Patent Document ID: 4683212
Application ID: 06431639
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method comprising, the steps of, selecting a sample fluid source from a plurality of separate sources of different sample fluids, selecting a source of a sheath fluid which is optically compatible with the sample fluid from the thusly selected sample fluid source from a plurality of separate sources of different sheath fluids which are respectively optically compatible with different ones of said different sample fluids, connecting the selected one, only, of said plurality of different sample fluid sources to sheath stream flow cell analysis means which includes a single sheath flow cell, concomitantly connecting the selected one, only, of said plurality of different sheath fluid sources to said sheath stream flow cell, both connecting steps performed under the control of control means operatively associated with each of said different sample and sheath stream fluid sources and said sheath stream flow cell, and concomitantly flowing the thusly selected optically compatible sample and sheath fluids through said sheath stream flow cell for sample fluid analysis by concomitantly differentially pumping the same from the respective sources thereof through said sheath stream flow cell.