JPS61251772A - Automatic chemical analyzing instrument with flow cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible the analysis with the higher accuracy and exactness by communicating a flow cell to a flow passage selector valve, changing over the flow passages thereof to pass both the specimen reactive liquid and specimen blank liquid to the flow cell and making measurement. CONSTITUTION:The specimens are dispensed into reaction tubes 5-7 in a specimen dispensing part and the tubes are sent to the 1st reagent dispensing part, where the 1st reagent is dispensed therein. The tubes 5-7 are then sent to the 2nd reagent dispensing part 8 where the 2nd reagent is dispensed from the 2nd reagent dispensing lines 10-12 into the tubes which are then sent to a photometric part 9. Suction nozzles 18, 20, 24 are inserted into the tubes 5-7 in said part. The flow passage 15 of the three-way valve 16 is communicated with the flow passage 19 on the specimen blank liquid intake side so that the specimen blank liquid is admitted from the tube 6 into the flow cell 13. The specimen blank is thus subjected to photometry. The flow passage of the valve 16 is then changed over to communicate the passage 15 with the flow passage 17 on the specimen reaction side, by which the specimen reaction liquid is admitted from the tube 5 into the flow cell 13 and the photometry of the analytical item component of the specimen reactive liquid is executed. The measured data are processed in a data processor and the analytical values are obtd.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic chemical analyzer having a flow cell, and particularly to an automatic chemical analyzer having a plurality of flow cells. The present invention also relates to an automatic chemical analyzer having a flow cell for specimens such as plasma, serum, urine, other body fluids, secretions, etc., and particularly to a specimen blank measurement mechanism in a multi-item simultaneous automatic analyzer.

(a) Conventional technology Analytical values of samples such as plasma, serum, urine, other body fluids and secretions are used for diagnosis, treatment guidelines, etc.
Accuracy is always required. However, absorbance measurements for samples such as plasma, serum, urine, and other body fluids and secretions are
During disease, it may be affected by chromogens that increase in amount or appear in body fluids, such as bilirubin in jaundo, hemoglobin due to hemolysis, chyle in high-fat blood, etc. In this case, it is difficult to accurately measure absorbance in serum from healthy individuals. Even if it were possible to do so, it was not possible to accurately measure the absorbance of these specific sera, and therefore all specimens had to be analyzed with a constant accuracy, which was a problem.

Therefore, in the past, in cases where Romodene interfered with this, in order to prevent the influence of chromogen,
A sample blank is provided for each sample or for each analysis item of each sample, and the influence of the a modern foot is determined and corrected. Measurement of sample blank for such correction is difficult in automatic chemical analyzers using conventional flow cells.
Two flow cells are used, one for sample analysis and the other for sample blank.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In general, with respect to flow cells, there are problems with optical path length dimensional accuracy and dispersion for turbidity.
The L characteristic is not uniform, and since it is difficult to accurately position the spectrophotometer at a fixed position with respect to the optical system, the wavelength accuracy is also not uniform.

For this purpose, when two flow cells are used and correction for chromogen is performed, differences in optical path length, scattering characteristics, and wavelength deviations occur between these flow cells, resulting in correct sample blanks for sample analysis values. This was a problem because it could not be corrected.

Moreover, since the error originating from the 7ct-cell cannot be ignored, it is not possible to increase the actual detection sensitivity for components affected by coexisting chromogens, and it is difficult to obtain reliable or accurate analytical values. was difficult and problematic.

It is an object of the present invention to solve all of the problems of flow cell errors and decreases in actual detection sensitivity that occur when analyzing analysis items affected by coexisting chromogens.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a flow cell that eliminates flow cell-related errors and can perform correction using a sample blank with high precision for analysis of analysis items affected by the coexistence of chromogen. To provide an automatic chemical analyzer having the following features.

That is, the present invention provides a flow cell in which at least one flow cell has one path communicating with a suction nozzle located above a reaction container for a sample blank solution and another path communicating with a suction nozzle located above a reaction container for a sample reaction solution. There is provided an automatic chemical analyzer having a flow cell characterized in that at least one remaining path of a path switching valve is in communication.

In the present invention, the flow cell can be provided in the same manner as a conventional automatic chemical analyzer, but unlike the conventional one, the inlet of the flow cell is provided in communication with one path of the flow path switching valve. This flow path switching valve is provided with a suction nozzle for sucking the sample blank liquid and a suction nozzle for sucking the sample reaction liquid so as to communicate with the respective flow paths of the flow path switching valve. These suction nozzles are supported by a nozzle holding device or the like so as to be movable up and down relative to the sample reaction liquid reaction container and the sample blank liquid reaction container. In this case, the nozzle holding device may be formed so that the sample blank liquid suction nozzle and the sample reaction liquid suction nozzle end at the same time rising or falling simultaneously with respect to the respective reaction vessels, and the nozzle holding device In the vertical movement process, the sample blank liquid suction nozzle and the sample reaction liquid nozzle may be formed to operate in opposite directions.

In the present invention, the sample blank liquid reaction container and the sample reaction liquid reaction container may form lines parallel to each other, similar to the arrangement of the sample blank liquid line and the sample reaction liquid line in a conventional automatic chemical analyzer. However, the reaction containers for the sample blank solution and the reaction containers for the sample reaction solution may be arranged back and forth in the direction of movement.

(E) Function Since the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention communicates the flow cell with the flow path switching valve, by operating the flow path switching valve to switch the flow path, either the sample reaction liquid or the sample blank liquid can be used. can also be measured by flowing it through − number of flow cells.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when analyzing analysis items affected by the coexistence of chromogen, the photometric values of the sample reaction solution and the photometric values of the sample blank solution are both measured by the same flow cell. Therefore, measurement errors originating from the flow cell do not occur. Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, when analyzing a sample such as serum or plasma with a high degree of hemolysis, high chylosity, or yellow stain index, the measurement error is reduced, so accurate and reliable analytical values can be obtained. .

Further, in the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, since the flow cell is communicated with the flow path switching valve, by operating the flow path switching valve during the intermittent movement of the reaction container such as the reaction tube, for example, It is also possible to perform multiple analysis by flowing each sample reaction liquid from reaction tubes arranged in the same row in a plurality of reaction lines into one flow cell and changing the measurement wavelength for each sample reaction liquid. Therefore, one flow cell can also be used for photometry of a plurality of sample reaction solutions during the stop period.

(F) EXAMPLE Hereinafter, embodiments of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited in any way by this explanation.

The figure shows an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram mainly showing a photometry section.

The automatic chemical analyzer 1 includes a plurality of reaction lines 2゜3, .
... 4 is provided, and reaction line 2 is used for analysis items whose measured values are affected by the coexistence of chromadon in the sample, such as Reitman-7? This is the line where analysis of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) is carried out by the Nckel method, and the reaction line 3 adjacent to this line is
This is the line where the sample blank is measured for chromadon in the sample. The other reaction line 4 is a fin in which analysis is performed for analysis items whose measured values are not affected by the coexistence of chromomodians in the specimen.

Respective reaction lines 2, 3. ...4 has the reaction W5゜6
,...7 are arranged. Moreover, these reaction lines 2, 3. Each of the four sections is provided with a sample dispensing section (not shown), a reagent dispensing section 8, a photometry section 9, a washing and drying section (not shown), etc. Among these, the reagent dispensing section is divided into a first reagent dispensing section, a second reagent dispensing section, etc. depending on the analysis item. In these reaction lines 2゜3,...4, reaction tubes 5, 6
．． ...7 move intermittently in the direction of the arrow, circulate, and are used repeatedly.

The reagent dispensing section 8 includes reagent dispensing lines 10, 11°...
12 are provided, each connected to a reagent dispensing pump (not shown). A photometry section 9 is provided apart from the reagent dispensing section 8 by a distance commensurate with the reaction time. The photometric section 9 includes an optical system including a light source and a photometric section fl! (
None are shown. ) A spectrophotometer with a flow cell 13 disposed on the dark optical path 9' is installed in the spectrophotometer section, which includes a multiplexer, an absorbance converter, an A/D converter, and a storage section along with other spectrophotometers. , a known data processing device i! including a calculation section and a display output section. (not shown).

A known flow cell is used as the flow cell 13. The anti-I8n inlet 14 of the flow cell 13 is connected via a flow path 15 to a three-way valve 16 having a rotor 16'. As the three-way valve, in addition to the three-way cock of this example, a three-way valve, a three-way port valve such as a control valve in which a solenoid valve is provided in the three-way flow path, etc. can be used. One flow path 17 of the three-way valve 16 is connected to the sample reaction liquid suction nozzle 18, and the other flow path 19 is parallel to one reaction line 2 and 3 connected to the sample blank liquid suction nozzle 20. The other reaction lines arranged, for example reaction line 4, are equipped with a spectrophotometer with a flow cell 21, which is likewise known. This flow cell 2
1 reaction liquid population 22 is connected to six reaction liquid suction nozzles 24 via a wave path 23. In this example, these suction nozzles 18, 20, . . . 24 are held by a nozzle holding device f (not shown) so that they can be moved up and down at the same time so that the suction operation can be started at the same time. This nozzle holding device can be of the type used, for example, in automatic chemical analyzers having conventional flow cells.

Flow cell 13. ...Which outlet of 21 25°・
...26 also has a discharge flow path 27°, ...28 and a check valve (
Not shown. ), etc., to a drainage pump (not shown).Since this example is configured in this manner, the reaction tubes 5, 6, . . . 7, and then sent to the first reagent dispensing section (not shown), where the first reagent is dispensed. Reaction tubes 5, 6 into which the first reagent was dispensed in the first reagent dispensing section. .・
When the second reagent is dispensed from 12 and the 0 reaction tube sent to the photometry section 9 has stopped, the suction nozzles 18, 20 .
...24 to reaction tubes 5, 6. . . 7 and starts sucking the liquid in the reaction tubes 5° 6, . . . 7. At this time, the three-way valve 16 allows the flow cell side flow path 15 to communicate with the sample blank liquid suction side flow path 19, so first, the sample blank liquid is transferred to the sample liquid reaction Ir! 6 to flow cell 1
2, and the sample blank is photometered. Once the sample blank has been photometered, the rotor 16' of the three-way valve 16
, change the flow path q, connect the flow cell side flow path 15 to the sample reaction side flow path 17, flow the sample reaction liquid from the sample reaction liquid reaction tube 5 into the flow cell, and analyze the analysis items of the sample reaction liquid. 'On the other hand, for other reaction lines, such as reaction line 4, in which photometry of components is performed, the sample reaction liquid in the reaction tube 7 is aspirated while the photometry of the sample blank and the photometry of the item components of the sample are being carried out. From the nozzle 24 to the flow cell 21
and is photometered using the endpoint method or rate method.

Data such as photometrically measured sample blanks and analysis item components of the sample reaction liquid are sent to a data processing device, where they are processed to obtain and display analysis values for the target analysis items.

In this example, a three-way self-valve is used as the flow path switching valve, but by using a four-way port valve or three-way self-valve as the flow path switching valve, − number of flow cells can be used for photometry of multiple sample reaction liquids. Can be used for both.

(G) Effects of the Invention In the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention, since the flow cell is connected to the flow path switching valve, by switching the flow path, both the sample reaction liquid and the sample blank liquid can be passed through the flow cell for measurement. Now you can. Therefore, in the present invention, - number of flow cells are used for both sample blank measurement and sample reverse** measurement, and analysis of analysis items whose photometric values are affected by the coexistence of chromogen is completed. The photometric values of the sample blank and the photometric values of the sample analysis item components are both measured by the same flow cell, which is similar to that seen in conventional automatic chemical analyzers.
Theoretical errors related to differences in flow cells can be avoided.

Moreover, in order to analyze such analysis items with an automatic chemical analyzer, conventionally two flow cells were required, one for measuring the sample Pfunk and the other for measuring the sample reaction liquid, but the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention In this method, since one flow cell is used for these measurements, the number of flow cells used can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the present invention, in this way, - number of flow cells are used for sample blank measurement and sample reaction 8! The flow cell is saved by being used for measurement or for measuring multiple sample reaction liquids, but even with this method, these measurements require that the flow path of the flow path switching valve be changed during the stop time of intermittent movement of the reaction tube. Since it is easily performed by switching, it is easy to repeat and does not slow down the sample processing speed.

As described above, the present invention reduces the number of flow cells used compared to conventional devices, and enables more accurate analysis of analysis items that are affected by chlorine with high precision. , the impact on others is significant.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure shows an embodiment of the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram mainly showing a photometry section. As for the codes, 1 is automatic chemical analyzer, 2゜3,...
・4 is the reaction line, 5, 6. ...7 and 5'. 6', . . . 7' are reaction tubes, 8 is a reagent dispensing section, 9 is a photometric section, 9' is an optical path, 10, 11. ...12 is a reagent dispensing line, 13. ...21 is a blow cell, 16 is a flow path switching valve, 18, 20. ...24 is a suction nozzle. agent

Claims (1)

[Claims] At least one flow cell is provided with a flow path switching valve having one passage communicating with a suction nozzle located above the reaction vessel for the sample blank liquid and the other passage communicating with a suction nozzle positioned above the reaction vessel for the sample reaction liquid. An automatic chemical analyzer having a flow cell characterized by being in direct communication with both.