Mobile water analysis

A portable instrument, comprising:

• a housing for receiving at least one cuvette, wherein each cuvette comprises a fluid channel therein;
• a pump capable of creating a differential pressure in the fluid channel of the at least one cuvette to move a sample fluid into and/or through the fluid channel of the at least one cuvette;
• one or more processors;
• and
• a program storage device storing program code executable by the one or more processors, said program code comprising:
• program code configured to operate the pump and position a sample fluid within the fluid channel of a cuvette;
• program code configured to transmit light through an optical chamber;
• program code configured to measure received light that has been transmitted through the optical chamber;
• program code configured to compare the light measured to one or more thresholds;
• and
• program code configured to determine a leading and or a trailing edge of the sample fluid within the fluid channel based on a comparison of the light measured and one or more thresholds.

A program product, comprising:

• a program storage device storing program code executable by one or more processors, said program code comprising:
• program code configured to operate a motor to position sample fluid within a fluid channel of a cuvette;
• program code configured to transmit light through an optical chamber;
• program code configured to measure received light that has been transmitted through the optical chamber;
• program code configured to compare the light measured to one or more thresholds;
• and
• program code configured to determine a position of the sample fluid within the fluid channel based on a comparison of the light measured and the one or more thresholds.