Patent ID: 7588725

Claim:
An auto-injection system for high throughput screening of fluidic samples, the system comprising: a sample injection valve having: i. a first position which applies a reduced pressure to a sample sipper tube for aspirating a fluidic sample into the sample sipper tube, and ii. a second position which delivers the fluidic sample to a sample supply loop; a column control valve in fluid communication with a sample analyzer, a source of elution solvent, and a sample chromatography column, and configured to facilitate a continuous flow of an elution solvent to a sample analyzer, the column control valve having: i a first position which simultaneously delivers the fluidic sample from the sample supply loop to the sample chromatography column in a first direction and delivers an elution solvent to the sample analyzer, and ii. a second position which flows the elution solvent through the sample chromatography column in a second direction to deliver the fluidic sample and the elution solvent to the a sample analyzer; a wash control valve having: i a first position which supplies a wash buffer solution to the sample chromatography column in a forward fluid flow direction, and ii. a second position which supplies elution solvent to flush the sample supply loop; means for presenting individual microplate sample wells to the sample sipper tube; and automated control means for creating a cycle of repeatedly introducing samples and actuating the sample injection valve, column control valve, and wash control valve.