A quantitative method for diagnosing an autoimmune disease or an infectious disease comprising performing an automated diagnostic assay, comprising: incubating a capture reagent with a streptavidin-coated medium to form a solid phase complex, wherein the capture reagent is a biotinylated autoantigen or infectious disease antigen; washing the solid phase complex to remove excess capture reagent; incubating the solid phase complex with a serum sample to form an immune complex; washing the immune complex to remove any unbound sample; incubating the immune complex with a conjugate to create an immune-conjugate complex; washing the immune-conjugate complex to remove any unbound conjugate; introducing a substrate capable of generating a quantifiable response; and calibrating the response generated from introducing the substrate.

The automatic analysis device measures time sequential data on a scattered light amount as reaction process data, and quantitatively determines the concentration of an analyte from a change in light amount. The automatic analysis device has a function of selecting reaction process data to be used for quantitative determination from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using a plurality of light receivers at different angles. As a result of using this function, data is selected from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using the plurality of light receivers at different angles in accordance with the concentration of the analyte and whether the priority is given to high sensitivity in the case where sensitivity is prioritized or a dynamic range, and the result of the quantitative determination is displayed.

This reagent vessel housing unit 7 is provided with a drive unit 121, a base member 122, a first opening/closing mechanism 135, and a second opening/closing mechanism 136. By means of the driving force of the drive unit 121, the base member 122 can move to an initial position, at which the cap of a first reagent vessel and the cap of a second reagent vessel are closed, a first opening position at which the cap of the first reagent vessel is opened, and a second opening position at which the cap of the second reagent vessel is opened. The first opening/closing mechanism 135 opens the cap of the first regent vessel. The second opening/closing mechanism 136 opens the cap of the second regent vessel.

An automatic analysis device has a plurality of types of photometers having different quantitative ranges, and an analysis control unit for quantifying the desired component in specimens based on measurement values of one or more photometers selected from among the plurality of types of photometers. The analysis control unit: sets a switching region in an overlap region of respective quantitative ranges of the plurality of types of photometers, said switching region having a greater width than does the variation in quantitative values of the desired component based on the measurement values of photometers having the same specimen; compares the quantitative value of a quantitative range portion that corresponds to the switching region and the quantitative values of the desired component based on the measurement values of the photometers; and selects a photometer to be used in quantitative output of the desired component from among the plurality of types of photometers.

Disclosed is a reaction vessel handling apparatus adapted for use in a biological fluid testing apparatus. The reaction vessel handling apparatus includes an incubation member and wash member that are overlapping. A transfer device transfers reaction vessels between the incubation member and wash member at the overlapping portions. Incubation and wash members may be rings. Testing apparatus (e.g., immunoassay apparatus or clinical analyzer apparatus) including the reaction vessel handling apparatus and methods of operating the apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.

The present invention is directed to a method and automated unloading means for unloading a container from an apparatus. The apparatus of the present invention may include a means for automated loading, a means for automated transfer and/or a means for automated unloading of a container (e.g., a specimen container). In one embodiment, the apparatus can be an automated detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of a microbial agent in a test sample. The detection system also including a heated enclosure, a holding means or rack, and/or a detection unit for monitoring and/or interrogating the specimen container to detect whether the container is positive for the presence of a microbial agent. In other embodiment, the automated instrument may include one or more, bar code readers, scanners, cameras, and/or weighing stations to aid in scanning, reading, imaging and weighing of specimen containers within the system.

Accuracy control of an automatic analysis device that mixes a sample and a reagent to measure temporal change of a mixed solution is realized. A plurality of measurement point data is acquired from a reaction process of the sample and the reagent. Parameters and test values of approximate equations for approximating the plurality of measurement point data are accumulated in a storage unit. A distribution map of reference data corresponding to the parameters or the test values is created based on predetermined numbers of the parameters or the test values accumulated in the storage unit. Next, a plurality of screens for individually superimposing, on the distribution map, curved lines corresponding to a plurality of regression function candidates obtained by applying a plurality of regression functions are arranged and presented on a display screen, so as to approximate the data to the distribution map of the reference data.

An apparatus and method are described that achieve independent and simultaneous processing of a plurality of substrate-supported biological samples. In one embodiment, substrate holders arranged in a minor arc are independently moveable between a processing position and an access position, and reagents are delivered to substrates held in the substrate holders through a nozzle plate that moves along the arc of substrate holders. The disclosed apparatus and method are particularly suited for implementation of lean processing of biological samples.

A sample analyzer includes a first track, a second track, a reaction wheel, an electrolyte analyzing mechanism, a first sample dispensing mechanism, and a second sample dispensing mechanism. In the present disclosure, the first sample delivery mechanism independently transfers the samples from the first track to the reaction vessels carried by the reaction wheel, and the second sample delivery mechanism independently transfers the samples from the second track to the detection vessels carried by the electrolyte detection mechanism.

A sample analyzer includes a reaction wheel, a first reagent container storage mechanism, a second reagent container storage mechanism, a reagent container buffering mechanism, and a reagent container transfer mechanism. In the present disclosure, a center line is defined by extending from a first rotation center to a second rotation center, and the reagent container buffering mechanism and the reaction wheel are respectively located on two sides of the center line. The reagent container transfer mechanism is configured to transfer reagent containers between the first reagent container storage mechanism and the reagent container buffering mechanism, and/or between the second reagent container storage mechanism and the reagent container buffering mechanism.