An infrared thermal desorber includes a desorption housing; an infrared source receiver that receives an infrared emission source; an infrared absorber receiver that receives an infrared absorber, such that the infrared absorber receiver produces thermal energy emission; an analyte target receiver that receives an analyte target, such that the analyte target receiver is in infrared communication with the infrared absorber disposed in the infrared source receiver so that the analyte target receives the thermal energy emission from the infrared absorber, desorbs the adsorbed analyte as volatilized analyte from the analyte target in response to receipt of the thermal energy emission from the infrared absorber, and communicates the volatilized analyte from the analyte target; and an effluent communicator that receives the volatized analyte.