Since the measurement start timings for a plurality of specimens in different test fields deviate from one another, the measurement results are not coordinated, leading to a delay in reporting. When determining an order for measuring a newly recognized specimen using an automated analysis device capable of performing measurements in a plurality of test fields, the measurement order for specimens waiting to be measured is changed to minimize the time difference between measurement result output timings for a plurality of specimens for the same patient, with reference to specimen information such as urgent test information, a measurement completion time, and an earliest measurement completion time for other specimens, relating to the patient's other specimens having the same patient number in the specimen information.

The invention provides multi-function instruments for automatically and simultaneously carrying out a variety of tests including identification of targets in specimens and antimicrobial susceptibility testing thereof. Application-specific cartridges are pre-loaded with all required reagents and allow for tests to be performed in a single testing device with no specimen preparation to, for example, rapidly detect infections, identify infectious pathogens, and analyze their susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents. Instruments include various stations for carrying out test steps that can be randomly accessed in any order dictated by the computer-controlled instrument. A carousel stores and incubates cartridges and, with a mechanical conveyor arm, transfers the cartridges between the required stations to carry out the tests. A plurality of different tests may be performed on a plurality of targets within an instrument, and the plurality of targets may be disposed in a single cartridge.

According to one embodiment, an automatic analyzer includes: a plurality of reaction tube holders each configured to hold a reaction tube housing a mixed solution of a specimen and a reagent; a plurality of photometry portions respectively provided with respect to the reaction tube holders and each configured to perform photometry on the mixed solution housed in the reaction tube; a reaction bath including the reaction tube holders and the photometry portions and configured to repeat rotating and stopping to thereby convey the reaction tube held by each of the reaction tube holders; and a driver configured to rotate the reaction bath.

Coordinated conveyors in an automated system. A system comprises a plurality of conveyors, which each comprise a plurality of segments, and one or more stations. An instruction is received to perform an operation that requires at least one station to process at least a first item held by a first segment of a first conveyor and a second item held by a second segment of a second conveyor. In response to the instruction, one or both of the first and second conveyors are moved, such that the first segment and the second segment are aligned at the station. After alignment, one or more instruments of the station process the first item and the second item.

A pretreatment method of an automatic analyzer, in which pretreatments of a plurality of substances to be measured can be performed by a series of treatments using a plurality of magnetic beads that can bind to the plurality of substances to be measured, is achieved. In the pretreatment method of an automatic analyzer, a magnetic bead is added to a sample containing a substance to be measured, the substance to be measured is bound to the magnetic bead, the magnetic bead is extracted from the sample, and the substance to be measured is separated from the magnetic bead by an eluate. A plurality of magnetic beads that bind to a plurality of types of substances to be measured are added to a sample, and the plurality of types of substances to be measured are extracted from the magnetic bead by an eluate.

According to one embodiment, a reagent storage include a placement table, a housing, a cover, and a fan. The placement table on which a plurality of reagent containers are placed. The housing configured to contain the placement table. The cover having a probe hole through which a probe is inserted and configured to cover an opening of the housing. The fan configured to send air in a first space defined by an inner bottom of the housing and the placement table into a second space defined by the cover and the placement table and to exhaust the air in the second space through the probe hole.

An object of the present invention is to provide a test method capable of efficiently performing a step of evaluating a surface state of a dispensing probe provided in a dispensing apparatus. In the test method according to the present invention, a first solution in which a coloring matter is dissolved is dispensed to a first container in advance by a first dispensing probe, a second solution in which a coloring matter is not dissolved is dispensed to a second container in advance by the first dispensing probe and then the first solution and the second solution are respectively sucked and discharged by a second dispensing probe. After that, a surface state of the second dispensing probe is evaluated by acquiring an amount of the coloring matter collected by the second solution (see FIG. 2).

A system for automated microorganism identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing comprising a reagent cartridge, a reagent stage, a cassette, a cassette, stage, a pipettor assembly, an optical detection system, and a controller is disclosed. The system is designed to dynamically adjust motor idle torque to control heat load and employs a fast focus process for determining the true focus position of an individual microorganism. The system also may quantify the relative abundance of viable microorganisms in a sample using dynamic dilution, and facilitate growth of microorganisms in customized media for rapid, accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

According to one embodiment, an automatic analyzing apparatus includes a reaction disk, a sample dispensing probe, an extended measurement dispensing probe, a reagent dispensing probe and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry provides the sample into the reaction vessel stopping at a first position on the reaction disk using the sample dispensing probe, provides the first reagent into the reaction vessel stopping at the first position using the extended measurement dispensing probe, moves the reaction vessel stopping at the first position on the reaction disk to a second position by pivoting the reaction disk at a predetermined pivot angle, and provides the second reagent into the reaction vessel stopping at the second position using the reagent dispensing probe.

A sample preparation cartridge for use with a sample preparation device, the cartridge includes a housing defining plural separate segments, at least one of said segments comprising a fixed section of a pipette component; and a moveable head comprising a pipette tip, the head being configured, in use, to be moved between a position in which the pipette tip is in sealed engagement with the fixed section of pipette component and a position in which pipette tip is positioned adjacent to another of said plural segments. With the present invention a disposable sample preparation cartridge and corresponding analytical reader can be provided in a very cost effective and simple manner.