The basic components of a flow injection analyzer are shown below and include a pump for propelling the carrier stream and reagent streams, a means for injecting the sample into the carrier stream, and a detector for monitoring the composition of the carrier stream (the detector’s flow cell is shown here; fiber optic cables, which are not shown, connect the flow cell to the detector). Connecting these units is a transport system that brings together separate channels and provides time for the sample to mix with the carrier stream and to react with the reagent streams. We also can incorporate separation modules into the transport system. The particular configuration shown here has two channels: the carrier stream and a reagent line.
