Patent ID: 8012768

Claim:
A method for diluting and mixing of a sample or cleaning a sample probe, the process comprising: a) providing a probe and a multipurpose stationary device, wherein the multipurpose stationary device comprises: a first chamber having an open end and a drain port; a second chamber having an open end and a drain port; a dilution chamber having two cylindrical sections, with each section having an open end and a centerline, wherein the centerline of the first section and the centerline of the second section coincide to form a centerline of the dilution chamber; a cylindrical wash port having a centerline and an opening to the first section of the dilution chamber, wherein the centerline of the cylindrical wash port does not intersect with the centerline of the dilution chamber; and a cylindrical dilution port connected to the second section of the dilution chamber; wherein the probe can be moved into the first chamber through the open end of the first chamber, the probe can be moved into the second chamber through the open end of the second chamber, and the probe can be moved into the first section of the dilution chamber through the open end of the first section of the dilution chamber; b) adding a volume of dilution fluid to the dilution chamber via the dilution port, c) adding a volume of sample to the dilution chamber from the probe to form a diluted sample, wherein the probe has an interior surface and an exterior surface; d) immersing the probe into the first chamber to wash the interior surface and the exterior surface of the probe; e) draining the first chamber; f) moving the probe to the dilution chamber and aspirating the diluted sample or portion thereof into the probe; g) dispensing the aspirated diluted sample or portion thereof from the probe into a reaction vessel; and h) immersing the probe into the second chamber to wash the interior surface and the exterior surface of the probe.