a control means (30; 40) in order to grind the first sample; under the control of the control means (30; 40), directing solvent liquid from a second container (12), said solvent liquid being arranged for extracting one or more specific constituents from the first sample, via second outlet means of the second container (12) to the first inlet means of the first container (10), so that the directing of the solvent liquid from the second container (20) to the first container (10) is timed relative to the operation of the grinding means (20) under the control of the control means (30; 40); outletting a second sample from the first container (10) towards a sensor (50) arranged to measure the concentration of one or more specific constituents, where the second sample comprises solvent liquid and the extracted one or more specific constituents.

12. A method according to claims 11 or 12, wherein said sensor is a biosensing system (50) is arranged in a flow cell and wherein the method moreover comprising the steps of mixing the second sample outlet from the first container (10) with tracer liquid from a third container (14) and presenting the resulting mixture to the the biosensing system succeeded by presenting substrate liquid from a fourth container (16) to the biosensing system (50).

13. A method according to any of the claims 11 to 13, wherein the solvent liquid is a polar liquid.

14. A method according to any of the claims 11 to 13, wherein the method further comprises the step of rinsing the first container (10) and/or flow cell of the sensor between analyses, by use of the solvent liquid outlet from the second container (12).

15. A method according to any of the claims 11 to 14 wherein the sensor is a biosensing system preferably taken from a group comprising lateral flow sticks, dipsticks, immunochromatography, immobilised enzyme electrode, ELISA, DNA microarrays, protein microarrays and biosensors preferably taken from the group comprising optical, piezoelectric, and potentiometric types of biosensors.

16. A use of a biosensing system having at least two sensor areas with different specificities for simultaneously measuring respectively the concentration of a mycotoxin and an amylase.

17. A use of a biosensing system having at least two sensing areas with different specificities for simultaneously measuring respectively the concentration of a mycotoxin and an amylase.

18. A use of a biosensing system having at least two sensing areas with different sensitivity levels for simultaneously measuring multiple concentration levels of a specific constituent.

19. A use of a biosensing system according to claim 16 wherein the sensor is a biosensing system preferably taken from a group comprising lateral flow sticks, dipsticks, immunochromatography, immobilised enzyme electrode, ELISA, DNA microarrays, protein microarrays and biosensors preferably taken from the group comprising optical, piezoelectric, and potentiometric types of biosensors.