Methods, kits, and systems are provided for separating, immobilizing, and/or detecting analytes of one or more samples using dipsticks. A ‘dipstick’ is an object that can be embedded and subsequently removed from a separation medium, and to which analytes can be immobilized while the object is embedded in the separation medium. Examples of separation media include an electrophoresis gel of any format and a stationary phase for column chromatography. Embodiments of the present methods include applying a sample to a separation medium; separating analytes of the sample in the separation medium along a separation axis; immobilizing the analytes on a dipstick embedded in the separation medium; removing the dipstick from the separation medium; and detecting the analytes immobilized on the removed dipstick.