JPH08194005A - Instrument for automatic analysis - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the burden of an operator by providing a maximum reaction velocity detecting means for retrieving the maximum reaction velocity of the velocity which is detected from the time of dispensation of a reagent till the beginning of observing time zone and a dilution ratio computing means. CONSTITUTION: The analyzing part 26 of an instrument for automatic analysis is provided with a reaction disk 1, a sample disk 2, a first and a second reagent storages 3, 4 and the like and is connected to a computer. The disk 1 is provided with a measuring part 12 and performs intermittent rotational operation in which it is rotated and stopped at a predetermined angle in a fixed cycle. One piece of reaction cell in which an inspected sample is dispensed successively passes through the measuring point of a final point from No. 1 position. The data of absorbance is supplied to the data processing part of the analyzing part 26 as the measurement of each point, and the component analysis is performed by a random access method. The data processing part computes an absorbance difference between the respective points. The absorbance difference is divided by cycle time to compute an absorbance difference ratio and to retrieve the maximum value of a change quantity. A factor is multiplied by the change quantity of the maximum value to compute a dilution ratio.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for diluting a test sample and measuring components of measurement items.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional automatic analyzers, when a test sample is diluted, the user calculates the dilution ratio in advance, and the amount of the test sample and the amount of the diluent (buffer solution) are used as the parameters for dilution by the operation panel or the like. It is supposed to be set.

The automatic analyzer is designed to dilute the test sample based on the set test sample amount and diluent amount and analyze the test sample. A reaction rate method is known as an analysis of a test sample. This is to detect the change in the reaction of the test sample by dispensing and stirring the reagent to the test sample, irradiating it with light, and detecting the change in the amount of transmitted light. Analyze the measurement item components (component amount) of the sample.

That is, a test sample and a reagent are dispensed and stirred in a reaction cell. This moment is the start of the reaction. The reaction cell is irradiated with light at every predetermined cycle (almost constant time interval) from the start of the reaction, and the transmitted light is detected from the reaction cell to measure the absorbance.

This absorbance indicates the reaction state of the test sample in the reaction cell due to the reagent. The absorbance changes when the reaction is in progress, and stops changing when the reaction is completed.

[0006] An observation interval (observation time) is set for a sufficient number of measurement points to detect a reaction from a predetermined measurement point after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the reaction, and each measurement in this observation interval is set. The difference in absorbance between points and the difference in absorbance at a specified unit time (for example, minutes) (
The reaction rate) is calculated, and the measurement item components are analyzed.

Therefore, ideally, a more accurate measurement result can be obtained by including the portion in which the change in the reaction of the test sample is maximum within this observation section. By the way, when the concentration of the test sample is high and the dilution is insufficient, as shown in FIG. 5, after the reagent is dispensed to the test sample, the reaction rapidly progresses and the observation section K (one point A phenomenon occurs in which the reaction of the test sample ends before entering the range AB indicated by the chain line. In this case, the operator recalculates the dilution rate, resets the amount of the sample to be tested and the amount of the diluting liquid, and performs the measurement again.

[0008]

When performing re-measurement due to the above-mentioned phenomenon or the like, in the conventional automatic analyzer, the operator calculates the dilution rate and resets the test sample amount and the diluent amount. Since it has to be done, there is a problem that the operator is burdened.

Further, since there are few means by which the operator can accurately know the concentration of the test sample, it is difficult to calculate an appropriate dilution rate, and it is not always possible to obtain an accurate measurement result by one re-measurement. There was a problem of not having.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when performing re-measurement due to the above phenomenon or the like, the optimum dilution rate is automatically calculated to reduce the burden on the operator, and an accurate measurement result can be obtained by one re-measurement. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer capable of performing the above.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a reagent is dispensed into a test sample and stirred, and a reaction rate of the solution is detected in a predetermined cycle to obtain a reaction rate in a preset observation time zone. In the automatic analyzer that measures the components of the measurement item based on the maximum reaction rate detecting means for searching for the maximum reaction rate among the reaction rates detected in each cycle from the time of dispensing the reagent to the time before the observation time zone And the dilution rate that is calculated based on the time from the time of reagent dispensing to the cycle of the maximum reaction rate detected by the maximum reaction rate detection means and the time from the time of reagent dispensing to the end of the observation time zone. It is provided with a rate calculation means.

[0012]

In the present invention having such a configuration, the maximum reaction rate detecting means searches for the maximum reaction rate among the reaction rates detected for each cycle before the observation time period, and The dilution rate is calculated by the dilution rate calculation means based on the time until the cycle of the maximum reaction rate searched for and the time from the time of dispensing the reagent to the end of the observation time zone.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an analysis unit 26 of an automatic analysis device to which the present invention is applied.

The disk-shaped reaction disk 1 having a plurality of reaction cells arranged on the circumference thereof has a predetermined angle (about 90- (α / 4) ° α is one reaction cell in a certain cycle. The intermittent rotation operation is performed in which the rotation is stopped only by the angle () at which it is stored. The sample disc 2 in which the sample cup (or blood collection tube, not shown) in which the test sample is stored is set,
The reaction disk 1 is arranged in the vicinity of the reaction disk 1 at a predetermined interval.

A first reagent container 3 in which a reagent container accommodating a reagent that reacts with various components is set is arranged inside the reaction disk 1 and, like the first reagent container 3, a reagent container is provided. The second reagent storage 4 to be set is arranged in the vicinity of the reaction disk 1 at a predetermined interval.

The sample disc 2, the first reagent storage 3 and the second reagent storage 4 are designated sample cups (blood collection tubes) set on the sample disc 2 by the prescribed designation control or the first reagent storage and the first reagent storage, respectively. The second reagent storage 4
The designated reagent container set in step 1 is rotated to be positioned at a predetermined position.

A sample arm 5 is arranged between the reaction disk 1 and the sample disk 2, and a sample nozzle is attached to the tip thereof. The sample arm 5 positions its sample nozzle on the sample cup set at a predetermined position of the sample disk 2 and sucks a predetermined amount of the sample (test sample) in the sample cup, When the step ends, the sample nozzle is rotated to position the sample nozzle on the sample dispensing position of the reaction disk 1 and dispenses the sample into the reaction cell set at the sample dispensing position by a preset amount. Note.

A first reagent dispensing arm 6 is arranged near the outer circumference of the reaction disk 1, and a first reagent dispensing nozzle is attached to the tip thereof. The first reagent dispensing arm positions the first reagent dispensing nozzle on a reagent container set in a predetermined position of the first reagent storage 3 and sucks a predetermined amount of the reagent in the reagent container. When the suction is completed, the reaction cell is rotated to position the first reagent dispensing nozzle on the first reagent dispensing position of the reaction disk 1 and the reaction cell set at the first reagent dispensing position. Dispense the above-mentioned reagent in a predetermined amount.

A second reagent dispensing arm 7 is arranged between the reaction disk 1 and the second reagent storage 4, and a second reagent dispensing nozzle is attached to the tip thereof. This second reagent dispensing arm 7 has its second reagent dispensing nozzle
The reagent container 4 is placed on a reagent container set at a predetermined position, and a predetermined amount of the reagent in the reagent container is sucked,
When this suction is completed, the rotation is made so that the second reagent dispensing nozzle is positioned on the second reagent dispensing position of the reaction disk 1 and the reaction cell set at the first reagent dispensing position is moved to the reaction cell. Dispense the reagent in a preset amount.

A first stirring arm 8 and a second stirring arm 9 are arranged near the outer periphery of the reaction disk 1, and a stirrer is attached to each tip. The first stirring arm 8 and the second stirring arm 9 are adapted to stir the sample in the reaction cell set at the first stirring position and the second stirring position of the reaction disk 1 with a stirrer. There is.

Further, a cleaning unit 10 is arranged near the outer periphery of the reaction disk 1, and the cleaning unit 10 is provided.
A plurality of cleaning nozzles and a drying nozzle are attached to the. The cleaning unit 10 is configured to clean or dry each reaction cell set at the cleaning position of the reaction disk 1 by a cleaning nozzle or a drying nozzle, respectively.

Further, an electrode 11 can be optionally arranged near the outer periphery of the reaction disk 1 to analyze an electrolyte. A photometric unit 12 is provided at one location of the reaction disk 1. The photometric unit 12 includes a light emitting unit, irradiates the reaction cell set at the photometric position of the reaction disk 1 with the light from the light emitting unit, measures the light amount of the transmitted light, and measures the sample in the reaction cell. The amount of change due to the reagent is measured. Based on this measured amount of change, sample component analysis (quantitative analysis / qualitative analysis) can be performed.

The reaction disk 1 has a constant temperature bath (a constant temperature water bath) for maintaining the temperature of the reaction cell at a preset temperature.
), The first reagent storage 3 and the second reagent storage 4 have a cooling structure for maintaining the temperature of the reagent container (reagent) at a preset temperature.

Based on the above-described structure, the measurement item components of the test sample are measured by the reaction rate method. That is, the reaction disk 1 has a position for accommodating 165 reaction cells, and the number of No. 1 is changed according to the rotation of the reaction disk 1. From the position of No. 1, intermittent rotation stop operation of about 90 ° in each cycle, the No. Position 2, N
o. No. 3 position ... It moves to the position of No. 165 while stopping, and again No. Return to position 1.

One reaction cell into which the test sample is dispensed is
No. No. 1 position. On the way to the rotational movement to the position 2, the light passes through the first photometric point. Hereinafter, in the same manner, No. No. 5 from the position. The second point between positions No. 6 and No. 6 No. 9 position. 3rd between 10 positions
Point ... No. No. 73 position. No. 19 between the positions of 74 and No. 74. No. 77 from the position. 7
No. 20 between the 8th position and No. 8 position. No. 82 position. No. 21 between the positions of 83, ... 1
No. 06 position. The 27th point between positions 107, ..., No. No. from the position of 134. There is the 34th photometric point between the 135 positions.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a data processing unit (computer unit) described next is connected to the analysis unit 26 described above. FIG. 2 shows the analysis unit (
It is a figure which shows the principal circuit structure of the data processing part which analyzes a measurement item component based on the measurement data supplied from the photometry part 12).

Reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU (cen
tral processing unit). ROM (read only memory) in which program data for performing the processing performed by the CPU 21 (including the dilution rate calculation processing described later) is stored
22. RAM (random access mem) in which areas of various memories used when the CPU 21 performs processing are formed.
ory) 23, an external storage device interface 25 for controlling transmission of data to and from an external storage device 24 for storing measurement data for each test sample, and a communication interface 27 connected to the analysis unit 26 by a line, respectively. It is connected to the CPU 21 via a bus 28.

The CPU 21 also controls a keyboard interface 30 for controlling data transmission with a keyboard 29 via the system bus 28 and a display 3.
1, a display controller 32 for controlling 1 and a printer interface 34 for controlling data transmission with the printer 33.
And are connected respectively.

From the analysis unit 26 to the data processing unit,
The absorbance data as the measured value at each point is supplied, and this data processing unit can perform the component analysis by the random access method capable of monitoring the reaction curve.

In this embodiment having such a structure, as shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of a dilution rate calculation process performed by the CPU 21. First, as the processing of step 1 (ST1),
From the supplied absorbance data, before the observation section (21st to 27th points) (before 21st point)
Then, the difference in absorbance between the points is calculated.

As the processing of step 2 (ST2), the calculated difference in absorbance is divided by the corresponding cycle time to calculate the amount of change per minute (absorbance difference rate).
As the processing of step 3 (ST3), the maximum value of the calculated change amount is searched.

As the process of step 4 (ST4), the absorbance difference at the point of this maximum value is measured at the time of reagent dispensing (just before the 19th point, the reagent is dispensed at the position of No. 71,
No. Stir at position 73. ) To the point of the maximum value found, divide the absorbance difference by the time from the time of reagent dispensing to the point of the maximum value,
The amount of change per minute is calculated.

As a process of step 5 (ST5), a factor (specific coefficient of the measuring reagent LDH) = 1 is added to this variation.
The temporary density (A) is calculated by multiplying by 0429. As the processing of step 6 (ST6), the absorbance difference at the maximum value point found in step 3 is applied from the time of reagent dispensing to the end of the observation section (the 27th point), and the difference in absorbance is applied during reagent dispensing. Calculate the amount of change per minute by dividing by the time from the end of the observation section to.

As the processing of step 7 (ST7), this change amount is multiplied by factor = 10429 and the comparison density (B
) Is calculated. As the process of step 8 (ST8), the temporary concentration (A) calculated in step 5 is divided by the comparative concentration (B) calculated in step 7 to calculate the dilution ratio A / B.

Based on the dilution ratio thus calculated,
If the amount of the diluting reagent is set, the amount of the diluted sample is automatically calculated. The amount of change in the reagent blank serving as a comparison standard was set to 0.

For example, consider the case where a reaction curve as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. That is, the concentration of the test sample is high
Due to (insufficient substrate), almost all the reaction between the test sample and the reagent ends before the observation section (21st to 27th points). Therefore, remeasurement is required. At this time, the dilution rate is automatically calculated from the reaction curve shown in FIG. 4 (see Table 1). In this calculation, 5 or 6 digits after the decimal point are rounded off.

First, at the time of dispensing the measuring reagent (19th point
), The difference in absorbance between each point is calculated. The absorbance difference between the 19th and 20th points is 0.8227-0.5
871 = 0.2356 Abs., The difference in absorbance between the 20th and 21st points is calculated as 0.5871-0.3345 = 0.2526 Abs. It does not need to be considered in the calculation of the dilution rate, since it will enter the observation section after the 21st point. However, if the reaction has not ended within the observation section, it will be necessary for the measurement of the measurement item components under normal conditions.

Next, each of the absorbance differences is divided by the photometric cycle between the points to obtain the absorbance difference rate (reaction rate).
) Is calculated. The difference in absorbance between the 19th and 20th points is (0.2356 / 18.0) * 60 = 0.78533Abs. / Min,
The absorbance difference rate between the 20th point and the 21st point is calculated as (0.2526 / 21.0) * 60 = 0.72171 Abs./min.

Therefore, the maximum value is the 19th point and the 20th point.
The absorbance rate between the point and point is 0.78533 Abs./min, and the difference in absorbance at that time is applied from the time of reagent dispensing (19th point) to the 20th point, and the change amount per minute is the same as the absorbance rate. Calculated as (0.2356 / 18.0) * 60 = 0.78533. This change amount of 0.78533 is multiplied by the factor 10429 to calculate the temporary density (A) as 8190.

[0040]

[Table 1]

Furthermore, when the amount of change 0.78533 reagent is dispensed (
From the 19th point) to the end of the observation section (27th point), the change per minute is (0.235
6 / 147.3) * 60 = 0.0960 is calculated, and this change is factored into
By multiplying by 10429, the comparative density (B) is calculated as 1001.

Here, the dilution ratio (A / B) is the temporary concentration (A)
/ Comparative density (B) = 8190/1001 = 8.1818.
Therefore, if the sample is diluted 8.1818 times and re-measured, the measurement item component can be accurately measured.

The diluted test sample amount is X = where the test sample amount is X, the dilution ratio is Z, and the diluting reagent amount is Y.
It can be calculated as Y / (Z-1). Therefore,
If you set the amount of diluent reagent, the amount of test sample will be calculated automatically, and the calculated sample volume will be dispensed to the reaction cell by the sample dispensing probe and set to this reaction cell. The diluted reagent amount is dispensed and stirred. Then, the measurement reagent is dispensed into this reaction cell, and the measurement item components are analyzed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the absorbance difference rate which is the maximum value among the absorbance difference rates detected in each cycle from the time of dispensing the reagent to before the observation section as the observation time zone. Is searched as the maximum reaction rate, the difference in absorbance at the point of the maximum absorbance difference rate is divided by the time from the time of reagent dispensing to that point to calculate the amount of change,
This change amount is multiplied by a factor to calculate the temporary density (A). Furthermore, the absorbance difference at the point of the maximum absorbance difference rate is divided by the time from the time of reagent dispensing to the point at the end of the observation section to calculate the amount of change, and this amount of change is multiplied by a factor for comparison. The concentration (B) is calculated. Then, by dividing the temporary concentration by the comparative concentration and automatically calculating the dilution ratio (A / B), when performing re-measurement due to lack of substrate, etc., the optimum dilution ratio is automatically calculated and the operator It is possible to reduce the burden on the user and to obtain accurate measurement results with one re-measurement.

Although the temporary concentration and the comparison concentration were calculated in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the maximum value of the absorbance difference rate is searched, the reagent component The direct dilution rate may be calculated by dividing the time from the point at the time of injection to the point at the end of the observation section by the time from the point at the time of reagent dispensing to the point at the maximum value.

[0046]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
When performing re-measurement due to lack of substrate, etc., it is possible to provide an automatic analyzer that can automatically calculate the optimum dilution rate to reduce the burden on the operator and obtain accurate measurement results in one re-measurement. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an analysis unit of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of a data processing unit of the automatic analyzer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a dilution rate calculation process performed by the automatic analyzer of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a reaction curve in which an abnormal phenomenon occurs due to a substrate shortage in which a dilution rate is calculated by the automatic analyzer of the same example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a reaction curve in which an abnormal phenomenon occurs due to a substrate shortage.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 26 ... Analysis unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A test sample is dispensed and agitated, a reaction rate of the solution is detected in a predetermined cycle, and a measurement item component is measured based on the reaction rate in a preset observation time period. In the automatic analyzer for performing, the maximum reaction rate detecting means for searching the maximum reaction rate among the reaction rates detected for each cycle from the time of dispensing the reagent to the time before the observation time period, and the reagent Dilution rate that calculates the dilution rate based on the time from the time of dispensing to the cycle of the maximum reaction rate detected by the maximum reaction rate detecting means and the time from the time of dispensing the reagent to the end of the observation time zone An automatic analyzer characterized in that it is provided with calculation means.