Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of further reducing carryover between specimens. The automatic analyzer includes a first dispensing unit for dispensing a specimen related to a first analysis item group having a high possibility of carryover, a second dispensing unit for dispensing a specimen related to a second analysis item group having a low possibility of carryover, an input unit for receiving an input of analysis information related to a plurality of analysis items for a specimen, a classification unit for classifying the analysis information into the first analysis item group and the second analysis item group, and a determination unit for determining a dispensing sequence for each specimen for the first analysis item group and determining a dispensing sequence for each analysis item for the second analysis item group.

There is provided a piston of a cartridge for extracting nucleic acids comprising: a cylindrical upper body having a hollow; a lower body having two ports; a control rod module combined to the other end of the upper body to seal the other end and move up and down along the hollow; and a rotation control module that is combined to the shaft of the lower body to transmit a driving force to the lower body.

An automatic analyzer has a supply unit that stores and supplies a liquid to be used by the analyzer, an analyzer circulation system that circulates the liquid within the analyzer, and a supply unit circulation system that circulates the liquid within the supply unit. An analysis controller switches a flow rate of the liquid circulated by at least one of the analyzer circulation system and the supply unit circulation system between a first flow rate in a normal state and a second flow rate different from the first flow rate. Consequently, by suppressing fungal propagation within a circulation flow path for a liquid, compared to conventional techniques, the frequency with which a liquid is replaced and the frequency with which the inside of a reaction tank is cleaned are reduced and a time period for a maintenance operation by an operator is reduced.

The present invention comprises: an ISE measurement unit 32 that measures the electrolyte concentration of a sample; a spectrophotometer 14 that measures biochemical parameters of a sample; a pH measurement mechanism 34 that measures the pH of a sample; sample dispensing mechanisms 21, 22 that dispense the sample for measurement in the ISE measurement unit 32 or the spectrophotometer 14 from a container that contains the sample; and a conveyance mechanism 27 that conveys the container. The conveyance mechanism 27, the sample dispensing mechanisms 21, 22, and the pH measurement mechanism 34 are disposed such that the dispensing of the sample by the pH measurement mechanism 34 for pH measurement, or pH measurement, is performed after the dispensing of the sample by the sample dispensing mechanisms 21, 22.

A method (10) for automatically diluting a patient sample (20) onboard an immunoassay diagnostic system (100) includes: a) pipetting a first amount (22) of the patient sample (20) from a primary sample vessel (30) at a sample presentation unit (142) to a sample vessel (32) with a sample pipetting device (152); b) pipetting a second amount (26) of the patient sample (20) from the sample vessel (32) to a first dilution vessel (36) with the sample pipetting device (152); c) pipetting a first amount (62) of diluent (60) to the first dilution vessel (36) with a reagent pipetting device (162) thereby making a first patient sample dilution (50); and d) storing the first dilution vessel at a sample storage unit (158).

A method of automatically distinguishing absorption or non-absorption of whole blood or blood plasma by using a reflective photosensor in an automatic immunoassay device including a round cartridge which may simultaneously perform the centrifugation and automatic analysis of a blood sample and a tip which may be moved up, down, left and right based on the round cartridge, the method includes: installing the reflective photosensor below the round cartridge; mounting the tip above the round cartridge, and continuously measuring blood non-absorption data in a range including a position where the blood is absorbed by using the reflective photosensor, collecting the measured data and storing the collected data while the tip is raised; continuously measuring blood absorption data by using the reflective photosensor while the tip is lowered and absorbs the blood present in the range including the position where the blood is absorbed from the round cartridge; and determining whether a type of the blood is whole blood or blood plasma, or whether the whole blood or the blood plasma is not absorbed by comparing the blood non-absorption data with the blood absorption data.

An automatic analyzing apparatus according to an embodiment includes first and second conveyance paths, a sample dispensing mechanism, and processing circuitry. The first conveyance path conveys a first container rack that holds a container housing the sample. The second conveyance path conveys a second container rack that holds a container housing at least one of a detergent solution for cleaning a probe that dispenses the sample, a diluent for diluting the sample, a buffer solution for mixing the sample, a solution used for a blank test with the sample, and a solution for performing calibration measurement for the apparatus. The sample dispensing mechanism is configured so that the probe can aspirate a liquid in the container of the first container rack and the second container rack. The processing circuitry controls operations of the first conveyance path, the second conveyance path, and the sample dispensing mechanism.

A sample installation part in which a sample container accommodating a sample to be subjected to biochemical analysis is installed, and consumables installation parts in which consumables to be used for the biochemical analysis are installed are accommodated in an apparatus body of a biochemical analysis apparatus. The apparatus body is provided with an opening part that leads to a sample tray. An instruction receiving unit receives a movement instruction for moving the sample tray from a normal position where the sample installation part is disposed on the opening part side to a consumables replenishment position where the consumables installation parts are disposed on the opening part side. A driving control unit moves the sample tray from the normal position to the consumables replenishment position in a case where the movement instruction is received by the instruction receiving unit.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for external control testing of an assay system.

To improve the measurement accuracy of a particle size distribution measuring device that performs a particle size distribution measurement in a line start mode. A measurement cell used in a line start mode of a centrifugal sedimentation type particle size distribution measuring device includes: a cell main body that has an opening provided on one end and stores therein a density gradient liquid W.sub.DGS; and a cell cap that closes the opening of the cell main body and has an internal passage R provided therein for holding a sample liquid W.sub.SS. When an application of a centrifugal force is received, the sample liquid W.sub.SS is introduced from the internal passage R into the density gradient liquid W.sub.DGS.