JP3065201B2 - High speed analyzer for dry analytical element and measuring method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high-speed analyzer capable of rapidly measuring a large number of analysis items of a plurality of samples using a dry analysis element which does not contain a part or all of a reagent necessary for analyzing a target component. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Dry analysis uses a dry analysis element in which all reagents necessary for analyzing a target component are incorporated in a filter paper or a multilayer material having one or more water-permeable layers laminated on a support. This method has been actively developed recently because it provides high analytical accuracy while being easy to operate.

[0003] Various measuring instruments (analyzers) have been developed for measuring the degree of the progress of the reaction on an analytical slide in which the dry analytical element is accommodated in a frame. It consists of a slide supply unit to supply the sample, an incubator that advances the detection reaction of the slide on which the sample is spotted, and a photometric unit that measures the analytical slide in the incubation process or the state where the reaction has reached the end point. . The work of spotting a sample on an analysis slide is performed manually. A dry analytical element that does not contain some or all of the reagents is not yet known, and a device for automatically analyzing this analytical element has not been developed.

[0004]

The conventional dry analytical element incorporating all the reagents necessary for analysis has been desired to further reduce the cost, for example, for mass testing such as screening. Since these analytical elements are measured one by one, it has been desired to develop a means capable of more rapid mass analysis. On the other hand, the types of commercially available dry analytical elements are still limited, and it has been desired to develop means capable of simultaneously analyzing other analytical items.

An object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed analyzer for a dry analysis element which can easily and quickly analyze various analysis items of a large amount of sample.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a high-speed analyzer for a dry analytical element, which achieves the above object, comprising a movable sample tray to which a dry analytical element is attached, and a movable sample tray. A dispensing device that deposits multiple samples on the dry analytical element attached to the tray, an incubator that dries the dry analytical element on which the sample has been spotted, and multiple spots of reagents on the dry analytical element that has been dried Dispensing device, and a measuring unit for measuring a plurality of dry analytical elements that are in the course of incubation or after the reaction is completed, to prevent evaporation of water from the spotted parts of the dry analytical elements onto which reagents are spotted. It is characterized in that it is configured so that an evaporation preventing member can be mounted.

In the movable sample tray, a dry analytical element is mounted at a predetermined position on a support, and the support is used for dispensing a dispensing position for injecting a sample, an incubator, and a reagent. The dispensing apparatus and the measuring unit for measuring the optical time change generated in the analysis element can be sequentially moved. In addition, it is preferable to minimize the idle time between the steps for performing all dispensing, incubation, measurement, etc. For this purpose, an incubator is incorporated in the dispensing section of the sample, or dispensing in which the reagent is spotted. The measurement of the optical change may be performed by the unit. The dry analytical element can be used in the form of a large sheet or in the form of a roll. At this time, when the dry analysis element is a multi-layer analysis element, the development area can be controlled by providing a developing layer or a water-absorbing layer with a constant area for each sample spotting part. A preferred method is to fractionate a large sheet or roll-shaped dry analytical element into a plurality of reaction zones separated from each other so that the solution does not seep into another reaction zone, as described later.

[0008] The sample dispensing device is a device in which a sample is spotted in fixed amounts at regular intervals. This dispensing device
A dispenser having a plurality of dispensers and capable of dispensing one row at a time may be used, or one dispenser may be sequentially moved to repeat dispensing. As a means for collecting a certain amount of the liquid, a microchip, a micro syringe, or the like is used. The sample spotted on one movable sample tray may be of one type, or may be of multiple types. The specimen may be different for each spotting. Dispensed liquid volume is 1
About 100 μl is appropriate, and about 2 to 10 μl is preferable.

[0009] The incubator is a device for once drying the sample after all the samples have been spotted on one movable sample tray, whereby the reaction for spotting the reagent is performed with a constant solution amount, Coloring can be performed under certain conditions. An incubator of a type in which electric heating is performed is simple. Heat drying is for example
What is necessary is just to carry out at 30-60 degreeC for about 1-5 minutes.

The same type of reagent dispensing device as the sample dispensing device can be used. The reagent may be one kind,
There can be multiple types. The reagent may be different for each spotting. After the reagent has been spotted, a member for immediately preventing the evaporation of water from the spotting section is mounted. As this member, a cap film seal, an electromagnetic small piece, or the like can be used.

The cap covers at least the entire porous developing layer for each reaction zone of the dry analytical element, preferably up to the hydrophilic polymer layer or the support. The material is preferably rigid. For example, the material is appropriately selected from a water-impermeable material such as a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene or a curable resin, or an inorganic material such as metal or ceramics, and is used. Usually, a thermoplastic resin or the like having high processability is suitable. The thickness depends on the size of the reaction zone and the like, but is usually about 50 to 200 μm. The cap may be used repeatedly, but is preferably disposable.

The film seal covers almost the entire upper surface of the reaction zone. The material may be, for example, the same as the cap, and is suitably polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, or the like.
m. An easily peelable adhesive is applied to the back surface of the film seal, and the surface on the adhesive side is lightly pressed to the upper surface of the reaction zone, that is, the upper surface of the porous spreading layer.

The electromagnetic piece is made of a material which can be detached by manipulation of magnetic force, usually a ferromagnetic material. The shape may be a cap-like member covering at least the porous developing layer or a plate-like member covering almost the entire upper part of the porous developing layer, or a frame made of a material that is not attracted by magnetic force and an upper part of the frame. It may be composed of two members of an electromagnetic small piece that closes the opening.

The measuring section measures the change in the optical density of the analytical element one or more times continuously or a fixed time after the reagent is spotted, and a reflection optical densitometer is usually used for this measurement. .

The dry analytical element applied to the analyzer of the present invention lacks some or all of the reagents necessary for the target analytical reaction. It should be noted that chemical substances are not premised on substances in which the test substance itself can be detected, such as the amount of hemoglobin and bilirubin. As this detection method, any method such as fluorescence, light emission, and magnetism may be used in addition to optical density measurement. Also, after fixing once, another reagent can be added to make the detection more accurate and reliable. Examples of such a dry analysis element include:
There are test strips and multilayer analytical elements.

As test papers, for whole blood, for plasma / serum,
Various types such as those for urine can be used, and those for diluting a specimen can also be used.

The dry analytical element has at least one liquid-permeable porous layer. It may have two or more porous or non-porous liquid permeable layers.

It is preferable that the number of dry analysis elements is 2 units (pieces) or more from the viewpoint of improving the analysis accuracy. If the reference liquid is spotted on another dry analysis element at the same time as the spotting of the liquid sample, the analysis accuracy can be further improved.

The dry analytical element is preferably one in which a hydrophilic polymer layer and at least one porous spreading layer are laminated in this order on a water-impermeable support.

The porous spreading layer has a function of spreading the components contained in the aqueous sample in a plane without substantially unevenly distributing the components, and supplying the components to the hydrophilic polymer layer at a substantially constant rate per unit area. All known non-fibrous and fibrous porous materials can be used as the developing layer, which is a layer having been used in the dry chemistry analysis element. Specifically, a non-fibrous isotropic microporous medium layer represented by a membrane filter (brushed polymer) disclosed in JP-A-49-53888;
Non-fibrous porous layer represented by a continuous void-containing three-dimensional lattice granular structure layer in which polymer microbeads disclosed in No. 9 and the like are adhered in a point contact manner with a water-swellable adhesive, 55-164356, porous layers composed of woven fabrics disclosed in 57-66359 and the like, layers composed of knitted fabrics disclosed in 60-22769 and the like, filter paper, glass fiber filter paper, and nonwoven fabrics. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

When the dry analytical element is partitioned into a plurality of reaction zones by a thermal fusing groove, the porous developing layer is made of a thermoplastic material. For example, a cellulose derivative (DAC, T
AC, NC, HMC (hydroxymethylcellulose),
HEC (hydroxyethyl cellulose)) porous membrane,
Porous membranes made of ethylene polymers or copolymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, vinyl chloride, etc., porous membranes made of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polysulfone, etc., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and esters of these Examples include a porous film made of a vinyl polymer or a copolymer. On the other hand, non-thermoplastic porous membranes include porous membranes of condensation polymers such as nylon, polyamide, and polyurethane, and porous membranes made by bonding inorganic material fine particles such as glass particles and diatomaceous earth with a small amount of polymer. There are porous membranes made of polytetrafluoroethylene, filter paper, glass fiber filter paper and the like, but these are not suitable when partitioned by hot fusing grooves.

It is not necessary to limit the spreading layer to only one layer, and JP-A-61-4959, JP-A-62-138756, JP-A-62-135757,
As disclosed in 62-138758 and the like, two or more layers can be used in an overlapping manner.

For a multi-layered analytical element having two or more spreading layers, it is essential that all layers be laminated and integrated when the sample is spotted, but they are integrated in the subsequent process. No need. If necessary, it can be used in a state in which the first spreading layer and the second spreading layer are separated.

The spreading layer may contain a nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactant in order to promote the spreading of the sample. Further, for the purpose of controlling the development property, a development control agent such as a hydrophilic polymer can be included. Furthermore, various reagents for promoting the target detection reaction, or for reducing or preventing interference or interference reaction, or a part of the reagents can be included.

The thickness of the spreading layer varies depending on the material and the structure, but is 10 to 500 μm, preferably 50 to 300 μm, and more preferably 80 to 200 μm.

According to the analysis element, the above-mentioned porous developing layer may be simply laminated on the water-impermeable support depending on the analysis item, but a hydrophilic polymer layer is provided between the porous developing layer and the support. The universality of the analysis items and the like can be drastically improved by providing.

The hydrophilic polymer layer need not be thermoplastic if the layer thickness is small. Specifically, it may be 50 μm or less, preferably 20 μm or less. For example, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, or a partially crosslinked product thereof is a suitable hydrophilic polymer for practicing the present invention.

As the hydrophilic polymer layer, various known water-soluble, swellable and hydrophilic polymers conventionally used in dry chemistry analysis elements can be used. Swelling rate at water absorption is about 150% to about 2 at 30 ℃
000%, preferably from about 250% to about 1500%, of natural or synthetic hydrophilic polymers, and specifically, gelatin disclosed in JP-A-59-171864, JP-A-60-108753, etc. (Eg, acid-treated gelatin, deionized gelatin, etc.), gelatin derivatives (eg, phthalated gelatin, hydroxyacrylate grafted gelatin, etc.), agarose, pullulan, pullulan derivatives, polyacrylamide,
Examples thereof include polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, but are not limited thereto.
Instead of the hydrophilic polymer layer, a polymer porous membrane or the like can be used.

The thickness of the hydrophilic polymer layer is about 1 when dried.
It is from about μm to about 100 μm, preferably from about 3 μm to about 50 μm, particularly preferably from about 5 μm to about 30 μm, and is preferably substantially transparent.

The hydrophilic polymer layer may contain various reagents or a part of the reagents for promoting a desired reaction or for preventing or reducing interference or interference.

As the water-impermeable support, there can be used a known water-impermeable support conventionally used in dry chemistry analysis elements. Specifically, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate of bisphenol A, polystyrene, cellulose ester (for example,
Cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate,
A transparent film having a thickness of about 50 μm to 1 mm, preferably about 80 μm to about 300 μm, which comprises cellulose acetate propionate or the like, can be used.

The support is usually made of a light-transmitting material, but may be colored or light-impermeable when the measurement is performed from the spreading layer side.

If necessary, a known undercoat layer or adhesive layer may be provided on the surface of the support to enhance the adhesion with the hydrophilic polymer layer.

When whole blood is used as the liquid sample, the dry analysis element preferably has a layer for filtering and removing substantially all or at least a part of blood cells. The liquid spreading layer may have this effect at the same time, see US Pat. No. 4,292,272.
Those made of a fiber material such as a woven fabric described in the specification and a knitted fabric described in JP-A-60-22769 are useful.

Dry analytical elements are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,042,33.
It may have a light-shielding layer or a filtering layer as described in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 5-5.

The dry analysis element may have a layer for substantially filtering and removing whole blood cells, separately from the liquid developing layer. JP-A-58-70163, JP-A-61-4959, Japanese Patent Application Showa 60
-256408, 60-279859, 60-2798
A porous layer as described in JP-A No. 60, 61-279861, etc. is suitable.

The dry analytical element may have a light reflecting layer. For example, a light reflection layer can be provided between the spreading layer and the detection layer. The light reflection layer is used to detect and detect a change (color change, color development, etc.) occurring in the detection layer, the water absorption layer, and the like from the side of the light-transmitting support when the light is supplied to the developing layer. It blocks the color of the liquid, particularly the red color of hemoglobin and the yellow color of bilirubin when the sample is whole blood, and functions as a light reflection layer or background layer. The light reflecting layer is preferably a water permeable layer in which light reflecting fine particles such as titanium oxide and barium sulfate are dispersed using a hydrophilic polymer as a binder. As the binder, gelatin, a gelatin derivative, polyacrylamide and the like are preferable. Hardening agents may be added to hardenable polymers such as gelatin.

In the dry analysis element, if necessary, light-reflective particles such as titanium oxide may be contained in the spreading layer, the detection layer and the like.

A water absorbing layer may be provided between the support and the detection layer. A blood cell filtration or other filtration layer may be provided between the detection layer and the liquid developing layer. A blood cell filtration layer or another filtration layer may be further provided between the light reflection layer and the detection layer or the liquid spreading layer.

The plurality of reaction zones may be completely separated from each other, or the support may not be separated and only the other layers may be separated. To create these reaction zones, individual small analytical elements, which may have a support, may be arranged at appropriate intervals, or a hydrophilic polymer layer provided on a common support and The porous development layer may be blown using a fusing blade. In the latter case, it is preferable to use a porous spreading layer made of a thermoplastic material and to blow out these layers using a blade heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening point of the spreading layer material.

As a fusing method, a metal blade such as brass is heated using electricity or the like. A metal blade such as titanium, iron, aluminum or the like is attached to an ultrasonic oscillator and a thermoplastic resin or the like is vibrated by vibration energy. Is raised above the softening point, or irradiated in a pattern with a laser beam and heated.

In any case, the thickness of the blade is 0.4 to 2 mm,
It is preferably about 0.6 mm to 1.7 mm, and more preferably about 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm. If the blade is thin, the interval between the cut surfaces is not sufficient, and if it is too thick, lumps may remain on the support, which is not preferable.

The area of each reaction zone is suitably about 10 to 1000 mm ² , preferably about ²⁰ to 200 mm ² , particularly preferably about 25 to 80 mm ² .

The fusing groove can also be formed by using a heated straight blade, rotary blade or the like.

More preferred is a method of using a double-edged blade having a V-shaped cross section, which can be heated by electricity or the like, and performing the fusing while moving one or both of the dry analysis element and the blade.

The irradiation condition in the case of laser beam irradiation may be set so as not to cause liquid leakage in the fusing groove portion and not to completely cut the substrate up to the support. For example, in the case of a carbon dioxide gas laser, the output is 10 to 10 mm. Such a fusing groove can be formed at 25 W and a fusing speed of about 8 to 10 m / min.

The cutting angle is not particularly limited, but is preferably set so that the interval between the upper ends of the cut porous development layers is in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 mm, preferably about 0.4 to about 1.2 mm. Preferably, the blade angle is set in a range of 60 ± 15 degrees. If the distance is too small, the reagent may overflow beyond the groove when the measuring reagent is supplied later. There is no restriction on the length of the blade, and it can be selected from ease of manufacture and ease of handling,
For example, it may be about 0.5 to 7 cm.

At the time of fusing, it is preferable that the porous spreading layer has a flat or convex surface. In the case of a flat surface, the dry analytical element or the blade is moved in accordance with the length direction of the blade, but in the case of a convex surface, for example, a support is brought into close contact with the periphery of the drum, and the blade is brought into contact with the porous development layer. The drum can be rotated. Due to the relative movement of the blade and the dry analytical element, the blown part of the porous developing layer moves to the rear side of the blade, sufficiently melts the melted surface, and prevents the generation of thread-like residue, The flatness is improved by preventing the porous spreading layer from rising at the fusing end.

The temperature at the time of fusing is preferably set so that not only the porous spreading layer but also a part of the surface of the support is melted, but it cannot be uniquely determined because it changes depending on the moving speed. For example, when polyester is used as the material of the porous spreading layer and the support, 400 to 500 ° C., and the moving speed is about 10 m.
/ Min. Generally, the temperature of the heat melting is about 100 to 800 ° C, preferably about 200 to 600 ° C, more preferably about 300 to 500 ° C at the blade temperature.

Preferably, the fusing groove is also provided on the surface of the support. In principle, there is no mixing of the measurement reagent if the porous developing layer is blown and the hydrophilic polymer is cut at the same time,
Considering the flatness of the plasma receiving element, it is difficult to constantly create such a state, and a depth of 5 to 5
The conditions are set so as to form a fusing groove of 60 μm, preferably about 10 to 45 μm. The deeper the separation is complete,
Since the flatness is poor and it is easy to fall apart, the handling in the subsequent process is poor.

A plurality of fusing grooves can be formed simultaneously by using a plurality of blades. That is, a web-type dry analytical element is transported using a drum, and a plurality of blades are installed on the rotating drum. Then, it is placed on a plane, and the blade is moved, for example, at right angles to the formed fusing groove, so that the fusing groove can be formed in a grid pattern.

One or more layers of the dry analytical element may include one or more other optional components, such as surfactants, color former solvents, buffers, binders, hardeners. be able to. These components can be added in the same amount as that usually added. Representative component components are, for example, U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,992,158 and 4,042,335.
No. 4,144,306, No. 4,132,528, No. 4,050,898, No. 4,258,011, No. 4,
Nos. 275,152 and 4,292,272.

The reagent composition dispensed into the dry analytical element is as follows:
A composition capable of producing a substance that can be optically detected, for example, a dye, in the presence of a test component. Compositions that produce dyes by oxidation of leuco dyes (arylimidazole leuco dyes as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,747, JP-A-59-193352, etc.), diazonium salts, and cuppers when oxidized with other compounds A composition containing a compound that produces a dye by ring (for example, 4-aminoantipyrines,
Phenols or naphthols), compounds composed of compounds capable of forming a dye in the presence of a reduced coenzyme and an electron transfer agent, and the like.

Examples of leuco dyes include US Pat. No. 4,089,
747 and JP-A-59-193352, and known triarylmethane leuco dyes and the like.

A dye may be formed by a dye-forming composition containing a condensation product of an oxidizable compound and a color former. Examples of the oxidizable compound include benzidine and its homologs, p-phenylenediaminos, p-aminophenols, aminoantipyrine, for example, 4-aminoantipyrine and the like.

In the case of a dry analytical element for measuring an enzyme activity, for example, a self-developing substrate capable of releasing a colored substance such as p-nitrophenol (for example, paranitrophenyl phosphate, paranitrophenyl malt) Pentaose, γ-glutamyl paranitroanilide) can be contained in the reagent layer and the developing layer.

The reagent composition may contain an enzyme, and those described in JP-A-62-138756, pages 18 to 20, can be used. Further, an immune reaction may be used (JP-A-64-88156, JP-A-1-112159, etc.).

The reagent composition may be partially contained in a substantially uniform layer using a hydrophilic polymer as a binder.
Examples of the hydrophilic polymer include gelatin and derivatives thereof (eg, phthalated gelatin), cellulose derivatives (eg, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose), agarose, acrylamide polymers, methacrylamide polymers, acrylamide or methacrylamide and various vinyls. Copolymers with a hydrophilic monomer, polyvinylpyrrolidone, copolymers of polyvinylpyrrolidone with various vinylic monomers, and the like can be used.

A part of the reagent composition may be included in the porous layer. In order to allow at least one of the porous layers to contain a reagent composition that produces color in the presence of the test component, a porous developing layer previously impregnated or coated with an appropriate solution or dispersion of the reagent composition is used. For example, a method can be used in which the adhesive is adhered on a water-permeable layer, for example, a reagent layer by the method described in JP-A-55-164356.

After bonding the porous layer on another water-permeable layer (for example, an undercoat layer, an adhesive layer, and a water-absorbing layer) by the method described in JP-A-55-164356, the reagent composition May be applied to the porous layer.

A known method can be used for impregnating or coating the porous layer. For coating, for example, dip coating, doctor coating, hopper coating, and curtain coating are appropriately selected and used.

A part of the reagent may be incorporated in the analysis element in advance. For example, it is preferable that reagents that are commonly incorporated regardless of analysis items are incorporated in advance. Such common reagents include pH buffers, color formers, and stabilizers such as enzymes.

The target component (analyte) of the liquid sample to be detected may be any of a low molecular substance, an ion and a high molecular substance, and may be any of a hydrophilic substance and a hydrophobic substance. The component to be detected may be an enzyme, or may be an antigen or an antibody. The antigen or antibody may be labeled with an enzyme or a fluorescent substance, or may be bound to another polymer.
The antigen may be a hapten.

[Examples of Analytes] Low molecules: urea, uric acid, ammonia, creatinine, lactic acid, pyruvate, glucose, galactose, neutral fat, cholesterol, hemoglobin, bilirubin Ions: calcium, potassium, sodium, chloride ions : Protein (albumin, globulin, etc.), nucleic acid, lipoprotein enzyme: amylase, phosphatase, lipase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, alanine aminotransferase, asparagine aminotransferase

[0065]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The key to realizing high-speed measurement according to the present invention is that all samples are dried substantially once (1 mg / cm ²⁾ at a certain temperature after sample spotting.
Below, preferably 500 μg / cm ² or less)
The point is that the film element after the sample has been spotted can be stored from the time when the reagent is spotted to the optimal timing for performing the measurement without deterioration and deterioration of the sample. By incorporating the drying process of the sample into the handling process, measurement of many items can be performed at a high speed (at the same time by paralleling the optical heads if necessary). As a result, the measurement conditions can be optimized (for example, only specific items are collectively measured with priority), so that a small-sized measuring instrument can be used with a simple mechanism, which reduces the number of failures and facilitates maintenance. Also leads. On the other hand, in the solution method, it is essential to measure each sample immediately after mixing the sample and the reagent, and if many items are to be measured in parallel, the apparatus becomes extremely complicated and inevitably increases in size. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the analyzer of this embodiment comprises one sample station 1 and two measurement stations 2 and 3. Movable sample tray 4 is 15
It consists of a glass plate of cm × 15cm, and has a roller attached to the lower end of the glass plate. It runs on rails (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the analyzer and stops at each station position. ing. The dispensing device 5 for dispensing a sample and the dispensing device 6 for dispensing a reagent are both commercially available XY-type dispensing machines. A microchip 11 for accommodating a fixed amount of a sample or a reagent from the cup 9 and spotting the sample or the reagent on the dry analysis element 10 is also arranged inside the microchip 11. The incubator is buried in the upper part of the sample station 1. Measuring station 2,
The measuring heads of ten reflection optical densitometers are arranged in a row in the upper part of 3, and these measuring heads are movable in the vertical direction.

As a method of performing a dry analysis using this analyzer, first, a 15 cm × 15 cm sheet of a dry analysis element containing no reagent is placed on the upper surface of each movable sample tray. The 15 cm × 15 cm sheet is fractionated into 100 pieces by the method described above. This dry analytical element
Reagent-free hydrophilic polymer layer 15 on transparent support 14
And the porous spreading layer 16 are stacked in this order. In the movable sample tray, samples are first spotted at 100 locations by a dispenser at a sample station. Ten spots are performed per sample, one second is required for one spot, and five seconds are required for one pipette tip exchange performed each time the sample is changed.
The time required for specimen spotting is 150 seconds. Then, it is incubated at 37 ° C. for 3 minutes, and the spotted specimen is dried. Then, the movable sample tray moves to the measuring station 2 in 10 seconds, and the reagent is spotted by the dispenser.
The spotting of reagents is performed collectively for the same analysis item, and 1
It takes 1 second for spotting and 5 seconds for one pipette tip exchange performed each time the reagent is changed. Since the number of analysis items is 20, the time required for spotting the reagent is 200 seconds. The evaporation cover sheet 11 is immediately attached to the spot where the reagent is spotted.
As the evaporation preventing member, a member using an annular electromagnet 12 whose opening can be closed by a metal ball 13 during incubation can be used. The reflection optical density of the line where the spotting is completed is measured every minute from the spotting up to 6 minutes.
During that time, the measuring head moves sequentially between the rows. When the measurement is completed, the dry analytical element is peeled off and removed. The time required for this removal was 10 seconds, and therefore the time required for analyzing 100 points was a total of 910 seconds.

On the other hand, the next movable sample tray arrives at the empty sample station after spotting and drying of the sample are completed, and spotting and drying of the sample are performed in the same manner. When the spotting and drying of the sample are completed, the movable sample tray moves to the measuring station 3. The measuring station 3 has the same structure as the measuring station 2, and the spotting and measurement of the reagent are performed similarly. By providing two measurement stations in this way, the time at the sample station is rate-determining, and 100 points can be analyzed in 330 seconds.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dry analysis element 10 may be used by being divided into reaction zones 17 by a fusing groove 18. In this example, each reaction zone 17 is covered with a plastic cap whose end reaches the support 14 as the evaporation preventing member 11.

[0070]

According to the present invention, a large number of analysis items of a large number of samples can be measured in a short time and at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an analyzer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dry analytical element divided into reaction zones by fusing grooves.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-53167 (JP, A) JP-A-62-157553 (JP, A) JP-A-1-105170 (JP, A) JP-A-1-196571 (JP) JP-A-47-2549 (JP, A) JP-A 64-2156 (JP, U) JP-A-4-45967 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB) Name) G01N 35/00-35/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A movable sample tray on which a dry analysis element is mounted, a dispensing device for spotting a plurality of samples on the dry analysis element mounted on the movable sample tray, and a dry type sample on which the sample is spotted An incubator for drying the analysis element, a dispensing device for applying a plurality of reagents to the dried dry analysis element, and a measuring unit for measuring a plurality of dry analysis elements after the reaction, wherein the reagent was spotted. A high-speed analyzer for a dry analytical element characterized by being configured to be capable of mounting an evaporation preventing member for preventing evaporation of water from a spot on a dry analytical element. 2. A method for measuring a plurality of analysis items of a sample using the high-speed analyzer for a dry analytical element according to claim 1, wherein the dry analytical element comprises a hydrophilic polymer layer on a water-impermeable support, and It consists of a plurality of reaction zones that do not contain a measurement reagent, in which one porous development layer is laminated in this order, and each reaction zone does not seep into the other reaction zones from which the solution does not exude. A method for measuring a sample, characterized in that the reaction is set to proceed independently. 3. The measuring method according to claim 2, wherein the porous developing layer is made of a thermoplastic material, and is divided into each reaction zone by a thermal fusing groove extending from the porous developing layer to the support.