Patent ID: 8800352

Claim:
A method for optimizing the operation of an autosampler coupled to a liquid chromatography (LC) system, comprising: reading, from a database on an electronic memory storage device, a pre-injection time value corresponding to the time required for the autosampler to perform preparatory operations pertaining to the performing of a sample analysis procedure on a sample and including at least moving a syringe into position over a sample container and drawing the sample from the sample container into the syringe; calculating an autosampler delay time from the pre-injection time value, a start time of a previously-started sample analysis and a duration time value of the previously-started sample analysis; performing the autosampler preparatory operations after delaying said autosampler preparatory operations for a time corresponding to the autosampler delay time; measuring a time value of the preceding performing of autosampler preparatory operations; replacing the pre-injection time value stored in the database with the measured time value of the preceding performing of autosampler preparatory operations if the measured time value of the preceding performing of autosampler preparatory operations is greater than the pre-injection time value stored in the database; and injecting the sample from the autosampler into an injection port of the LC system after receipt of a signal from the LC system by the autosampler.