A computer-implemented method for controlling a sample preparation system for preparing a chemical, pharmaceutical and/or biotechnological sample, the sample preparation system comprising a fluid path and at least one consumable such as a filter provided on the fluid path, the method comprising:
- controlling the sample preparation system so that sample fluid including a target substance flows within the fluid path through the at least one consumable, wherein the sample fluid is allowed to pass an upstream point within the fluid path, the at least one consumable and a downstream point within the fluid path in this order;
- obtaining system information at least indicative of:
- an amount of the sample fluid that has been introduced into the fluid path;
- an upstream pressure at the upstream point;
- and
- a downstream pressure at the downstream point;
- determining a regression function using the system information obtained with respect to a specified time period preceding a current point in time, the regression function being determined by assuming that:
- differential pressures across the at least one consumable, based on upstream pressures and downstream pressures, obtained for different points in time within the specified time period are values of a dependent variable of the regression function, and
- amounts of the sample fluid introduced into the fluid path obtained for different points in time within the specified time period are values of an independent variable of the regression function;
- determining whether or not a first specified condition is met, wherein the first specified condition is determined to be met when a value indicative of a predicted blockage amount corresponds to the amount of the sample fluid that has been introduced into the fluid path at the current point in time, wherein the predicted blockage amount is a value of the independent variable of the regression function when a value of the dependent variable is a specified maximum differential pressure;
- in case the first specified condition is met,
- controlling the sample preparation system to stop introducing the sample fluid into the fluid path;
- in case the first specified condition is not met,
- controlling the sample preparation system to continue introducing the sample fluid into the fluid path, and
- repeating the steps of obtaining system information, determining the regression function and determining whether or not the first specified condition is met.