Patent ID: 7368084

Claim:
A flow cytometry apparatus comprising: an autosampler for inserting a plurality of samples comprising particles from a plurality of respective source wells into a fluid flow stream; a flow cytometer; a single length of tubing extending from said autosampler to said flow cytometer for delivering said fluid flow stream to said flow cytometer; and a pump disposed in operative contact with said single length of tubing between said autosampler and said flow cytometer for moving the plurality of samples in the fluid flow stream along said single length of tubing, said autosampler and said pump cooperating to introduce aliquots of a separation fluid between successive ones of said samples in said fluid flow stream to configure said fluid flow stream as a bubble-separated fluid flow stream, said flow cytometer hydrodynamically focusing the bubble-separated fluid flow stream delivered by said single length of tubing from said autosampler and said pump and selectively analyzing said particles in each of said plurality of samples as said bubble-separated fluid flow stream passes through said flow cytometer.