AUTOMATIC SAMPLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDING A SAMPLE FOR QUALITATIVE AND/OR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF AN ANALYTE

Abstract

An automatic sampling apparatus for taking liquid samples for the qualitative or quantitative determination of at least one analyte contained in the sample liquid includes a sample line that can be fluidically connected to the sampling station, a pump device, at least one sample container that can be fluidically connected to the sample line, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system is configured to fluidically connect the sample line to the sample container such that a fluid flow path extending from the sampling station through the sample line into the sample container is formed. The electronic control system is further configured to transport, using the pump device, a definable volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, along the fluid flow path into the sample container. The sampling apparatus is configured for concentrating or extracting the analyte present in the liquid sample.

Claims

1-26. (canceled)

27. An automatic sampling apparatus for taking liquid samples of a sample liquid present at a sampling station of a body of water or of a container for the qualitative or quantitative determination of at least one analyte contained in the sample liquid, the apparatus comprising: a sample line that can be fluidically connected to the sampling station; a pump device; at least one sample container that can be fluidically connected to the sample line; and an electronic control system which is configured to fluidically connect the sample line to the at least one sample container such that a fluid flow path extending from the sampling station through the sample line into the sample container is formed, and wherein the electronic control system is further configured to transport, using the pump device, a definable volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, along the fluid flow path into the sample container, wherein the sampling apparatus concentrates or extracts the analyte present in the liquid sample.

28. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the concentration or extraction includes a collection matrix which can be brought into contact with the liquid sample and which substantially selectively binds the analyte.

29. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the collection matrix is arranged in the at least one sample container or in a flow-through unit fluidically connected to the sample container.

30. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the collection matrix has a plurality of particles, a surface-functionalized substrate having a roughened or structured or porous surface, a functionalized nonwoven, or a chromatographic separation column.

31. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 30, wherein the particles or the surface are functionalized for selective interaction with the analyte.

32. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the concentration or extraction includes using a centrifuge integrated into the apparatus.

33. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the electronic control system is configured to store an identifier of the liquid sample for each liquid sample taken from the sampling station, and to save a time stamp, indicating the time at which the liquid sample is taken from the sampling station, to the identifier.

34. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 33, further comprising at least one interface for connecting the electronic control system to at least one sensor which can be brought into contact with the sample liquid present at the sampling station, and which is designed to generate measurement signals of at least one measurand of the sample liquid, wherein the electronic control system is further configured to save at least one measured value, derived from the measurement signals, of the measurand, which is acquired at the time at which the liquid sample is taken from the sampling station, to the identifier of the liquid sample.

35. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a temperature sensor which is designed to acquire measured values representing a temperature of a liquid sample contained in the at least one sample container and to output these values to the electronic control system, and wherein the electronic control system is further configured to save at least one of the measured values or a measured value profile to the identifier of the liquid sample.

36. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a GPS receiver which is configured to output location data to the electronic control system, wherein the electronic control system is configured to save the location data to the identifier of the liquid sample.

37. The automatic sampling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the electronic control system has a communications interface for outputting data to an operating device or a server, wherein the server is configured to store the data and to provide it to a non-transitory computer readable medium.

38. A measurement system for the qualitative or quantitative determination of at least one analyte in a sample liquid, comprising: an automatic sampling apparatus for removing liquid samples of the sample liquid at a sampling station, wherein the automatic sampling apparatus includes: a sample line that can be fluidically connected to the sampling station; a pump device; at least one sample container that can be fluidically connected to the sample line; and an electronic control system which is configured to fluidically connect the sample line to the at least one sample container such that a fluid flow path extending from the sampling station through the sample line into the sample container is formed, wherein the electronic control system is further configured to transport, using the pump device, a definable volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, along the fluid flow path into the sample container, wherein the sampling apparatus concentrates or extracts the analyte present in the liquid sample; an analytical instrument configured for the qualitative or quantitative determination of the at least one analyte; and a transfer device configured to provide a sample of the at least one analyte, which is concentrated or extracted using the sampling apparatus.

39. The measurement system of claim 38, wherein the transfer device is configured to automatically transfer the sample of the concentrated or extracted analyte to the analytical instrument.

40. The measurement system of claim 38, further comprising an electronic control system configured to control the transfer device for the automatic transfer of a sample of the concentrated or extracted analyte to the analytical instrument.

41. The measurement system of claim 38, wherein the analytical instrument is designed to carry out the qualitative or quantitative determination of the analyte partially or completely automatically.

42. A method for the automatic provision of a sample for a qualitative or quantitative determination of at least one analyte in a sample liquid, comprising: removing a definable volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, from the sampling station using an automatic sampling apparatus from the sample liquid present at a sampling station; transporting the volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, into a sample container; and bringing the liquid sample into contact with a collection matrix that immobilizes the analyte.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the collection matrix is placed in the sample container or is arranged in a flow-through unit fluidically connected to the sample container.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising: removing the collection matrix with the analyte from the device or eluting the analyte from the collection matrix to form a solution of the analyte as a sample for subsequent qualitative or quantitative determination.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising storing an identifier of the liquid sample and a time stamp representing the time the liquid sample was taken from the sampling station in an electronic control system of the automatic sampling apparatus.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising acquiring at least one measured value of at least one measurand of the sample liquid using an additional sensor and storing the measured value in the electronic control system for identifying the liquid sample.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising acquiring a temperature or a temperature profile to which the liquid sample is exposed from the time at which it is taken, and storing measured values reflecting the temperature or the temperature profile in the electronic control system for identifying the liquid sample.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising transferring the identifier of the liquid sample, the associated time stamp, and further associated data or measured values to an operating device, to an analytical instrument used for the analysis of the provided sample, or to a server, which is connected to the analytical instrument or the electronic control system for communication and which stores the data or measured values obtained from the electronic control system or the analytical instrument, the memory of which server is accessed by using the non-transitory computer readable medium in order to display or to perform a further analysis of the data or measured values.

49. A method for the qualitative or quantitative determination of at least one analyte in a sample liquid, comprising: providing the sample using the following steps: removing a definable volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, from the sampling station using an automatic sampling apparatus from the sample liquid present at a sampling station; transporting the volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, into a sample container; and bringing the liquid sample into contact with a collection matrix that immobilizes the analyte; and qualitatively or quantitatively determining the analyte using an immunological assay or a real-time, qPCR-based method.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising: determining a concentration of the analyte in the original liquid sample, with additional inclusion of at least one measured value acquired at the sampling station, wherein the at least one measured value is provided by an electronic control system of the sampling apparatus.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising communicating determined analytical findings and additional data to a non-transitory computer readable medium.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium generates and displays a graphical representation of a spatial distribution or a temporal development of the concentration of the analyte at a plurality of sampling stations.

Description

[0067] The invention is explained in further detail below on the basis of the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The following are shown:

[0068] FIG. 1 an automatic sampling apparatus;

[0069] FIG. 2a a detail of the automatic sampling apparatus in a first embodiment;

[0070] FIG. 2b a detail of the automatic sampling apparatus in a second embodiment; FIG. 3 a measurement system for the qualitative or quantitative determination of an analyte in a wastewater sample in a first embodiment; and

[0071] FIG. 4 a measuring system for the qualitative or quantitative determination of an analyte in a wastewater sample in a second embodiment.

[0072] FIG. 1 depicts an automatic sampling apparatus 1. It is designed as a cabinet device which is divided into an upper metering chamber and a lower sample chamber. The metering chamber can be closed with a metering chamber door 2, and the sample chamber with a sample chamber door 3. The sample chamber is, optionally, cooled. A pump 4 is arranged in the metering chamber and is designed as a hose pump in the present example. Other embodiments, e.g., as a vacuum pump, are possible. The pump 4 interacts with a sample line 5, which in the present example is designed as a hose line.

[0073] The sample line 5 can be fluidically connected at its first end (not visible in FIG. 1) to a sampling station 12 (FIGS. 2a, 2b) from which liquid samples of a sample liquid are to be taken for the analysis. The sampling station can be an open body of water or channel. In this case, the fluidic connection can be established by immersing the first end of the sample line 5. The sampling station 12 can also be a closed container, e.g., a pipeline, through which the sample liquid flows. In this case, the fluidic connection can be produced by means of a sampling valve.

[0074] The second end of the sample line 5 is fluidically connected to a sample distributor 6, embodied here as a rotary arm. Located in the metering chamber are two bottle baskets 7 in which several sample containers 8 - in this case in the form of plastic or glass bottles - are accommodated.

[0075] The sample distributor can be moved away over the sample containers 8 by means of a distributor mechanism—here, a rotary mechanism - in order to fluidically connect the sample line 5 to one of the sample containers 8 in each case. If the tip of the rotary arm is located above the opening of a sample container 8, a fluid flow path is formed which runs from the sampling station 12 via the sample line 5 and the sample distributor 6 into the sample container 8. In the present example, a distributor plate 9 is arranged above the sample container 8 for directing the liquid along the fluid flow path. However, this is only optionally present.

[0076] At the first end of the sample line 5, a filter or a filter cascade can be arranged which, by means of size filtration, retains at least a portion of solids contained in the sample liquid. The filter or filters can also be arranged at another location of the fluid flow path between the first end of the sample line 5 and the sample container 8.

[0077] The sampling apparatus 1 further comprises an electronic control system 10, which is configured to control the pump 4 and the sample distributor 6 for transporting a definable volume of the sample liquid from the sampling station into a sample container 8. A window 11 is arranged in the metering chamber door 2, through which a display of the electronic control system 10 can be seen and the electronic control system 10 can be operated by means of input buttons and a rotary/push switch, even when the metering chamber door is closed.

[0078] The electronic control system 10 has a processor and memory in which operating and evaluation programs are stored, which the electronic control system 10 can implement to control the sampling apparatus 1 for the sampling and for acquiring and storing data in connection with the sampling. The sampling apparatus 1 can optionally have a cooling device which serves to cool the sample chamber. A temperature of the sample chamber can be adjustable by means of the electronic control system 10.

[0079] The electronic control system 10 can, in particular, be configured to store an identifier, as well as a time stamp associated with the identifier, to a sample transported into a sample container 8, said time stamp identifying the time of the sampling. The electronic control system 10 can assign and save further information to the identifier, e.g., measurement data of further sensors connected to the electronic control system 10, such as temperature measurement data, pH measurement data, conductivity measurement data, turbidity measurement data, measured value profiles of said parameters, and location data, e.g., the location of the sampling station at which the sampling apparatus 1 is arranged.

[0080] The electronic control system 10 also has one or more communications interfaces via which it can communicate with further data processing devices, e.g., with an analytical instrument which serves to analyze the samples provided by the sampling device 1, or with a portable operating device by means of which an operator can read data from the electronic control system 10 or output them to the electronic control system 10. The electronic control system 10 can also be configured to transmit data to a server which stores the data and makes them available to software - for example, a web or cloud application. These data can comprise the identifiers and associated data of collected liquid samples, as well as location data characterizing the sampling station. The software can access these data for further evaluation and analysis. Conversely, the software can provide data or information for future sampling or for display on a user interface to the electronic control system 10 via the server of the electronic control system 10.

[0081] The electronic control system 10 can have one or more of the following types of communications interfaces: communications interfaces according to a standard of the process industry, e.g., 4 . . . 20 mA, Profibus, HART, Modbus, or other, in particular, also proprietary, communications standards, but also communications interfaces for communication according to an Ethernet standard or a Bluetooth standard.

[0082] The sampling apparatus 1 also has means for concentration and/or extraction of an analyte that is taken from the sampling station and comprises a biopolymer. The analyte may, for example, be a virus or virus component, or a bacterium or a bacterial component. Components of viruses and bacteria are understood here to mean, in particular, parts of their shells or envelopes, in particular proteins, as well as polynucleotides, such as RNA or RNA fragments, or DNA or DNA fragments. Examples of agents for concentration and/or extraction of such an analyte are described below with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0083] FIGS. 2a and 2b schematically show the fluid flow path between the sampling station 12 (here, an indicated channel) and a sample container 8 (the sample distributor has been omitted in this illustration for the sake of clarity). Located in the fluid flow path is a flow meter 13, which serves to adjust the definable sample volume. The definable volume of the sample liquid can be transported via the sample line 5 into the sample container 8 by means of the pump 4.

[0084] In the example shown in FIG. 2a, a collection matrix in the form of a plurality of magnetic or polymer beads 14 is provided in the sample container 8, the surfaces of which magnetic or polymer beads are modified in such a way that the analyte in the sample liquid binds substantially selectively to the surfaces. In the main, if the analyte is, for example, virus RNA of a specific virus species, RNA of such viruses binds to the beads, but not—or at least to a very much lesser degree - other RNA or DNA located in the sample liquid. Such beads are known in the prior art for the enrichment and/or extraction of biomolecules, in particular biopolymers. Their surfaces can be modified by structuring or functionalizing with antibodies or other capture structures, in order to provide the desired selectivity.

[0085] The selective binding of the analyte to the collection matrix can be optimized by adjusting an appropriate pH value in the liquid sample. To adjust the pH, the sampling apparatus can comprise one or more further liquid containers 15 having one or more reagents, e.g., an acid, a base, and/or a buffer solution, and a further pump 16, by means of which the reagent or the reagents can be added to the liquid sample. In the present example, the further pump 16 is a hose pump which interacts with a fluid line 17 in order to transport a reagent from the liquid container 15 into the sample container 8. The pump 16 can be controlled by the electronic control system 10 of the sampling apparatus 1 to meter a quantity of the reagent or the reagents required to achieve a desired pH value. For this purpose, a pH sensor can be provided in the sample container, which sensor outputs measured pH values to the electronic control system 10 so that this can control the addition of the reagent or the reagents on the basis of the measured pH values. Alternatively, the electronic control system 10 can also be connected to a pH sensor immersed at the sampling station 12 in the sample liquid present there and use measured pH values of said sensor to control the addition of the reagent or the reagents to the liquid sample in the sample container 8.

[0086] The beads 14, with the analyte bound thereon or immobilized, can be removed manually or by means of a (partially) automatic transfer device (not shown in FIG. 2a) from the sample container 8 and transported into a laboratory for further analysis. This has the advantage that only the beads 14 have to be transported and optionally cooled during transport, and not the large-volume sample containers 8. In order to remove magnetic beads, a magnet, in particular a switchable electromagnet, can be used, which can be moved, for example, in an automated manner for removing the magnetic beats and can be controlled by the electronic control system 10. If the beads 14 are not magnetic, another possibility for removing the beads 14 from the sample container 8 can consist in automatically emptying the sample container 8 and, in so doing, retaining the beads 14 in a filter. The beads 14 can also be held in an insert in the sample container 8 and removed from the sample container 8 by removing the insert. If a transfer device is present, it can also comprise means for eluting the analyte from the beads, so that the sample provided for transport to the laboratory or for transfer to an analytical instrument for further qualitative or quantitative analysis is formed from the eluate.

[0087] FIG. 2b shows another embodiment of the means for concentration and/or extraction of the analyte. Here, these means comprise a removable cartridge 17 arranged in the upper region of the sample container 8, which cartridge contains an analyte-affine collection matrix. This can, for example, be a functionalized nonwoven, a chromatography column, or a packed bed of surface-functionalized polymer beads. The beads or the nonwoven can be functionalized in a manner analogous to the magnetic or polymer beads used in the example of FIG. 2a. While, during sampling, the sample liquid flows through the cartridge 17 on the path into the sample container 8, the analyte in the cartridge is bound substantially selectively to the collection matrix or, in the case of a chromatography column, is separated chromatographically from further sample constituents and retained in the collection matrix.

[0088] The cartridge 17 can also be arranged outside the sample container 8 at a different position in the fluid flow path. The cartridge 17 can be removed automatically or manually from the sample container or from the fluid flow path in the sampling apparatus 1 and transported to a laboratory for further analysis. If the cartridge 17 is removed automatically by means of a transfer device, the latter can additionally comprise means for eluting the analyte from the beads, as in the above-described example, so that the sample provided for transport into the laboratory or for transfer to an analytical instrument for the further qualitative or quantitative analysis is formed from the eluate. Further examples of means for concentration and/or extraction of the analyte are conceivable —for example, a centrifugal device which can be integrated into the sampling apparatus 1.

[0089] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a measuring system 100 for the qualitative or quantitative determination of the analyte contained in the sample liquid by means of liquid samples taken from the sampling station 12.

[0090] The measuring system 100 comprises the sampling apparatus 1, previously described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, with the electronic control system 10. The sample line 10 of the sampling apparatus 1 is fluidically connected to the sampling station 12, which, in the present example, is an open basin—for example, a basin or an inflow of a sewage treatment plant. An additional sensor 18 is immersed in the sample liquid present at the sampling station 12, which additional sensor 18 is fastened to a valve 19 and is connected via a cable to the electronic control system 10 of the sampling apparatus 1 for bidirectional communication. The additional sensor 18 can have a conductivity sensor, a pH sensor, a turbidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a photometric or spectrometric probe for determining a concentration of one or more substances, in particular a nitrate or SAC probe, or an ion-selective electrode. The additional sensor 18 outputs measured values to the electronic control system 10 of the sampling apparatus 1. As already mentioned in connection with FIG. 1, the electronic control system 10 is configured to link an identifier of a taken liquid sample, as well as a time stamp characterizing the time of sampling, and further data, in particular measurement data of the additional sensor 18, with the identifier and store it. Of course, the sampling apparatus 1 can also have several additional sensors 18 connected to the electronic control system 10, the measured values of which can be acquired and stored.

[0091] The measuring system 100 also has an analytical instrument 20 arranged in a laboratory remote from the sampling station 12, which analytical instrument comprises a liquid handling system for sample preparation and processing, as well as an analysis unit for subsequent automatic performance of an immunological assay or real-time, qPCR-based, or spectroscopic analysis of the sample, as well as a processing unit. The sample obtained from a liquid sample taken from the sampling apparatus 1 by concentration and/or extraction of the analyte for further analysis is transferred to the analytical instrument 20 and analyzed automatically or partially automatically from the sample by means of these methods known per se in the prior art. The processing unit serves, among other things, to calculate quantitative analytical findings, e.g., a concentration of the analyte in the sample made available by the sampling apparatus 1 or in the original liquid sample, and, optionally, also to control liquid handling and analytical procedures carried out automatically by means of the analytical instrument 20.

[0092] As indicated in FIG. 3 by a double arrow, the analytical instrument 20 can be connected to the sampling apparatus 1 for communication—for example, via a LAN connection (intranet or internet). Via this connection, the sampling apparatus 1 can transmit the identifiers of liquid samples and associated information, such as sensor data, time stamps, and location information, to the processing unit of the analytical instrument 20. The processing unit of the analytical instrument 20 can, conversely, transmit analytical findings, together with the identifier of the associated liquid samples, to the sampling apparatus 1. The processing unit of the analytical instrument 20 can use the additional information obtained from the sampling apparatus 1 to determine and/or evaluate the analytical findings of the individual samples. For example, when determining quantitative analytical findings, the influence of further measurands of the sample liquid, e.g., the pH value or the conductivity of the sample liquid at the time of sampling, can be taken into account. The analytical findings determined by the analytical instrument 20 and the additional information provided by the sampling apparatus 1 are combined on the basis of the identifiers of the samples.

[0093] The measuring system 100 can optionally comprise a mobile operating device 21, which, in the present example, is designed as a smartphone or tablet. In the present example, the operating device 21 can be configured for bidirectional communication both with the sampling apparatus 1 and with the analytical instrument 20. It can therefore be used to transmit data from one unit to the other. It can also be used for importing an identifier which is visibly mounted on the sample container 8 or mounted readably in an NFC or RFID chip on the sample container 8, in order to avoid confusion when the concentrated samples are transferred from the sampling apparatus 1 to the analytical instrument 20 in the laboratory. The methods and means used for the clear identification of sample containers for identifying and managing collected samples in sample containers during transport between a sampling station and a laboratory are sufficiently known to the person skilled in the art and can also be used here. Therefore, no further details are given here.

[0094] In the present example, the operating device 21, the analytical instrument 20, and the electronic control system 10 of the sampling apparatus 1 are designed for communication with a server, which, in the present example, is part of a cloud 22. The server can also be a local computer, i.e., a computer located at the sampling station or in the laboratory, or a single central computer, which can communicate with the processing unit of the analytical instrument 20, the operating device 21, and/or the electronic control system 10 via intranet or internet.

[0095] The server can collect, store, and continue to evaluate data, measured values, and analytical findings linked with the identifier of the associated sample. The storage can take place in a central database or a database distributed in the cloud. Software can be run on the server, on a computer that can be connected to the server, e.g., another server, a PC, or the operating device, or in the cloud 22, which software accesses the stored data and performs further data analyses and/or can display data and results of the data analyses. This software can be a web or cloud application, for example.

[0096] The software or cloud 22 can be connected to a plurality of sampling stations and analytical laboratory instruments, and thus determine and analyze a plurality of data from spatially-—distributed sampling stations. Such a cloud application can detect and evaluate quantitative or qualitative analytical findings for certain analytes, such as viruses or other microorganisms, in particular pathogens, in a body of water, a water or wastewater network, or in a multiplicity of different private and/or municipal sewage plants. It can monitor temporal developments of the concentration of the analyte, e.g., a virus concentration at the individual sampling stations or in a larger region comprising several sampling stations, and thus serve as an early-warning system for the outbreak of a disease or epidemic in the monitored region. If the cloud application has data from samples collected and analyzed at a plurality of sampling stations, it can provide a map of the concentrations of the analyte at the various sampling stations.

[0097] The cloud application 22 can be configured to collate the analytical findings and other data determined for the individual sampling stations with data from further sources. For example, if the analyte is a virus or a component of the virus, e.g., virus RNA, and if the sampling stations considered are channels or containers in wastewater networks or sewage treatment plants, then the analytical findings thus obtained that reflect the concentration of the virus or the virus RNA in the regional wastewater can be collated with data from the regional health authorities in order to predict breakouts of a disease caused by the virus at an early stage, to increase the number of tests performed locally on patients, or to identify discrepancies between tests on patients and analytical findings in the wastewater.

[0098] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a measuring system 101 which serves for the qualitative or quantitative determination of the analyte contained in the sample liquid by means of liquid samples taken from the sampling station 12. Like the measuring system 100, which has already been described with reference to FIG. 3, the measuring system 101 also comprises the sampling apparatus 1 described above with the additional sensor 18 and the electronic control system 10, which is configured for controlling the sampling and for acquiring and storing identifiers of liquid samples, and thus linked additional data, e.g., time and location data and additional measured values.

[0099] Furthermore, the measuring system 101 comprises an analytical instrument 20 which serves for the qualitative or quantitative determination of the analyte in samples made available by the sampling apparatus 1.

[0100] Unlike in the example of FIG. 3, the measuring system 101 described here has a completely automatic transfer device 23 configured to automatically extract a collection matrix, which is contained in a sample container 8 of the sampling apparatus 1 and substantially selectively binds the analyte, from the sample container 8. In the present example, the collection matrix is formed from a plurality of surface-modified magnetic beads, which are placed in the sample container 8 such that analyte present in the liquid sample forms on the magnetic beads. As described further above, means for adjusting the pH value in the liquid sample can additionally be provided. To remove the collection matrix from the sample container 8, the transfer device 23 has one or more movable and/or switchable magnets 24 with which the magnetic beads can be attracted and removed from the sample container 8. The magnetic beads are rinsed with solvent in the transfer device 23, and the analyte is eluted from the collection matrix. The liquid sample thus obtained is transferred from the transfer device 23 via a fluid line 25 into the analytical instrument 20. The transfer unit can be controlled by means of a local control unit or by means of the electronic control system 10 of the sampling apparatus 1.

[0101] The analytical instrument 20 can be designed analogously to the analytical instrument described above with reference to FIG. 3 for the automatic execution of a further sample preparation and for subsequent performance of an analysis, e.g., an immunological assay, of a real-time, qPCR-based analysis or a spectroscopic analysis of the sample. The analytical instrument 20 comprises a computing unit 26 and an analytical cartridge 27 in which the liquid analysis is controlled by means of the processing unit 26. The processing unit 26 is connected to the control unit 10, for communication via cables 28 or wirelessly, in order to import identifiers and associated data of the samples to be analyzed and/or return analytical findings to the electronic control system 10.

[0102] The electronic control system 10 and/or the computing unit 26 can communicate with a server, which, in the present example, is part of a cloud 22. Data exchange and analysis, as well as further evaluations of the provided data and analytical findings by means of a cloud application, which accesses the data stored in the server, can take place in a very similar manner to that described above with reference to FIG. 3

[0103] The sampling apparatus 1 described here and the measuring systems 100 and 101 can serve for the process-capable, systematic taking of liquid samples, in particular from water supply networks, wastewater networks, and sewage plants, with subsequent analysis for the qualitative or quantitative determination of analytes comprising biopolymers, such as viruses, bacteria, or DNA or RNA. The data can be provided systematically, in regular measuring cycles and with little outlay in terms of personnel and time, and, advantageously, by a web or cloud application which a plurality of terminals can access, and which enables the linking of the sample data to further data from other sources, to be analyzed further or made available for further analyses by authorities or scientific research facilities. Therefore, on the one hand, comprehensive studies of the course of epidemics are possible, and, on the other, a reliable early warning system can be made available in this way when pathogens occur in the water supply or wastewater.