Patent ID: 8640556

Claim:
An automated sample collection workstation, comprising: a processor; a pump in communication with said processor; a valve actuator in communication with said processor, said valve actuator configured to move a plurality of valves, when disposed therein, among an off position, a flush position, and a sample position; and an algorithm resident on said processor, said algorithm configured to: move all of said plurality of valves to the off position and place said pump in an off state when no sampling or flushing is required, move all of said plurality of valves to the flush position and place said pump in an on state for a predetermined flush time period when flushing is required, and move a respective one of said plurality of valves to said sample position, move any of said plurality of valves upstream of said respective one to said flush position, and place said pump to said on state for a predetermined sample time period when a sample is required.