APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ALIQUOTTING FROZEN SAMPLES

摘要

A method of obtaining an aliquot of a frozen sample contained in a container includes moving a coring device into the sample and then withdrawing it to obtain a frozen sample core. The location from which the core is taken is selected to be at a radial position where the concentration of at least one substance of interest in the frozen sample core is representative of the overall concentration of that substance in the sample notwithstanding any concentration gradients that may exist in the frozen sample. Another method includes taking two different frozen sample cores from the same sample from radial positions selected such that the concentration of one or more substances of interest in the combined sample cores is representative of the overall concentration of said at least one substance in the sample notwithstanding any radial concentration gradients. A robotic system is programmed or hardwired to implement the methods.