An analytical instrument comprising: a liquid chromatography system comprising a first column, a chromatographic delay line and a splitter arranged and adapted in a mode of operation to split eluent from said first column into a first portion of eluent and a second portion of eluent; and at least one first device; wherein said liquid chromatography system is arranged and adapted in said mode of operation: (i) to pass said first portion of eluent from said splitter to said first device such that a first part of said first portion of eluent arrives at said first device at a first time t 1 and a second part of said first portion of eluent arrives at said first device at a second time t 2; and (ii) to pass said second portion of eluent from said splitter through said chromatographic delay line to said first device, such that the passage of said second portion of eluent from said splitter to said first device is delayed relative to the passage of said first portion of eluent from said splitter to said first device, and such that a first part of said second portion of eluent arrives at said first device at a third time t 3, where t 1 < t 3 < t 2; wherein said analytical instrument is arranged and adapted: to analyse said first part of said first portion of eluent in a first mode of operation; and to analyse said first part of said second portion of eluent in a second mode of operation; characterized in that said system is arranged and adapted in a further mode of operation to pass all eluent from said first column to said first device without passing said eluent through said chromatographic delay line. a liquid chromatography system comprising a first column, a chromatographic delay line and a splitter arranged and adapted in a mode of operation to split eluent from said first column into a first portion of eluent and a second portion of eluent; and at least one first device; wherein said liquid chromatography system is arranged and adapted in said mode of operation: (i) to pass said first portion of eluent from said splitter to said first device such that a first part of said first portion of eluent arrives at said first device at a first time t 1 and a second part of said first portion of eluent arrives at said first device at a second time t 2; and (ii) to pass said second portion of eluent from said splitter through said chromatographic delay line to said first device, such that the passage of said second portion of eluent from said splitter to said first device is delayed relative to the passage of said first portion of eluent from said splitter to said first device, and such that a first part of said second portion of eluent arrives at said first device at a third time t 3, where t 1 < t 3 < t 2; wherein said analytical instrument is arranged and adapted: to analyse said first part of said first portion of eluent in a first mode of operation; and to analyse said first part of said second portion of eluent in a second mode of operation; characterized in that said system is arranged and adapted in a further mode of operation to pass all eluent from said first column to said first device without passing said eluent through said chromatographic delay line. to analyse said first part of said first portion of eluent in a first mode of operation; and to analyse said first part of said second portion of eluent in a second mode of operation; characterized in that said system is arranged and adapted in a further mode of operation to pass all eluent from said first column to said first device without passing said eluent through said chromatographic delay line.