Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a process for rapid, high-throughput analysis of fatty acids in a plurality of samples. The apparatus comprises at least one multi-vessel plate, wherein each vessel is a unit for holding a sample, or mixing and/or reacting a sample with one or more solvents or reagents; at least one matching multi-cap mat capable of sealing the vessels of the multi-vessel plate during the holding, mixing and/or reacting the sample; at least one multi-vessel plate holder having sealing units, whereby the multi-vessel plate holder, when the sealing units are engaged, presses the matching multi-cap mat onto the tops of the vessels in the multi-vessel plate sealing the vessels, so as to withstand high pressure and high temperature conditions. The process employs the apparatus that enables automated, high-throughput analysis of twenty-four fatty acid from a plurality of samples by gas chromatography flame ionization detection.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rapid, high-throughput process for analyzing one or more sterols/stanols or derivatives thereof in a plurality of samples. The method comprises the steps of introducing a plurality of samples containing one or more sterols/stanols or derivatives thereof into individual vessels in a multi-vessel plate; cleaving the one or more sterols/stanols or derivatives thereof of each sample in the multi-vessel plate to form free sterols/stanols; extracting the free sterols/stanols of each sample by solid phase extraction; and detecting the level of the extracted free sterols/stanols in each sample by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. In this process, the free sterols/stanols do not undergo an additional derivitization step of adding a functional group to the free sterols/stanols prior to the detecting step.