CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1.

An assembly for use in a fluid handling system and adapted to transfer fluid comprising: (1) first and second valves, each valve having an internal passage and a plurality of ports; (2) a filter line interposed between the first and second valves in fluid communication with a port of the first valve and a port of the second valve; (3) a filter medium disposed in the filter line and adapted to filter a fluid flowing through the filter line and operable to filter fluids under both positive and negative fluid pressure conditions; (4) a bypass line interposed between the first and second valves in fluid communication with a port of the first valve and a port of the second valve; and (5) an actuator means for switching the internal passage of the first valve between first and second positions, the first position providing a first fluid path through the internal passage between the plurality of ports and the second position providing a second fluid path through the internal passage between the plurality of ports.

2.	The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the first valve.

3.	The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.

4.	The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the pump includes a syringe.

5.	The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the second valve.

6.	The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of ports of the first valve comprise first, second and third ports and the plurality of ports of the second valve comprise first, second and third ports.

7.	The assembly according to claim 6 further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the first port of the first valve.

8.

The assembly according to claim 6 wherein the filter line communicates with the second port of the first valve and the second port of the second valve, the bypass line communicates with the third port of the first valve and the third port of the second valve, the first position of the first valve provides a fluid path between the first port and the second port of the first valve, and the second position of the first valve provides a fluid path between the first port and the third port of the first valve.

9.

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the actuator is operable to switch the internal passage of the second valve between first and second positions, the first position providing a fluid path through the internal passage between the first port and the second port and the second position providing a fluid path through the internal passage between the first port and the third port.

10.

The assembly according to claim 1 wherein a second actuator is operable to switch the internal passage of the second valve between first and second positions, the first position providing a fluid path through the internal passage between the first port and the second port and the second position providing a fluid path through the internal passage between the first port and the third port.

11.

The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a sampling member, the sampling member including an internal conduit having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end fluidly communicating with a port of the second valve and the distal end adapted for insertion into a fluid container to permit transfer of fluid to and from the fluid container and the filtration assembly.

12.	The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the proximal end communicates with the first port of the second valve.

13.	The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the sample member is a hollow needle.

14.

A screening workstation comprising: (1) a dilution assembly including a first valve in fluid communication with a solvent inlet line and a transfer line; (2) a filter assembly including second and third valves, a filter line interposed in fluid communication between the second and third valves, a bypass line interposed in fluid communication between the second and third valves, a filter medium interposed between the second valve and the filter line, wherein the second and third valves are adjustable by a switch to alternately set the filter assembly between a first fluid path extending between the transfer line and the filter line and a second fluid path extending between the transfer line and the bypass line; (3) sampling means fluidly communicating with the third valve and mounted to a support member, the support member movable in threedimensional space in response to programmed instructions, wherein the first fluid path provides communication between the filter line and the sampling means and the second fluid path provides communication between the bypass line and the sampling means; and (4) a sample containment assembly adapted to hold an array of fluid containers accessible by the sampling means.

15.	The workstation according to claim 14 wherein the first valve communicates with a syringe.

16.	The workstation according to claim 14 wherein the sampling means is a needle.

17.	The workstation according to claim 14 wherein the second and third valves of the filter assembly are mounted to the support member.

18.	The workstation according to claim 14 wherein the sampling means is movably mounted to the support member and the support member and sampling means are movable in threedimensional space in response to programmed instructions.

19.

A screening workstation comprising: (1) a plurality of racks removably mounted to a first rack holder, each rack adapted to hold a plurality of vessels ; (2) sampling means movably mounted to a first automated arm assembly, the first automated arm assembly adapted to effect programmable manipulations of the sampling means along paths extending within the vessels and over the racks; (3) a fluid movement controller adapted to withdraw fluid from and deliver fluid to the vessels of the racks through the sampling means; (4) a first valve fluidly communicating with the fluid movement controller via a transfer line interposed therebetween; (5) a second valve fluidly communicating with the sampling means; (6) a filter line interposed between the first and second valves and communicating with a filter medium; and (7) a bypass line interposed between the first and second valves, wherein the first and second valves are adjustable alternately to define a first fluid conduit between the transfer line and the sampling means through the filter line and to define a second fluid conduit between the transfer line and the sampling means through the bypass line.

20.	The workstation according to claim 19 wherein the sampling means is a needle.

21.	The workstation according to claim 19 wherein one of the racks holds an ultrasonic bath.

22.	The workstation according to claim 21 wherein the ultrasonic bath includes means for transferring ultrasonic energy cyclically at predetermined intervals.

23.	The workstation according to claim 22 wherein the ultrasonic transferring means includes a thermostat.

24.	The workstation according to claim 21 wherein the ultrasonic bath includes a cooling tube disposed in contact with liquid residing in the bath, the cooling tube adapted to permit a heat transfer medium to be circulated therethrough to regulate the temperature of the bath.

25.	The workstation according to claim 19 wherein one of the racks is a quartz microtitre plate.

26.	The workstation according to claim 19 wherein one of the racks holds an array of wells.

27.	The workstation according to claim 19 wherein one of the racks includes a bracket adapted to hold an array of vials.

28.

The workstation according to claim 19 wherein the first automated arm assembly includes: (1) a vertical arm mechanically linked to the sampling means and adapted to permit vertical translation of the sampling means along a zaxis; (2) a horizontal arm slidably connected to a frame of the workstation and adapted for horizontal translation along an xaxis, wherein the vertical arm is movably mounted to the horizontal arm to permit horizontal translation of the vertical arm along a yaxis; and (3) a motor assembly in actuating engagement with the horizontal and vertical arms to control manipulation of the sampling means along programmable paths.

29.	The workstation according to claim 19 further comprising a second automated arm assembly adapted to effect programmable manipulations on the racks including installing the racks in and removing the racks from the first rack holder.

30.

The workstation according to claim 19 further comprising a second rack hoider and a second automated arm assembly adapted to effect programmable manipulations on the racks including installing the racks in and removing the racks from the first and second rack holders and transporting the racks to and from the first and second rack holders.

31.	The workstation according to claim 30 wherein the first and second rack holders are joined as a single unit.

32.

The workstation according to claim 30 wherein the second automated arm assembly includes a base having a slot, a boom support member disposed in moving engagement with the slot, a boom extending from the boom support member, and a boom head disposed on an end of the boom and adapted to releasably engage the racks.

33.	The workstation according to claim 19 wherein the fluid movement controller includes: (1) a syringe comprising a column and a movable boundary disposed within the column; and (2) a third valve fluidly communicating with a fluid sur) ply source, the syringe, and the transfer line.

34.	The workstation according to claim 33 wherein the movable boundary is actuated by a stepper motor.

35.	The workstation according to claim 19 further comprising a fluid reservoir communicating with the fluid movement controller.

36.	The workstation according to claim 19 further comprising an injector adapted to receive fluid from the sampling means and deliver fluid to a liquid chromatography device.

37.

A workstation for use in preparing liquids suspensions, and emulsions, and solutions of drugs and chemicals for analysis, comprising: (1) means for holding a plurality of containers; (2) means for sampling fluids contained in the containers and for transporting a quantity of fluid from one of the containers to another of the containers, the sampling means having a distal end; (3) means for moving the distal end of the sampling means into and out of a first one of the containers and for moving the distal end from the first container to a second container according to predetermined instructions; (4) means for transferring fluids to the sampling means from a transfer line for deposition in the containers and for transferring fluids residing in the sampling means and extracted from the containers to the transfer line; and (5) means interposed between the transferring means and the sampling means for separating solidphase particles from fluids, the filtering means including a filtering medium and means for bypassing the filtering medium.

38.

A process for preparing crystalline forms of drugs, compounds or chemicals for screening comprising the steps of: (1) providing a filter assembly including first and second valves, each valve having a plurality of ports, a filter line including a filter medium and extending between the a port of the first valve and a port of the second valve, and a bypass line extending between a port of the first valve and the a port of the second valve; (2) providing a mass of a drug, compound or chemical contained in a plurality of first vessels; (3) adding a volume of solvent to the first vessels to dissolve a portion of the mass and to produce an unfiltered sample; (4) agitating the first vessels to enhance mixing and/or dissolution of the mass; (5) setting the first and second valves to a filter mode by adjusting the first and second valves to define a fluid filter path from the second valve, through the filter line, and to the first valve; (6) withdrawing predetermined quantities of the unfiltered sample from the first vessels; (7) causing the withdrawn quantities of the unfiltered sample to flow through the second valve, the filter line and the filter medium to produce a filtrate sample substantially free of solidphase mass; (8) causing the filtrate sample to flow from the filter medium through the first valve and into a fluid holding container communicating with the first valve; (1) setting the first and second valves to a bypass mode by adjusting the first and second valves to define a fluid bypass path from the first valve, through the bypass line, and to the second valve; (10) causing the filtrate sample to flow from the fluid holding container, through the bypass line, and to the second valve; and (11) depositing predetermined quantities of the filtrate sample from the second valve into a plurality of second vessels.

39.

The process according to claim 38 wherein: (1) the plurality of ports of the first valve include first, second and third ports; (2) the plurality of ports of the second valve include first, second and third ports; (3) the step of providing a filter assembly includes extending the filter line between the second port of the first valve and the second port of the second valve, and extending the bypass line between the third port of the first valve and the third port of the second valve; (4) the step of setting the first and second valves to the filter mode includes defining the fluid filter path from the first port of the second valve, through the second port of the second valve, through the second port of the first valve, and to the first port oi the first valve; (5) the step of producing the filtrate sample is preceded by the step of causing the quantities of unfiltered sample withdrawn from the first vessels to flow through the first port of the second valve; (6) the fluid holding container is placed in communication with the first port of the first valve; and (7) the step of setting the first and second valves to the bypass mode includes defining the fluid bypass path from the first port of the first valve, through the third port of the first valve, through the third port of the second valve, and through the first port of the second valve.

40.	The process according to claim 38 wherein the filtrate sample produced by adding a volume of solvent and by agitating is substantially saturated with dissolved drug mass.

41.	The process according to claim 38 wherein the step of agitating the first vessels includes placing the first vessels in an ultrasonic bath.

42.	The process according to claim 41 wherein the step of agitating the first vessels further includes cyclically energizing the ultrasonic bath for a predetermined period of time.

43.	The process according to claim 41 wherein the step of agitating the first vessels further includes providing means for actively cooling the ultrasonic bath to regulate the temperature of the ultrasonic bath and energizing the ultrasonic bath for a constant, predetermined period of time.

44.	The process according to claim 38 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of racks removably mounted in a rack holder, wherein a first one of the racks holds the plurality of first vessels and a second one of the racks holds the plurality of second vessels.

45.	The process according to claim 44 wherein the step of agitating the first vessels includes mounting an ultrasonic bath in one of the racks of the rack holder and placing the first vessels in the ultrasonic bath.

46.	The process according to claim 45 wherein the ultrasonic bath is mounted in the first one of the racks.

47.

The process according to claim 44 further comprising the step of providing a third rack in the rack holder holding a plurality of third vessels, wherein the plurality of third vessels contains a plurality of different s, lvents, and wherein the step of adding a volume of solvent to the first vessels includes adding differing proportions of and combinations of different solvents from the third vessels to the first vessels to produce in the first vessels a plurality of unfiltered solutions having varying solvent systems.

48.

The process according to claim 47 further comprising the step of providing a sampling needle having a proximal end in fluid communication with a port of the second valve and a hollow distal end, and wherein the step of adding different solvents includes: (a,) setting the first and second valves to the bypass mode; (2) inserting the distal end of the sampling needle into the third vessels and causing quantities of solvents to flow from the third vessels into the sampling needle, through the bypass line and into the fluid holding container; (c) moving the sampling needle to the first vessels; (d) inserting the distal end of the sampling needle into the first vessels and causing the solvents to flow in predetermined proportions from the fluid holding container, through the bypass line and sampling needle, and into the first vessels.

49.

The process according to claim 38 further comprising the step of providing a sampling needle having a proximal end in fluid communication with a port of the second valve and a hollow distal end, and wherein: (1) the unfiltered sample is withdrawn by inserting the distal end into the first vessels; and (2) the filtrate sample is deposited by moving the sampling needle to the second vessels and inserting the sampling needle into the second vessels.

50.

The process according to claim 49 further comprising the steps of: (1) providing a motorized structural member movable in three dimensional space in response to programmed instructions; and (2) mounting the sampling needle to the structural member to enable the structural member to manipulate the sampling needle along predetermined paths.

51.	The process according to claim 38 further comprising the step providing a fluid flow control device to control fluid flow through the fluid holding container, the first and second valves, the filter line and the bypass line.

52.	The process according to claim 51 wherein the fluid holding container is a transfer line connected between the fluid flow control device and a port of the first valve.

53.	The process according to claim 51 further comprising the step of providing the fluid flow control device with a syringe in communication with the transfer line.

54.	The process according to claim 53 further comprising the step of providing the syringe with a movable boundary actuated by a motor.

55.	The process according to claim 38 further comprising the step of providing a closure assembly including a septum for each of the first vessels to seal each first vessel, and wherein the step of adding solvent to the first vessels includes penetrating the respective septa of the first vessels.

56.	The process according to claim 38 further comprising the step of prov ; ding a rinse solvent reservoir in communication with the fluid holding container for rinsing the fluid holding container, the first and second valves, the filter line, and the bypass line.

57.	The process according to claim 38 further comprising the step of growing crystalline forms in the quantities of filtrate sample.

58.	The process according to claim 57 wherein the step of growing crystalline forms includes performing evaporative crystallization on the quantities of filtrate sample.

59.	The process according to claim 57 wherein the step of growing crystalline forms includes performing cooling crystallization on the quantities of filtrate sample.

60.

The process according to claim 57 further comprising the steps of: (1) setting the first and second valves of the filter assembly to the bypass mode; (2) using the filter assembly to transfer the quantities of filtrate sample containing the crystalline forms to a plurality of wells disposed in a translucent plate; and (3) performing optical microscopy on the crystalline forms at each well.

61.

The process according to claim 57 further comprising the steps of: (1) setting the first and second valves of the filter assembly to the bypass mode; (2) using the filter assembly to transfer the quantities of filtrate sample containing the crystalline forms to a plurality of third vessels disposed in a microtitre plate; and (3) performing differential scanning calorimetry on the crystalline forms at each of the third vessels.

62.

The process according to claim 57 further comprising the steps of: (1) setting the first and second valves of the filter assembly to the bypass mode; (2) using the filter assembly to transfer the quantities of filtrate sample containing crystalline forms to a plurality of third vessels disposed in a microtitre plate; and (3) performing Raman spectroscopy on the crystalline forms at each of the third vessels.

63.	The process according to claim 57 further comprising the step of performing equilibrium solubility assessments on the quantities of filtrate sample containing the crystalline forms.

64.

A process for preparing forms of drugs, compounds or chemicals for screening comprising the steps of: (1) providing a filter assembly including first and second valves, each valve having first, second and third ports, a filter line including a filter medium and extending between the second port of the first valve and the second port of the second valve, and a bypass line extending between the third port of the first valve and the third port of the second valve; (2) providing a mass of drug, compound or chemical contained in a plurality of first vessels; (3) adding a volume of solvent to the first vessels to mix a portion of the mass and to produce an unfiltered mixture; (d) agitating the first vessels to enhance mixing of the mass; (5) setting the first and second valves to a bypass mode by adjusting the first and second valves to define a fluid path from the first port of the second valve, through the bypass line, and to the first port of the first valve; (6) withdrawing predetermined quantities of the unfiltered mixture from the first vessels; (7) causing the withdrawn quantities of unfiltered mixture to flow through the first port of the second valve, the bypass line, the first port of the first valve, and into a fluid holding container communicating with the first port of the first valve; (8) setting the first and second valves to a filter mode by adjusting the first and second valves to define a fluid path from the first port of the first valve, through the filter line and filter medium, and to the first port of the second valve; (1) causing the unfiltered mixture to flow from the fluid holding container, through the first port of the first valve and through the filter medium to produce a filtrate mixture substantially free of solidphase mass (10) causing the filtrate mixture to flow from the filter line to the first port of the second valve; and (11) depositing predetermined quantities of the filtrate mixture from the first port of the second valve into a plurality of second vessels.