JP2009229140A - Autoanalyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an autoanalyzer capable of obtaining an analyzing result of high reliability even if a reaction container is washed to be repeatedly used. <P>SOLUTION: In the autoanalyzer 1 for reacting a specimen with a reagent in the reaction container after the reaction container 5 is washed and for photometrically measuring the reaction result by an analyzing optical system 11 to analyze the specimen, the analyzing optical system 11 measures the absorbance before the washing of the reaction container 5 and the absorbance after the washing of the reaction container 5, and a water residue determination part 17 determines whether water remains in the reaction container 5 after washing on the basis of the absorbance before the washing of the reaction container 5 and the absorbance after its washing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer that analyzes a component of a specimen by reacting a specimen and a reagent in a reaction container and optically measuring the result of the reaction.

  Conventionally, as a device that automatically analyzes specimens such as blood and body fluids, the specimen and reagent are dispensed into a reaction container, the specimen and reagent are reacted, and then the absorbance of the reaction liquid of this specimen and reagent is measured. Thus, an analyzer that automatically analyzes a sample is known. This analyzer uses pure water such as a cleaning agent, ion-exchanged water, or distilled water as a cleaning liquid when cleaning the reaction container after the measurement of the reaction liquid is completed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 2577350

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, the reaction vessel is automatically washed and repeatedly used after measuring the characteristics of the reaction solution without checking whether there is any remaining water in the washed reaction vessel. Analyzes of specimens. For this reason, even if the drying is insufficient in the process of drying the reaction container by suction, this reaction container is used for the next analysis, and the analysis process is performed with water remaining, resulting in the analysis. There was a problem that the accuracy of data was lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that can obtain a highly reliable analysis result even if the reaction vessel is washed and repeatedly used.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, after washing the reaction container, causes the sample and the reagent to react in the reaction container, and the result of this reaction is measured with a photometer. In an automatic analyzer that analyzes the sample by photometry, the photometric means for measuring the absorbance before washing and the absorbance after washing of the reaction vessel, and the absorbance before washing and the absorbance after washing of the reaction vessel And a determination means for determining whether or not there is water remaining in the washed reaction vessel.

  In the automatic analyzer according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the photometric means is the photometer.

  In the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, the determination unit may be configured such that the difference in absorbance between the reaction containers before and after washing on the short wavelength side is the difference in absorbance between the reaction containers before and after washing on the long wavelength side. When it is larger than that, it is determined that there is water remaining.

  Further, in the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, in the above invention, the determination means is configured such that the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the shortest wavelength is compared with the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the longest wavelength. It is characterized in that it is determined that there is water remaining when the water is large.

  Further, in the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, in the above invention, the determination means is configured such that the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the shortest wavelength is compared with the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the longest wavelength. If the absorbance is larger than the shortest wavelength and the longest wavelength, the absorbance difference of the reaction container before and after washing is obtained, and the absorbance difference of each wavelength including the shortest wavelength and the longest wavelength is gradually increased toward the short wavelength side. In this case, it is determined that there is water remaining.

  Further, the automatic analyzer according to the present invention is provided with a notifying means for notifying information regarding the use of the determined reaction container when the determining means determines that there is water remaining in the above invention. Features.

  In the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, the determination unit is arranged in the reaction container before the start of analysis based on the absorbance before and after the cleaning of the reaction container performed at the time of the pretreatment before starting the analysis process. It is characterized by determining whether there is any remaining water.

  Further, in the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, in the above invention, the absorbance before washing of the reaction vessel is the absorbance before washing at the time of washing the reaction vessel performed as pretreatment before starting the analysis treatment, The determination means uses the absorbance before the washing in common for determining the remaining water in each reaction container.

  The automatic analyzer according to the present invention comprises a photometric means for analyzing the specimen by washing the reaction container, causing the specimen and the reagent to react in the reaction container, and measuring the result of the reaction with a photometer. However, the absorbance before washing of the reaction container and the absorbance after washing of the reaction container are measured, and the determination means has water remaining in the reaction container after washing based on the absorbance before washing of the reaction container and the absorbance after washing. Therefore, by setting so as not to use a reaction vessel that has been determined to have water residue, the reaction vessel having water residue is not used for analysis, and analysis data There is an effect that a decrease in accuracy can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, an automatic analyzer which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by each embodiment. In the description of the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the automatic analyzer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This automatic analyzer 1 is a device that automatically analyzes a sample such as blood or urine containing blood cell components. As shown in FIG. 1, the reagent tables 2 and 3, the cuvette wheel 4, the sample container transfer mechanism 8, the sample fraction An injection mechanism 10, an analysis optical system 11, a cleaning mechanism 12, a first stirring device 13, a second stirring device 14, and a control mechanism 15 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reagent tables 2 and 3 hold a plurality of reagent containers 2a and 3a arranged in the circumferential direction, and are rotated by driving means (not shown) to convey the reagent containers 2a and 3a in the circumferential direction. To do. At this time, the reagent container 2a holding the first reagent is arranged in the reagent table 2, and the reagent container 3a holding the second reagent is arranged in the reagent table 3. Each of the plurality of reagent containers 2a and 3a is filled with a predetermined reagent corresponding to the inspection item, and an information recording medium (not shown) on which information such as the type, lot, and expiration date of the stored reagent is recorded on the outer surface. It is attached. Here, on the outer periphery of the reagent tables 2 and 3, a reading device (not shown) that reads the reagent information of each reagent container recorded on the information recording medium and outputs it to the control mechanism 15 is installed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cuvette wheel 4 has a plurality of reaction vessels 5 arranged in the circumferential direction, and is rotated by a driving means (not shown) different from a driving means (not shown) that drives the reagent tables 2 and 3. The reaction vessel 5 is moved in the circumferential direction. The cuvette wheel 4 is disposed between the light source 11a and the spectroscopic unit 11b, and has a holding unit 4a that holds the reaction vessel 5 and a circular opening 4b that guides the light beam emitted from the light source 11a to the spectroscopic unit 11b. Yes. The holding portions 4a are arranged on the outer periphery of the cuvette wheel 4 at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction, and an opening 4b extending in the radial direction is formed on the inner peripheral side of the holding portion 4a.

  The reaction vessel 5 is an optically transparent material that transmits 80% or more of the light contained in the analysis light (340 to 800 nm) emitted from the light source 11a, such as glass containing heat-resistant glass, cyclic olefin, polystyrene, or the like. It is a container called a cuvette that is formed into a square cylinder shape from a synthetic resin. In the reaction container 5, reagents are dispensed from the reagent containers 2 a and 3 a of the reagent tables 2 and 3 by the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 which are operating mechanisms provided in the vicinity.

  Here, the reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 are respectively provided with nozzles 6b and 7b for dispensing reagents to arms 6a and 7a that are moved up and down in the vertical direction while rotating in the horizontal plane as indicated by arrows. A cleaning means (not shown) for cleaning the nozzles 6b and 7b with cleaning water is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the specimen container transfer mechanism 8 transfers the plurality of arranged racks 9 while stepping one by one along the arrow direction. The rack 9 holds a plurality of sample containers 9a that store samples. Here, each time the step of the rack 9 transferred by the sample container transfer mechanism 8 stops, the sample dispensing mechanism 10 dispenses the sample into the reaction containers 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sample dispensing mechanism 10 is provided with a dispensing nozzle 10 b that rotates in a horizontal plane as indicated by arrows and dispenses a sample to an arm 10 a that is vertically moved up and down. It is an operating mechanism and has a cleaning means (not shown) that cleans the dispensing nozzle 10b with cleaning water.

  The analysis optical system 11 is an optical system for performing analysis by transmitting analysis light (340 to 800 nm) through the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 in which the reagent and the sample have reacted. As shown in FIG. , A spectroscopic unit 11b and a light receiving unit 11c. The analysis light emitted from the light source 11a passes through the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 and is received by the light receiving unit 11c provided at a position facing the spectroscopic unit 11b.

  The cleaning mechanism 12 sucks and discharges the liquid sample in the reaction vessel 5 by the nozzle 12a, and then repeatedly injects and sucks a cleaning liquid such as detergent and cleaning water by the nozzle 12a, thereby performing analysis by the analysis optical system 11. The reaction vessel 5 that has been completed is washed.

  The first stirrer 13 and the second stirrer 14 agitate the specimen and reagent dispensed in the reaction vessel 5 with the agitation bars 13a and 14a to promote the reaction.

  Next, the control mechanism 15 will be described. The control unit 16 is realized using a CPU or the like, and controls processing and operation of each unit of the automatic analyzer 1. The control unit 16 includes a calculation function, a storage function, a control function, a time counting function, and the like, and includes reagent tables 2 and 3, reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7, a sample container transfer mechanism 8, a sample dispensing mechanism 10, and an analysis optical system 11. , The cleaning mechanism 12, the stirring devices 13, 14, the remaining water determination unit 17, the input unit 18, the analysis unit 19, the output unit 20, the storage unit 21, and the like. The control unit 16 controls the operation of each of the above units and analyzes the component concentration of the specimen from the absorbance for each input wavelength. In addition, the control unit 16 controls the automatic analyzer 1 to stop the analysis work when the reagent lots are different or the expiration date is exceeded, based on the information read from the information storage medium of the reagent containers 2a and 3a. Or issue an alarm to the operator.

  The remaining water determination unit 17 corresponds to the determination unit, and is obtained from the absorbance of the reaction container 5 before washing and the absorbance of the reaction container 5 after washing acquired by the analysis unit 19 or the absorbance information 22 stored in the storage unit 21. It is determined whether or not there is water remaining in the reaction vessel 5 after washing.

  The input unit 18 is realized by a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and acquires various information necessary for analyzing the sample, instruction information for the analysis operation, and the like from the outside. The input unit 18 may acquire various information necessary for analyzing the sample, analysis operation instruction information, and the like from an external device via a communication network (not shown).

  The analysis unit 19 calculates the absorbance from the amount of light after passing through the reaction solution in the reaction container 5 to be analyzed, which is measured by the analysis optical system 11. Then, the concentration of the analysis target component in the sample is analyzed from the calculated absorbance, and the analysis result is output to the control unit 16. Further, the analysis unit 19 calculates the absorbance from the amount of light after passing through the reaction container 5 that is the target of water remaining measurement measured by the analysis optical system 11. Then, the calculation result is output to the control unit 16.

  The output unit 20 is realized by a display, a printer, a speaker, and the like, and outputs various information including the analysis result of the specimen. The output unit 20 may output various information including the analysis result of the sample to an external device via a communication network (not shown). In addition, when the remaining water determination unit 17 determines that there is water remaining in the washed reaction container 5, the unusable information on the reaction container 5 is output.

  The storage unit 21 includes a hard disk for magnetically storing information, and a memory for electrically storing various programs related to the process when the automatic analyzer 1 executes the process and electrically storing the programs. Various information including information is stored. The storage unit 21 may include an auxiliary storage device that can read information stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a PC card. The storage unit 21 also stores absorbance information 22 that is the absorbance of the reaction vessel 5 measured before washing and the absorbance of the reaction vessel 5 measured after washing. This absorbance information 22 is used in the remaining water determination unit 17 that determines remaining water in the reaction container 5 after washing.

  The automatic analyzer 1 configured as described above operates under the control of the control unit 16, and the sample dispensing mechanism is provided to the plurality of reaction containers 5 conveyed along the circumferential direction by the rotating cuvette wheel 4. Samples are sequentially dispensed from a plurality of sample containers 9 a held in the rack 9 by 10. Reagent dispensing mechanisms 6 and 7 sequentially dispense reagents from the reagent containers 2a and 3a into the reaction container 5 into which the specimens are sequentially dispensed. Each time the cuvette wheel 4 stops, the reaction container 5 into which the reagent and the sample are dispensed is sequentially stirred by the stirrers 13 and 14 so that the reagent and the sample react and the cuvette wheel 4 rotates again. Passes through the optical system 11. At this time, the reaction liquid in which the reagent in the reaction container 5 has reacted with the sample is measured by the analysis optical system 11, and the component concentration and the like are analyzed by the analysis unit 19. Then, after the photometry of the reaction liquid is completed, the reaction container 5 is transferred to the cleaning mechanism 12 and cleaned, and then used again for analyzing the specimen.

  At this time, the analysis optical system 11 and the cleaning mechanism 12 repeatedly perform cleaning and analysis as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, before the analysis of the specimen, the pretreatment step 31 is performed, the reaction vessel 5 is washed before the analysis, and it is determined whether or not there is water remaining in the washed reaction vessel 5. First, the reaction vessel 5 is photometrically measured to obtain absorbance data before washing (FIG. 2 (a)). Next, the cleaning mechanism 12 cleans the empty reaction vessel 5. First, the cleaning liquid is discharged to clean the inside of the reaction vessel 5 (FIG. 2B), and the cleaning liquid is sucked (FIG. 2C). Subsequently, water is discharged to clean the inside of the reaction vessel 5 (FIG. 2 (d)), and water is sucked (FIG. 2 (e)). Finally, the inside of the reaction vessel 5 is dried by a suction drying nozzle (FIG. 2 (f)), and photometric measurement is performed to obtain absorbance data of the reaction vessel 5 after washing (FIG. 2 (g)). These absorbance data are stored in the storage unit 21 as absorbance information 22.

  Next, when the water remaining determination unit 17 determines that there is no water remaining in the reaction container after the pretreatment cleaning, the control unit 16 proceeds to the analysis step 32. The first reagent dispensing mechanism 6 dispenses the first reagent in the reagent container 2a (FIG. 2 (h)), and the specimen dispensing mechanism 10 dispenses the specimen in the specimen container 9a (FIG. 2 (i)). After that, the stirring device 13 or 14 stirs the liquid in the reaction vessel 5 (FIG. 2 (j)). Thereafter, the second reagent dispensing mechanism 7 dispenses the second reagent in the reagent container 3a (FIG. 2 (k)), and the stirring device 14 or 13 stirs the liquid in the reaction container 5 (FIG. 2 (l )), The analysis optical system 11 measures the spectral intensity of the liquid in a state where the sample and the reagent are reacted (FIG. 2 (m)), and the analysis result is analyzed by the analysis unit 19, thereby analyzing the component of the sample. Etc. are performed automatically.

  After that, the cleaning mechanism 12 sucks the reaction liquid contained in the reaction container 5 that is transported after the measurement by the analysis optical system 11 is completed (FIG. 2 (n)). ) To FIG. 2 (s)), and after completion of the cleaning, the analysis optical system 11 measures the reaction container (FIG. 2 (t)). The remaining water determination unit 17 determines whether or not there is water remaining in the reaction container 5 after photometry of the reaction container 5, and if it is determined that there is no water remaining, the first reagent shown in FIG. Returning to the analysis process starting from the dispensing, the next sample is analyzed, and the above-described analysis step 32 is repeated continuously. Further, when an analysis end instruction is issued to the control unit 16, the operation is stopped after the drying process (FIG. 2 (s)) is completed.

  Based on the characteristics of the water absorbance curve as shown in FIG. 3, the water remaining determination unit 17 determines the difference between the absorbance before washing on the long wavelength side and the absorbance after washing, and the absorbance before washing on the short wavelength side. And the difference between the absorbance after washing and determination of the remaining water in the reaction vessel. In FIG. 3, an absorbance curve LA indicates the wavelength dependence of absorbance when the reaction container is empty, and an absorbance curve LB indicates the wavelength dependence of absorbance when water is contained in the reaction container. When the absorbance difference between the absorbance when the reaction vessel is empty and the absorbance when water is present in the reaction vessel is compared at each wavelength, the difference increases toward the short wavelength side. Here, the remaining water determination unit 17 determines the difference between the absorbance AL at the longest wavelength of the absorbance curve LA and the absorbance BL at the longest wavelength of the absorbance curve LB (AL-BL), and the absorbance at the shortest wavelength of the absorbance curve LA. The difference between AS and absorbance BS at the shortest wavelength of absorbance curve LB (AS-BS) is compared. If the absorbance difference (AS-BS) is greater than the absorbance difference (AL-BL), it is determined that there is water remaining. When the absorbance difference (AS-BS) is equal to or less than the absorbance difference (AL-BL), it is determined that there is no remaining water. This is because the difference in the refractive index and absorption rate of water between the short wavelength and long wavelength is utilized, and when there is water residue, the change in absorbance on the short wavelength side is greater than the change in absorbance on the long wavelength side. is there. The remaining water determination unit 17 is configured to perform determination using the shortest wavelength absorbance and the longest wavelength absorbance of the photometric wavelength, but not limited to this, the long wavelength absorbance and the short wavelength absorbance. The remaining water may be determined by comparison.

  Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the remaining water determination processing procedure by the automatic analyzer 1 will be described. In FIG. 4, first, the analysis optical system 11 measures the unused or empty reaction vessel 5, and the absorbance A1S of the shortest wavelength and the absorbance A1L of the longest wavelength among the acquired absorbances A1 of each wavelength are the absorbance before washing. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 21 as information 22 (step S102). Thereafter, the reaction vessel 5 is washed (step S104), the analysis optical system 11 measures the dried reaction vessel 5, and the absorbance B1S of the shortest wavelength among the obtained absorbances B1 of each wavelength and the longest. The absorbance B1L of the wavelength is stored in the storage unit 21 as the absorbance information 22 after washing (step S106).

  Thereafter, the water residue determination unit 17 compares the difference in absorbance at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B1S) with the difference in absorbance at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L), and the difference in absorbance (A1S-B1S) indicates the difference in absorbance (A1L- B1L) It is determined whether or not (step S108). When the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B1S) is not less than or equal to the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L) (step S108: No), the water remaining determination unit 17 determines that there is water remaining, and the control unit 16 Then, the output unit 20 is informed that it has been determined that there is remaining water, and after the use of the reaction container is set to be unusable (step S110), the process proceeds to step S112.

  On the other hand, when the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B1S) is equal to or less than the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L) (step S108: Yes), the water remaining determination unit 17 determines that there is no water remaining. An analysis process using the reaction vessel is performed (step S112).

  Further, the reaction container is cleaned (step S114), and the analysis optical system 11 performs photometry on the dried reaction container, and the absorbance B2S at the shortest wavelength and the longest wavelength among the absorbance B2 of each wavelength. Is stored in the storage unit 21 as the absorbance information 22 after washing in the analysis process (step S116).

  Thereafter, the water remaining determination unit 17 compares the difference in absorbance at the longest wavelength (A1L-B2L) with the difference in absorbance at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B2S), similarly to step S108, and compares the difference in absorbance (A1S-B2S). ) Is less than or equal to the absorbance difference (A1L-B2L) (step S118). When the difference in absorbance (A1S-B2S) is not less than the difference in absorbance (A1L-B2L) (step S118: No), the remaining water determination unit 17 determines that there is remaining water, and the control unit 16 has remaining water in the output unit 20. After notifying that it has been determined that the reaction container is unusable (step S110), the process proceeds to step S112.

  On the other hand, when the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B2S) is equal to or less than the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L-B2L) (step S118: Yes), the water remaining determination unit 17 determines that there is no water remaining, and The control unit 16 determines whether or not an instruction to end the analysis process has been issued (step S120). If no instruction to end the analysis process has been issued (step S120: No), the control unit 16 proceeds to step S112. If the above-described processing is repeated and an instruction to end the analysis processing is issued (step S120: Yes), this processing ends.

  Here, in the conventional automatic analyzer, there is no mechanism for checking whether or not there is water remaining after washing, and the reaction container after washing is transferred to the next sample processing. Therefore, even when water remains, the reaction vessel may be used for the next analysis process, so that there is a possibility that the analysis data will be defective. Also, when a problem occurs in the data, the cause cannot be specified unless the reaction container, the sample, and the reagent are examined.

  On the other hand, in the automatic analyzer 1 according to the first embodiment, the remaining water in the reaction container is determined after washing, and the reaction container in which the remaining water is generated is not used for analysis. It does not react with water exceeding the allowable range. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the analysis accuracy of the analysis data, and even when a defect occurs in the data, it is limited to the examination of the specimen and the reagent, which contributes to shortening the time for specifying the cause. In addition, since the photometry device and the cleaning device are used before the analysis process, it is possible to find out a malfunction of the apparatus before the sample analysis process by checking the photometry data.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the remaining water determination unit 17 compares the absorbance difference of the longest wavelength with the absorbance difference of the shortest wavelength to determine whether there is water residue. Then, in addition to the comparison between the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength and the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength, the remaining water determination unit 17 compares the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength with the absorbance difference at all wavelengths except the shortest wavelength and the longest wavelength. Therefore, it is determined with high reliability whether there is water remaining.

  Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the remaining water determination processing procedure according to the second embodiment will be described. In FIG. 5, the analysis optical system 11 first measures the unused or empty reaction vessel 5 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and stores the acquired absorbance A1 of each wavelength as absorbance information 22 before washing. (Step S202). Thereafter, the reaction vessel 5 is washed (step S204), the analytical optical system 11 measures the dried reaction vessel 5, and the obtained absorbance B1 of each wavelength is stored as absorbance information 22 after washing. 21 (step S206).

  Thereafter, the water residue determination unit 17 compares the difference in absorbance at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B1S) with the difference in absorbance at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L), and the difference in absorbance (A1S-B1S) indicates the difference in absorbance (A1L- B1L) It is determined whether or not (step S208). If the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B1S) is not less than or equal to the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L) (step S208: No), the absorbance difference at each wavelength except the shortest wavelength and the longest wavelength is obtained. It is determined whether or not each absorbance difference (A1-B1) excluding the wavelength is equal to or less than the absorbance difference (A1L-B1L) at the longest wavelength (step S210). In this case, since it is determined that the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B1S) is equal to or less than the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L), in step S210, the absorbances except for the shortest wavelength and the shortest wavelength are determined. It is determined whether or not the difference (A1-B1) is equal to or smaller than the absorbance difference (A1L-B1L) at the longest wavelength.

  When each absorbance difference (A1−B1) excluding the longest wavelength is not less than or equal to the absorbance difference (A1L−B1L) at the longest wavelength (step S210: No), the water remaining determination unit 17 determines that there is water remaining, and the control unit 16 Informs the output unit 20 that it has been determined that there is remaining water and sets the unusable state of the reaction vessel 5 (step S212), and then proceeds to step S214.

  On the other hand, when the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B1S) is less than or equal to the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L) (step S208: Yes), each absorbance difference excluding the longest wavelength (A1-B1) is the longest. When the difference in absorbance at the wavelength (A1L-B1L) is not more than (Step S210: Yes), the remaining water determination unit 17 determines that there is no remaining water, and performs an analysis process using the reaction vessel 5 (Step S214). ).

  Further, the reaction vessel 5 is washed (step S216), the analysis optical system 11 measures the dried reaction vessel 5, and the absorbance information 22 after washing at the time of the analysis treatment is performed on the absorbance B2 of each wavelength. Is stored in the storage unit 21 (step S218).

  Thereafter, the water remaining determination unit 17 compares the difference in absorbance at the longest wavelength (A1L-B2L) with the difference in absorbance at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B2S), similarly to step S208, and compares the difference in absorbance (A1S-B2S). ) Is less than or equal to the absorbance difference (A1L-B2L) (step S220). When the absorbance difference (A1S-B2S) is not less than or equal to the absorbance difference (A1L-B2L) (step S220: No), the absorbance difference (A1-B2) of each wavelength excluding the longest wavelength is the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L- B2L) It is determined whether or not (step S222).

  When the absorbance difference (A1-B2) of each wavelength excluding the longest wavelength is not less than or equal to the absorbance difference (A1L-B2L) at the longest wavelength (step S222: No), the water remaining determination unit 17 determines that there is water remaining and performs control. The unit 16 informs the output unit 20 that it is determined that there is water remaining, and sets the unusable reaction container (step S212), and then proceeds to step S214.

  On the other hand, when the absorbance difference at the shortest wavelength (A1S-B2S) is less than or equal to the absorbance difference at the longest wavelength (A1L-B2L) (step S220: Yes), each absorbance difference excluding the longest wavelength (A1-B2) is the longest wavelength. When the difference is not more than the absorbance difference (A1L-B2L) (step S222: Yes), the remaining water determination unit 17 determines that there is no remaining water, and the control unit 16 issues an instruction to end the analysis process. (Step S224), and if the analysis process end instruction is not issued (Step S224: No), the process proceeds to Step S214, the above process is repeated, and the analysis process end instruction is issued. If yes (step S224: Yes), this process ends.

  In steps S210 and S222, as the upper limit value when there is no water residue, the difference in absorbance at the longest wavelength (A1L-B1L), (A1L-B2L) where the difference in absorbance between when there is water residue and when there is no water residue is the smallest. 3, when water remains, as shown in FIG. 3, the difference in absorbance before and after washing for each wavelength increases gradually toward the short wavelength side. Therefore, the absorbance difference (A1-B1) for the absorbance difference for all wavelengths. ) ≧ absorbance difference (A1L−B1L), absorbance difference (A1−B2) ≧ absorbance difference (A1L−B2L).

  In the automatic analyzer 1 according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the remaining water in the reaction vessel is determined after washing, and the reaction vessel in which the remaining water is generated is not used for analysis. The reaction solution does not react with water exceeding the allowable range where water remains. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the analysis accuracy of the analysis data, and even when a defect occurs in the data, it is limited to the examination of the specimen and the reagent, which contributes to shortening the time for specifying the cause. In Embodiment 2, since the difference in absorbance at each wavelength is confirmed, it is possible to increase the certainty of remaining water determination and to confirm the influence on analysis data other than water.

  The present invention is not limited to Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, and can be applied to, for example, an automatic analyzer that performs immunological analysis of a specimen. That is, the present invention can include various embodiments and the like not described herein, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the technical idea specified by the claims. Is possible.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the automatic analyzer which is Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows a series of process outlines by the automatic analyzer shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the wavelength dependence of the light absorbency with the case where there is a water residue and the case where there is no water. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a remaining water determination processing procedure according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a remaining water determination processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic analyzer 2,3 Reagent table 2a, 3a Reagent container 4 Cuvette wheel 5 Reaction container 6,7 Reagent dispensing mechanism 6b, 7b Reagent dispensing nozzle 8 Specimen container transfer mechanism 9 Rack 9a Specimen container 10 Specimen dispensing mechanism 10b Specimen dispensing nozzle 11 Analytical optical system 11a Light source 11b Spectrometer 11c Light receiving unit 12 Washing mechanism 13 First stirring device 14 Second stirring device 15 Control mechanism 16 Control unit 17 Remaining water determination unit 18 Input unit 19 Analysis unit 20 Output unit 21 Storage unit 22 Absorbance information

Claims (8)

In an automatic analyzer that analyzes the specimen by washing the reaction container, reacting the specimen and reagent in the reaction container, and measuring the result of the reaction with a photometer,
Photometric means for measuring the absorbance before washing of the reaction vessel and the absorbance after washing;
Determination means for determining whether or not there is water remaining in the reaction container after washing based on the absorbance before washing of the reaction container and the absorbance after washing;
An automatic analyzer characterized by comprising.   The automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the photometric means is the photometer.   The determination means determines that there is water residue when the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after cleaning on the short wavelength side is larger than the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after cleaning on the long wavelength side. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1.   The determination means determines that there is water residue when the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the shortest wavelength is larger than the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the longest wavelength. The automatic analyzer according to claim 1.   The determination means, when the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the shortest wavelength is larger than the difference in absorbance of the reaction container before and after washing at the longest wavelength, before and after washing at each absorbance excluding the shortest wavelength and longest wavelength The difference in absorbance of the reaction vessel in the above is obtained, and when the difference in absorbance of each wavelength including the shortest wavelength and the longest wavelength increases toward the short wavelength side, it is determined that there is water residue. The automatic analyzer according to 1.   6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an informing unit that informs of information regarding the unusability of the determined reaction container when the determining unit determines that there is water remaining. Automatic analyzer.   The determination means determines whether there is water remaining in the reaction container before the start of analysis based on the absorbance before and after the cleaning of the reaction container performed during the pretreatment before starting the analysis process. Item 7. The automatic analyzer according to any one of Items 1 to 6.   The absorbance before washing of the reaction vessel is the absorbance before washing of the reaction vessel performed as a pretreatment before starting the analysis treatment, and the determination means calculates the absorbance before washing of each reaction vessel. The automatic analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the automatic analyzer is commonly used for water remaining determination.

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