Bioterrorism remains an ever-present threat to the world. Rapid detection systems are critical to civilian security and to reducing casualties on the battlefield. Most research activities to date in counter-bioterrorism have focused on the development of critical amplification, identification, and detection systems. However, sample preparation is an equally critical aspect of rapid identification and detection of bioterror agents, but the enhancement of such systems lags well behind the development of amplification, identification, and detection systems.