Next generation of flow analysis is based on flow programming.

Concepts of air Segmented Flow Analysis (SFA) and Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) are discussed and compared with the performance of a new method based on comprehensive flow programming. The programmable Flow Injection (pFI), miniaturized on the lab-on-valve platform, can perform tasks that can not be done in any other way, such as Auto calibration by a single standard solution or analysis in a flow-batch mode that exactly simulates the traditional manual batch technique. Performance of pFI is documented by examples of nutrient determinations in sea water.