Sample multiplexing for greater throughput in HPLC and related methods

We present a multiplexing scheme that pools samples for greater efficiency in analysis. The method involves arraying the samples in a matrix and then pooling along rows and columns of the array. Sample pools are analyzed instead of individual samples. The content of a given sample is found by the intersection of a row pool with a column pool. Since this simple pooling scheme can lead to ambiguities in assignments when many samples have the same species, we also suggest a supplementary or augmented pooling scheme, involving the use of pools along diagonals across the sample array, to resolve the ambiguities. We demonstrate the pooling scheme, with resolution of some simple ambiguities, using HPLC for the analysis of fluorophore-labeled amino acids.