To provide a sample analyzer capable of accurately obtaining the number of analyzable samples. When analyzing a sample collected from a subject, a CPU of the sample analyzer calculates the number of analyzable samples based on a remaining number of tests of a reagent set in a reagent holding section and the number of tests of the reagent to be consumed in measurement of a control, and causes a output section to display the number of analyzable samples. When creating a calibration curve, the CPU calculates the number of analyzable samples based on a remaining number of tests of the reagent set in the reagent holding section, the number of tests of the reagent to be consumed in measurement of the control, and the number of tests of the reagent to be consumed in measurement of a calibrator, and causes the output section to display the number of analyzable samples.

An analytical apparatus is disclosed for detecting at least one analyte in a sample, where in an analyte measurement at least an electrical or optical property changeable by presence of the analyte at least one test chemical of a test element is recorded, and where the analytical apparatus also can perform at least one quality measurement on the at least one test chemical such as an intrinsic luminescence, which is recorded and from the intrinsic luminescence a conclusion is drawn on a quality of the test chemical and thus the test element. Methods also are disclosed for detecting at least one analyte in a sample that include a quality measurement of the at least one test chemical of the test strip.

A specimen analyzer for continuously measuring a plurality of samples, using a reagent container which comprises a wirelessly writable and readable storage medium is disclosed. A specimen analyzing method is also disclosed. The analyzer comprises a reagent dispenser, a measurement unit, a memory which stores information regarding a remaining amount of the reagent in a reagent container, and a wireless communication unit. The analyzer causes the reagent dispenser to continuously carry out aspiration of the reagent from the reagent container, updates the information in the memory in response to an aspiration of the reagent by the reagent dispenser, and causes the wireless communication unit to write the information in the memory to the storage medium when the continuous aspiration is completed.

A method of reducing carryover of liquids, such as reagent and/or samples, in analytical or immunoassay testing. The method includes providing an incubation member including a plurality of reaction vessels thereon, pre-assigning certain ones of the reaction vessels in the incubation member for only first test types or certain reagent types for all test lots; and pre-assigning other ones of a second subset of reaction vessels in the incubation member for only second test types for all test lots. By ensuring no mixing of potentially interfering test types or reagent types from test lot to test lot, sample and/or reagent carryover is mitigated. Testing apparatus adapted to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Analytical apparatuses are disclosed for detecting at least one analyte in a sample, where in an analyte measurement at least an electrical or optical property changeable by presence of the analyte at least one test chemical of a test element is recorded, and where the analytical apparatus also can perform at least one quality measurement on the at least one test chemical such as an intrinsic luminescence, which is recorded and from the intrinsic luminescence a conclusion is drawn on a quality of the test chemical and thus the test element. Methods also are disclosed for detecting at least one analyte in a sample that include a quality measurement of the at least one test chemical of the test strip.

There are provided an automatic analyzing device and a reagent management method in the automatic analyzing device capable of managing a remaining amount of a consumable reagent with higher accuracy than in the related art. An automatic analyzing device includes a sipper syringe 10 and a liquid feed valve 40 that dispense a consumable reagent filled in a reference electrode solution bottle 5 and an alkaline detergent bottle 39 respectively, a liquid level detection unit 38 that detects a liquid level of the consumable reagent in the reference electrode solution bottle 5 and the alkaline detergent bottle 39, and a control device 29 that calculates a remaining amount of the consumable reagent based on an estimated dispensing amount of the sipper syringe 10 and the liquid feed valve 40, in which the control device 29 corrects the estimated dispensing amount based on consumption of the consumable reagent up to a predetermined height detected by the liquid level detection unit 38 and a dispensing operation history until the liquid level reaches the predetermined height.

A sample identification system for an automated sampling device is described. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a sample holder having a plurality of apertures configured to receive a plurality of sample vessels therein, the sample holder having one or more corresponding sample holder identifiers positioned proximate to the sample holder; and an identifier capture device configured to detect the one or more sample holder identifiers positioned proximate to the sample holder and generate a data signal in response thereto, the data signal corresponding to at least an orientation of the sample holder relative to a surface on which the sample holder is positioned.

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.

The automatic analyzer includes: a first reagent container storage section storing a plurality of reagent containers; a regent dispensing mechanism for dispensing a reagent from a reagent container stored in the first reagent container storage section; a second reagent container storage section storing a plurality of reagent containers; a reagent container transfer mechanism for transferring a reagent container selected from among reagent containers stored in the second reagent container storage section to the first reagent container storage section; and a controller configured to control the reagent container transfer mechanism to transfer a reagent container from the second reagent container storage section to the first reagent container storage section on the basis of a predetermined priority condition. The predetermined priority condition is one of a reagent provided with an effective calibration curve result, a number of remaining tests, and an expiration date of a reagent.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatic analysis apparatus which is capable of both sterilizing a reagent and suppressing property variations in the reagent. Provided is an automatic analysis apparatus including a reagent vessel which holds a reagent; a suction nozzle which sucks the reagent; an analysis unit which executes an analysis operation by adding a reagent sucked from the reagent vessel to a specimen via the suction nozzle; an ultraviolet ray source which sterilizes a reagent by ultraviolet irradiation; and an electrode or a substrate which supplies electric power to the ultraviolet ray source, in which a heat insulation portion is arranged between a reagent in the suction nozzle and the ultraviolet ray source and the electrode or the substrate, or, it is isolated between a reagent in the suction nozzle and the ultraviolet ray source and the electrode or the substrate.