Patent Document ID: 4610544
Application ID: 06615826
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of analysis of a liquid sample which is carried along a flow channel by a carrier liquid, which method comprises introducing a predetermined quantity of a given sample and a predetermined quantity of a selected reagent into respective separate sample and reagent flow lines by aspiration from separator containers, the sample being aspirated by a movable hollow probe, bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together into a common flow channel, and causing the combined sample and reagent to travel along said flow channel to a measurement cell, the sample and reagent being caused to flow along the flow channel by a pump, and after the predetermined quanitities of sample and reagent have been aspirated, (a) transferring the hollow probe while pump action is momentarily stopped to receive flow of a carrier liquid whereafter the pump is re-started and (b) transferring the reagent flow line during the time the pump action is momentarily stopped to receive flow of a carrier liquid, whereby the sample and reagent are caused to travel along said flow channel as a discrete liquid slug interposed in a stream of carrier liquid.