The invention provides a sample
delivery system for an analytical instrument, comprising: a valve
assembly comprising one or more valves, the valve
assembly configured to receive an external sample from a sample source; an external sample reservoir coupled via the valve
assembly to a
sample dilution junction, wherein the valve assembly is configurable to alternatively permit either (i) flow of the external sample from the sample source to the external sample reservoir or (ii) flow of the external sample from the external sample reservoir to the
sample dilution junction; a first fluid pump to control a flow of the external sample from the external sample reservoir to the
sample dilution junction; a second fluid pump to control a flow of
diluent to the sample
dilution junction, thereby diluting the external sample to produce a diluted sample; and an
analysis sample reservoir configured to deliver an
analysis sample contained therein to an analysis device of the analytical instrument, wherein the
analysis sample reservoir is coupled via the valve assembly to the sample
dilution junction, and wherein the valve assembly is configurable to alternatively permit either (i) flow of the external sample along a
continuous flow path from the sample source to the analysis sample reservoir, thereby by-passing the external sample reservoir, or (ii) flow of the diluted sample from the sample
dilution junction to the analysis sample reservoir.