JPH1010035A - Particle analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a particle analyzer which can shorten time in the case of analyzing plural samples by a single flow cell. SOLUTION: A particle counter D1 is provided with a first reaction tank 1, a second reaction tank 2, a flow cell 3, a fixed volume syringe 4, a first waste liquid tank 5, a second waste liquid tank 6 and a slide valve 7. The flow cell 3 is provided with a flow cell main body 31 and a nozzle 32. The slide valve 7 is composed of fixed elements 71 and 72, a movable element 73 and and an air cylinder 74. Three fluid passages are respectively arranged in the fixed elements 71 and 72. In the movable element 73, four fluid passages A to D are arranged at an interval equal to an interval between the mutual passages in the fixed elements 71 and 72. The movable element 73 is moved by the air cylinder 74 so as to be reciprocatively slidable left and right in a condition of being sandwiched by the fixed elements 71 and 72.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a particle analyzer, and more particularly, to a sample liquid containing particles introduced into a flow cell of a flow cytometer and flowed in a sheath flow system, and the size and properties of the particles are measured. The present invention relates to a particle analysis device for analyzing a particle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a flow cytometer, when two kinds of sample liquids (sample 1 and sample 2) are subjected to a predetermined analysis (for example, particle counting measurement) by one flow cell, two reaction tanks are provided. Reaction tank (No. 1)
The respective sample liquids are retained in the reaction tank and the second reaction tank), and the two kinds of sample liquids are sequentially analyzed.

That is, (1) First, a diluted sample 1
Is retained in the first reaction tank, (2) the sample 1 in the first reaction tank is transferred to the nozzle line of the quantitative syringe to the flow cell, and (3) the quantitative syringe is driven to move the sample 1 from the nozzle to the flow cell. The particles are extruded into the main body and the particles contained in the sample 1 are counted.

[0004] Next, (4) during the counting, the sample 1 remaining in the first reaction tank is discharged, the cleaning liquid is allowed to flow into the first reaction tank, the cleaning liquid in the first reaction tank is once discharged, and then again. The washing liquid is allowed to flow into the first reaction tank. (5) When the counting is completed, the washing liquid in the first reaction tank is used to wash the sample 1 in the line from the quantitative syringe to the nozzle, and (6) the diluted sample 2 is then washed. The sample 2 is transferred from the retained second reaction tank to the metering syringe to the nozzle line of the flow cell.
Hereinafter, the same operation as (3) to (5) is performed.

According to such a method, the washing step of the line from the quantitative syringe to the nozzle after counting (step (5)) cannot be omitted, and the processing time of each sample solution becomes longer. There is.

In order to solve this inconvenience, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In the analyzer described in 176562, a flow cell having two or more nozzles is used.

[0007]

However, in this analyzer, in the measurement of the samples 1 and 2, the sample 2 is immediately analyzed without washing after the analysis of the sample 1.
Can be started, but the line must be washed in order to start the next sample solution measurement, and the next analysis cannot be started immediately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a problem to be solved is a particle analysis method capable of reducing the time required for analyzing a plurality of sample liquids with one flow cell. It is to provide a device.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there are provided a plurality of reaction tanks for accommodating a plurality of sample solutions to be analyzed, respectively, and a nozzle portion, and the sample solution discharged from the nozzle portion is provided. A flow cell for forming a sample liquid trickle having an inner layer and a sheath liquid as an outer layer, a quantification means for flowing a predetermined amount of sample liquid into the flow cell, and a waste liquid tank for containing waste liquid from the flow cell,
It comprises a fixed element and a movable element each having a plurality of liquid passages, and a drive source for slidingly moving the movable element to switch the connection state of these passages. And a slide valve to which the quantification means and the waste liquid tank are respectively connected.

[0010] A known number of reaction tanks are appropriately selected according to the type and amount of the sample liquid stored therein, and the required number of the reaction tanks are used. The sample in each reaction tank is selectively connected to the flow cell via the fluid channel of the movable element. Then, the sample liquid introduced from the reaction tank is discharged from the nozzle portion, and the sample liquid is sheathed with a sheath liquid to form a sample liquid trickle.

As the quantifying means, for example, a quantifying syringe for flowing a predetermined amount of sample solution into the flow cell is used. The waste liquid tank is usually connected to each reaction tank, and stores cleaning waste liquid from each reaction tank.

The slide valve comprises a fixed element having a plurality of liquid passages, a movable element having the same passage, and a drive source for moving the movable element, and switches the connection state of the passages in these elements. . In the slide valve, the passage of the fixed element and the movable element is
It is connected to the reaction tank, the nozzle of the flow cell, the metering means, and the waste liquid tank.

Preferably, the slide valve is provided with a set of passages which can selectively communicate with one reaction vessel for each reaction vessel. Further, the slide valve may be linearly movable or rotationally movable.

The particle analyzer according to the present invention is configured, for example, as follows. That is, the slide valve is composed of two fixed elements and a movable element that can slide and slide between these fixed elements, the nozzle of the flow cell is connected to a predetermined passage of one fixed element, and the other is A fixed amount means is connected to the opposed passage of the fixed element, a predetermined reaction tank is connected to a predetermined passage of one or the other fixed element, a waste liquid tank is connected to each opposed passage of the other or one fixed element, and the movable tank is movable. The element has a passage communicating with each reaction vessel, and the slide valve can be switched so that the passage of the movable element communicating with each reaction vessel communicates with the nozzle portion of the flow cell and the quantification means. Further, a passage is provided to each reaction tank when the slide valve is switched.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, two embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The invention is not limited by these.

Embodiment 1 In FIG. 1, a particle counter D ₁ as a particle analyzer according to the present invention includes a first reaction tank 1, a second reaction tank 2, a flow cell 3, a quantification syringe 4 as quantification means, It comprises a first waste liquid tank 5, a second waste liquid tank 6, and a slide valve 7.

The first reaction tank 1 and the second reaction tank 2 are for containing a first sample liquid and a second sample liquid to be used for analysis (particle counting measurement), respectively. Each of the first reaction tank 1 and the second reaction tank 2 is connected to a cleaning liquid chamber 8 containing a cleaning liquid via valves 21 and 22, and is connected to a dilution unit 13 for diluting each sample liquid. ing.

The flow cell 3 has a flow chamber 31 tapered upward and has a vertically arranged flow cell body 31 and a nozzle section vertically arranged in the flow chamber for discharging a sample liquid. And a nozzle 32. In the upper part of the flow cell main body 31, a small-diameter flow path 33 is provided, which is connected to the flow chamber and forms a small flow of the sample liquid. The flow cell 3 is connected to the sheath liquid chamber 15. Then, the sheath liquid stored in the sheath liquid chamber 15 is supplied to the flow chamber of the flow cell 3.

In the vicinity of the flow cell 3, a light source 9 for irradiating the small-diameter flow path 33 of the flow cell 3, a condenser lens 10 for converging the irradiation light emitted from the light source 9, and a convergent lens 10 A condensing lens 11 that converges the light that has been illuminated transversely to the small-diameter flow path 33 and a photodetector 12 that detects the light converged by the condensing lens 11 are provided.

The first waste liquid tank 5 is connected to the first reaction tank 1 and the second reaction tank 2 via a slide valve 7, and stores the waste liquid from these reaction tanks 1 and 2. The second waste liquid tank 6 is connected to the flow cell 3 and stores the waste liquid from the flow cell 3.

The slide valve 7 includes two plate-like fixing elements 71 and 72 horizontally fixed below the flow cell 3.
It is composed of one plate-shaped movable element 73 that can slide and move between the fixed elements 71 and 72, and an air cylinder 74 as a drive source that slides the movable element 73.

The upper fixed element 71 in the figure has three fluid passages-the left side passage P which penetrate the fixed element 71.
₁ - central passage P ₀ · right path P ₂ - is provided.
The left passage P ₁ is connected to the first reaction tank 1 via a valve 23. The right passage P ₂ is provided with a valve 24 in the second reaction tank 2.
Connected through. Central passage P ₀ is flow cell 3
Nozzle 32.

The fixed element 72 on the lower side in the figure is the same size as the fixed element 71 on the upper side. The lower fixed element 72, the three fluid passages through the fixed element 72 - left passageway Q ₁ · central passageway Q ₀ · right path Q ₂ - passage of three in the upper fixed element 71 P It is provided to face ₁ · P ₀ · P ₂ . The left passage Q ₁ and the right passage Q ₂ are connected to the first waste liquid tank 5. The central passage Q ₀ is connected to the metering syringe 4. In addition, the first reaction tank 1 and the second reaction tank 2 are connected to the fixed element 72 side, and the first waste liquid tank 5
Can be connected to the fixed element 71 side.

The movable element 73 is provided with four fluid passages penetrating the movable element 73-a passage A, a passage B, a passage C, and a passage D-in order from left to right. 72) at intervals equal to the intervals between the passages. As described above, the upper fixed element 71, the movable element 73, and the lower fixed element 72 form a pair of upper, middle, and lower passages that can selectively communicate with the first reaction tank 1 or the second reaction tank 2. There are two sets.

The movable element 73 is reciprocally slid left and right in the figure by the air cylinder 74 while being sandwiched between the two fixed elements 71 and 72. Due to this movement, three of the four passages A, B, C, and D in the movable element 73 (the passages A to C or the passages B to
D) are respectively switched to be connected to the paths P ₁ , P ₀ , P ₂ , Q ₁ , Q ₀ , Q ₂ in the two fixed elements 71, 72.

[0026] Hereinafter, a description will be given particle counting operation by the particle counter apparatus D _1.

First, (1) a sample liquid is prepared. That is, in FIG. 1, the first sample liquid is prepared in the first reaction tank 1 and the second sample liquid is prepared in the second reaction tank 2 by the dilution unit 13. In addition, the first sample solution and the second sample solution are subjected to staining as necessary.

Here, the movable element 73 and the fixed elements 71.7
2 means that the three passages B to D in the movable element 73 are three passages P _1.
P ₀ · P ₂ and three paths Q ₁ ·
There is a positional relationship that leads to Q ₀ and Q ₂ respectively.

Next, (2) the valve 23 is opened, and the first sample liquid in the first reaction tank 1 flows into the left passage P of the fixed element 71.
_1, filled in the left channel to Q ₁ passage B and the fixed element 72 of the movable element 73 (charging).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, (3) movable element
73, two fixed elements 71
・ Slid to the right in the figure while sandwiched between 72
You. By this movement, three paths in the movable element 73 are formed.
The paths A to C are three paths P in the fixed element 71.₁・ P₀
・ P_TwoAnd three passages Q in the fixed element 72₁・ Q ₀
・ Q_TwoAre switched so as to communicate with each other. Soshi
The passage B of the movable element 73 is located between the nozzle 32 and the fixed amount syringe.
4 lines.

(4) The quantitative syringe 4 is connected to the motor 14
And the extrusion operation is performed. Thereby, a predetermined amount of the first sample liquid filled in the passage B of the movable element 73 is discharged from the nozzle 32 and flows into the flow chamber of the flow cell 3.

The first sample liquid flowing into the flow chamber is formed into a sheath by the sheath liquid supplied from the sheath liquid chamber 15 to the flow chamber. That is, in the small-diameter flow path 33, a sample liquid fine stream is formed in which the first sample liquid is the inner layer and the sheath liquid is the outer layer.

Therefore, particle count analysis is performed by the light source 9, the condenser lens 10, the condenser lens 11, and the photodetector 12.

In the meantime, the residual sample in the first reaction tank 1 is discharged, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid chamber 8 into the first reaction tank 1. Then, the cleaning liquid is once discharged (first reaction tank 1).
After the washing), a washing solution is further poured into the first reaction tank 1,
The line from the first reaction tank 1 to the passage A of the movable element 73 to the first waste liquid tank 5 is filled with the cleaning liquid.

At the same time, the second sample liquid is transferred from the second reaction tank 2 to the slide valve 7 to fill the passage C of the movable element 73 with the second sample liquid.

(5) When the particle count analysis of the first sample liquid is completed, the movable element 73 is slid to the left in the figure while being sandwiched between the two fixed elements 71 and 72, as shown in FIG. Return to the original position. This time, since the passage C filled with the second sample liquid is in the line from the quantitative syringe 14 to the nozzle 3, the second sample liquid in the passage C is pushed out to the flow chamber of the flow cell 3 by the quantitative syringe 14, The particle count analysis of the two sample liquids is performed.

(6) During the particle counting of the second sample liquid, (4)
In the same manner as described above, cleaning of the second reaction tank 2 and filling of the second reaction tank 2 to the passage D of the movable element 73 to the line passage of the first waste liquid tank 5 are performed.

Further, if the next first sample solution is allowed to flow into the first reaction tank 1 and the sample is filled in the passage B of the movable element 73, the slide valve 7 is switched to switch the particles of the second sample solution. After the count analysis is completed, the particle count analysis of the next sample can be started immediately. This makes it possible to reduce the analysis time.

Even if the first sample liquid remains in the passage B of the movable element 73 after the particle count analysis of the first sample liquid, the first sample liquid is removed by the cleaning liquid in the line from the first reaction tank 1 to the slide valve 7. Washed off.

According to the particle counting device D ₁ , the two sample liquids (the first sample liquid and the second sample liquid) respectively stored in the first reaction tank 1 and the second reaction tank 2 are passed through one flow cell 3. The time required for particle count analysis can be reduced as compared with a similar device in the related art.

Embodiment 2 In FIG. 4, a particle counter D ₂ as a particle analyzer according to the present invention comprises a first reaction tank 41, a second reaction tank 42,
It comprises a third reaction tank 43, a fourth reaction tank 44, a flow cell 3, a quantitative syringe 4 as a quantitative means, and a slide valve 18.

The first to fourth reaction tanks 41 to 44 are for accommodating first to fourth sample liquids to be used for analysis (particle count measurement). Each of the first reaction tank 41 to the fourth reactor 44, and is connected to the cleaning liquid chamber the cleaning liquid is stored (those similar to the particle counting device D _1. Not shown) via a valve (same as above) In addition, it is connected to a dilution unit (the same as above) for diluting each sample solution.

The flow cell 3, similar to the particle counting device D _1, includes a flow cell body 31, and a sample solution discharge nozzle 32 of the nozzle portion. At the upper part of the flow cell main body 31, a small-diameter flow path 33 is provided.

The metering syringe 4 is driven by the driving motor 14 to flow a predetermined amount of sample liquid from the first to fourth reaction tanks 41 to 44 into the flow chamber of the flow cell 3. The first to fourth reaction tanks 41 to 44 are connected to a first waste liquid tank (before). The flow cell 3 is connected to a second waste liquid tank (before).

The slide valve 18 is composed of two plate-like upper and lower fixing elements 81 and 82 fixed to the flow cell 3, and a plate-like one which can be slid horizontally between the fixing elements 81 and 82. The movable element 83 includes an air cylinder 84 as a driving source for sliding the movable element 83.

The upper fixed element 81 has the fixed element 8
5 fluid passages passing through 1-passages from left to right
P₁・ Passage P_Two・ Passage P₀・ Passage P_Three・ Passage P_Four-Is set
Have been killed. Passage P₁Is a valve in the first reaction tank 41 (same as above).
Before) is connected through. Passage P_TwoIs the second reaction tank 4
2 is connected via a valve (the same as above). Passage P ₀
Is connected to the nozzle 32 of the flow cell 3. Passage P
_ThreeIs connected to the third reaction tank 43 via a valve (before).
ing. Passage P_FourHas a valve (same as above) in the fourth reaction tank 44
Connected through.

The lower fixed element 82 has its fixed element 8
The five fluid passages P ₁ through which the five fluid passages-the passage Q ₁ , the passage Q ₂ , the passage Q ₀ , the passage Q _3, and the passage Q ₄ -are arranged in the order from left to right.・ P ₂・ P ₀
- is provided opposite to P _{3-P 4.} Passage Q ₁ · passageway Q ₂ · passage Q ₃ · passage Q ₄ are connected to the first waste liquid tank. The passage Q ₀ is connected to the metering syringe 4.

The movable element 83 has eight fluid passages penetrating the movable element 83-from left to right, in order from passage A, passage B, passage C, passage D, passage E, passage F, passage G, The passages H- are provided at intervals equal to the intervals between the passages in the fixed element 81 (or the fixed element 82).

The movable element 83 is reciprocally slid right and left in the figure by the air cylinder 84 while being sandwiched between the two fixed elements 81 and 82. With this movement, five consecutive passages A to H in the movable element 83 are moved.
The book is switched so that it leads to five passages in the two fixed elements 81,82.

[0050] The configuration of the other parts of the particle counter apparatus D ₂ is similar to the particle counting device D _1, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] Hereinafter, the particle counting operation by the particle counter apparatus D _2, will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first sample liquid accommodated in the first reaction tank 41 has its passage C moved by the movement of the movable element 83 of the slide valve 18 to the fixed elements 81 and 82. When connected to the passages P ₁ and Q ₁ , the passage C is filled. Thereafter, the state of the slide valve 18 is changed by the movement of the movable element 83 as shown in FIG.
When the path C of the movable element 83 is
Since it is connected to the passages P ₀ and Q ₀ of 82, the first sample liquid in the passage C is pushed out into the flow chamber of the flow cell 3 by the quantitative syringe 4, and the particles of the first sample liquid are counted. At this time, the paths P ₁ and Q _{1 of} the fixed elements 81 and 82 and the movable element 83
Is connected, the line of the first reaction tank 41 can be cleaned. In addition, the second sample liquid, the third
The sample liquid or the fourth sample liquid can be charged in the paths B, D, or E of the movable element 83, respectively.

Regarding the particle counting of the second sample liquid In FIG. 4, the passage D of the second sample liquid stored in the second reaction tank 42 is changed by the movement of the movable element 83 of the slide valve 18 to the fixed elements 81 and 82. When connected to the path P ₂ · Q ₂ , the path D is filled. Thereafter, the state of the slide valve 18 is changed by the movement of the movable element 83 as shown in FIG.
When the path D of the movable element 83 is
Since it is connected to the passages P ₀ and Q ₀ of 82, the first sample liquid in the passage D is pushed out into the flow chamber of the flow cell 3 by the quantitative syringe 4, and the particles of the second sample liquid are counted.

Regarding the particle counting of the third sample liquid As shown in FIG. 5, the passage E of the third sample liquid stored in the third reaction tank 43 is・ 82 passages P ₃・ Q
_When connected to ₃ , the path E is filled. afterwards,
When the state of the slide valve 18 becomes as shown in FIG. 4 due to the movement of the movable element 83, the passage E of the movable element 83 is connected to the passages P ₀ and Q ₀ of the fixed elements 81 and 82.
The third sample solution in the sample solution is extruded into the flow chamber of the flow cell 3 by the quantitative syringe 4, and the particle count of the third sample solution is performed.

As to the particle counting of the fourth sample liquid, as shown in FIG. 5, the passage F of the fourth sample liquid stored in the fourth reaction tank 44 is・ 82 passages P ₄・ Q
_When it is connected to ₄ , the passage F is filled. afterwards,
When the state of the slide valve 18 becomes as shown in FIG. 7 due to the movement of the movable element 83, the passage F of the movable element 83 is connected to the passages P ₀ and Q ₀ of the fixed elements 81 and 82.
The fourth sample liquid in the sample is extruded into the flow chamber of the flow cell 3 by the quantitative syringe 4, and the particles of the fourth sample liquid are counted.

According to the particle counting device D ₂ , the four sample liquids (first to fourth sample liquids) respectively stored in the first to fourth reaction tanks 41 to 44 are supplied to one flow cell 3. The time required for particle count analysis can be reduced as compared with a similar device in the related art.

[0057]

As described above, the particle analyzer according to the present invention has the following remarkable effects.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fixed element and the movable element each having a plurality of liquid passages in addition to the plurality of reaction tanks, the flow cells, the quantification means and the waste liquid tank,
A drive source for slidingly moving the movable element to switch the connection state of these passages, and a slide valve to which the reaction tank, the nozzle of the flow cell, the metering means, and the waste liquid tank are respectively connected to these passages. Since the movable element is slid, the connection between the fixed element and the path of the movable element can be switched. Therefore, the sample liquid charging line and the sample liquid pushing line for analysis can be separated and independent, and by performing each operation in parallel, the time required for analyzing a plurality of sample liquids with one flow cell can be reduced. Shortening can be achieved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the slide valve includes two fixed elements and a movable element that can slide and move between the fixed elements.
The nozzle portion of the flow cell is connected to a predetermined passage of one fixed element, a fixed amount means is connected to the opposite passage of the other fixed element, a predetermined reaction tank is connected to a predetermined passage of one or the other fixed element, A waste liquid tank is connected to each of the opposed passages of the other or one of the fixed elements, the movable element has a passage leading to each reaction tank, and the slide valve has a passage of the movable element leading to each reaction tank being a nozzle of the flow cell. The movable element is further provided with a passage communicating with each reaction tank when the slide valve is switched. Therefore, the effect provided by the particle analyzer according to claim 1 can be ensured by a slide valve having a simple configuration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the slide valve is provided with a set of passages that can selectively communicate with each of the reaction vessels, a plurality of sample liquids to be analyzed are provided. By sequentially selecting the plurality of stored reaction tanks, the above-described effect of the particle analyzer according to claim 1 or 2 can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a particle analyzer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a first sample liquid and a second sample liquid are diluted and a first sample liquid is charged into a passage B of a slide valve. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a particle counting analysis of a first sample liquid in a small-diameter flow channel in a flow cell in the particle counting device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a particle counting analysis of a second sample liquid in a small-diameter flow path in a flow cell in the particle counting device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration showing a particle counting device according to a second embodiment of the particle analyzing device according to the present invention.

5 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration showing a slide valve switched to a predetermined state in the particle counting device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a main part configuration showing a slide valve switched to a predetermined state in the particle counting device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration showing a slide valve switched to a predetermined state in the particle counting device of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st reaction tank 2 2nd reaction tank 3 Flow cell 4 Quantitative syringe 5 1st waste liquid tank 6 2nd waste liquid tank 7 Slide valve 18 Slide valve 31 Flow cell main body 32 Nozzle 33 Small diameter channel 41 1st reaction tank 42 2nd reaction tank 43 third reaction tank 44 fourth reaction tank 71 fixed element 72 fixed element 73 movable element 74 air cylinder 81 fixed element 82 fixed element 83 movable element 84 air cylinder

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sample liquid having a plurality of reaction tanks for accommodating a plurality of sample liquids to be analyzed, respectively, and a nozzle, wherein the sample liquid discharged from the nozzle is an inner layer and a sheath liquid is an outer layer. A flow cell for forming a rivulet, a quantification means for flowing a predetermined amount of sample liquid into the flow cell, a waste liquid tank for containing waste liquid from the flow cell, and a fixed element having a plurality of liquid passages respectively. And a drive source that slides the movable element to switch the connection state of these passages. The reaction tank, the nozzle of the flow cell, the metering means, and the waste liquid tank are connected to these passages, respectively. A particle analyzer including a slide valve. 2. A slide valve comprising: two fixed elements;
A movable element slidable by being sandwiched between these fixed elements, a nozzle portion of the flow cell is connected to a predetermined passage of one fixed element, and a metering means is connected to an opposite passage of the other fixed element. A predetermined reaction tank is connected to a predetermined passage of one or the other fixed element, a waste liquid tank is connected to each opposed path of the other or one fixed element, and the movable element has a passage communicating with each reaction tank. The slide valve can be switched so that the passage of the movable element communicating with each reaction tank communicates with the nozzle portion of the flow cell and the metering means. The particle analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a passage communicating with the reaction tank is provided. 3. The particle analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the slide valve is provided with a set of passages that can selectively communicate with each reaction tank.