JPH0354472A - Method of controlling biochemical analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a container to rapidly correspond to the interruption of a liquid to be examined requiring urgent measurement by successively reading the attached data applied to a container by a reading means before taking out the liquid to be examined from the container. CONSTITUTION:The consecutive number of the liquid to be examined in each container 70 is applied to the container 70 arranged to a liquid-to-be-examined receiving means 13 as a bar code 70a. Now, when the liquid I to be examined is an urgent specimen, the data (containing an examination item) denoting that effect is written is a floppy disk FD by a writing apparatus when the liquid I is collected and the disk is inserted in the FD apparatus of analyser to be stored in the internal memory of a computer. During a time when a cer tain liquid to be examined is measured, a turntable 71 makes one revolution by a motor 72 and the consecutive number 70a applied to each container 70 is read by a bar code reader 73. By this constitution, from the stored data, it is confirmed that the liquid I is an urgent specimen and the examination item thereof is read and the liquid I is taken out of the container 70 by a spot deposition apparatus and immediately measured after the previous measurement is completed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is a method of spotting a test liquid such as blood or urine onto a long tape-shaped test film and measuring the optical density of the test film. This invention relates to a control method for a biochemical analyzer that determines the concentration of biochemical substances in a test liquid.

(Prior Art) Qualitative or quantitative analysis of specific chemical components in a test liquid is a commonly performed operation in various industrial fields. In particular, quantitative analysis of chemical components or formed components in biological body fluids such as blood and urine is extremely important in the field of clinical biochemistry.

In recent years, dry type chemical analysis slides have been developed that can quantitatively analyze specific chemical components or formed components contained in a test liquid by simply applying small droplets of the test liquid ( Special Publication No. 53-21677, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55
-184356, etc.) have been put into practical use. Using these chemical analysis slides, it is possible to analyze sample liquids more easily and quickly than conventional wet analysis methods, so they are especially useful for medical institutions that need to analyze a large number of test liquids. , research institutes, etc.

In order to quantitatively analyze the chemical components in a test liquid using such a chemical analysis slide, the test liquid is placed on the chemical analysis slide in a measured amount and then placed in an incubator. The temperature is maintained (incubated) for a predetermined period of time to cause a color reaction (pigment formation reaction), and then the measurement includes wavelengths preselected by a combination of the components in the test liquid and the reagents contained in the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide. The chemical analysis slide is irradiated with a specific irradiation light and its reflected optical density is measured.

In medical institutions, research laboratories, etc., it is necessary to analyze a large number of test liquids, so it is desirable to be able to perform the above-mentioned analyzes automatically and continuously. For this reason, various proposals have been made regarding biochemical analyzers that can automatically and continuously analyze test liquids using the above-mentioned slides (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-77746 ). In addition, as a means of automatically and continuously analyzing the test liquid, a long tape-shaped test film containing a reagent is used instead of the slide described above, and the test film is pulled out one by one and spotted in turn. Methods for incubation and measurement have also been proposed (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,526.480, U.S. Pat.
No. 677, JP-A-1-20458, JP-A No. 1-2
(See Publications No. 0454 and No. 1-20455).

In addition, among biochemical analyzers that use long tape-shaped test films, it is also possible to prepare long tape-shaped test films used to measure the concentration of each of multiple types of biochemical substances, and perform these tests. A large number of films are lined up and housed one by one in a test film storage means, and a large number of test liquids are also housed side by side, and each test liquid is taken out one after another and the product to be measured is measured for each test liquid. A biochemical analyzer is also designed to place a spot on a test film corresponding to a chemical substance (this is called a ``measurement item'') and measure its optical density to determine the concentration of the substance corresponding to each measurement item. (For example, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-2045
No. 3, No. 1-20454, No. I-20455).

(Problem 8 to be Solved by the Invention) A device that stores a plurality of types of test films one by one in the test film storage means lined up in large numbers as described above, and also stores a large number of test liquids side by side,
Since it is possible to automatically and continuously measure a large number of test liquids and a large number of measurement items, it is ideal for use in sequentially measuring a large number of test liquids in an assembly line.

However, sometimes a test liquid is brought in that needs to be measured urgently (hereinafter referred to as an "urgent sample"), taking priority over a large number of test liquids that are waiting to be measured. The question is whether to give priority to operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control method for a biochemical analyzer that can easily and quickly respond to interruptions caused by urgent specimens.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a biochemical analyzer that can quickly respond to interruptions caused by urgent specimens and has improved throughput per unit time.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a test liquid storage system that holds a plurality of containers each containing a test liquid and having attached information for specifying the measurement order of the test liquid. means, a reading means for sequentially reading the attached information attached to the container held in the test liquid storage means, a reading means that reacts with each biochemical substance in the test liquid prepared for each measurement item; A plurality of test film accommodating means each accommodating any one of a plurality of types of long tape-shaped test films each containing each reagent causing an optical density change and maintaining the test film at a first predetermined temperature; a portion of the test film to be used for the next measurement corresponding to the measurement item for the test liquid;
A transfer means for transferring the test film from inside the test film storage means to a predetermined position outside the test film storage means for each measurement; a transfer means for taking out the test liquid from the test liquid storage means and transferring it to the predetermined position of the test film; an incubator for keeping the portion of the test film transferred to the predetermined position at a second predetermined temperature;
and a biochemical analysis comprising measurement calculation means for measuring the optical density of the portion of the test film transferred to the predetermined position and determining the substance concentration of the biochemical substance in the test liquid based on the optical density. Regarding equipment.

A first control method of the present invention is a control method for the biochemical analyzer, in which, before the test liquid is taken out from the test liquid storage means using the spotting means, the reading means The present invention is characterized by comprising a step of sequentially reading the attached information attached to the container held in the test liquid storage means.

Further, a second control method of the present invention is a control method for the biochemical analyzer, wherein after the measurement of the optical density of the portion of the test film that has been transferred to the predetermined position is completed, the next control method of the biochemical analyzer is Before the measurement of the optical density is completed, the part used for the measurement of the liquid to be tested can be immediately transferred to the predetermined position. a step of recognizing the test liquid to be measured next by sequentially reading the attached information and taking out the recognized test liquid from the test liquid storage means using the spotting means; After the measurement of the optical density of the portion of the test film transferred to the predetermined position is completed, the next portion of each of the test films corresponding to one or more of the measurement items for the test liquid to be measured next is completed. The part to be used for measurement is transferred to each of the predetermined positions, and a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the transfer before the part to be used for the next measurement transferred to each of the predetermined positions reaches the second predetermined temperature. A step of moving the spotting means to a position where it can spot any one of the parts to be used for the next measurement transferred to each of the predetermined positions before the spotting is performed. It is characterized by this.

Here, the above-mentioned "attached information" may directly display the measurement order of the test liquids, but is not limited to this. For example, the attached information may directly display the measurement order of the test liquids. It may be possible to display only a serial number and to indirectly know the measurement order of the object to be inspected by comparing that number with other information.

(Function) The first control method of the present invention is to maintain a plurality of containers containing the test liquid and attached with attached information for specifying the measurement order of the test liquid. Using a biochemical analyzer equipped with a storage means and a reading means for reading the attached information attached to the container, each test liquid is Before starting the measurement, the attached information attached to the container held in the test liquid storage means is read sequentially, so the presence or absence of an emergency sample is automatically checked every time the measurement of one test liquid is completed. Therefore, interruptions caused by urgent specimens can be easily and quickly dealt with.

In addition to information on whether the corresponding test liquid is an emergency specimen, the above attached information usually includes information for identifying the test liquid (for example, a serial number, etc.). Alternatively, as mentioned above, it is possible that only information identifying the liquid to be tested is attached), and information to specify the test items for the liquid to be tested is also attached, and therefore, these various Adding information as to whether or not the test liquid is an emergency specimen in addition to the information is not a problem that requires much effort.

In addition, the second control method of the present invention is that the presence or absence of an emergency sample is automatically recognized every time the measurement of one test liquid is completed, and the interruption of the emergency sample can be promptly dealt with. In addition to the same effect as the control method described above, this method has the effect that wasted time is minimized and the throughput per unit area of the device is maximized. The second control method of the present invention has been achieved by focusing on the following points. That is, a) even after the spotting of a certain liquid to be inspected onto the test film is completed, the measurement of that liquid to be inspected continues, but the role of the spotting means for that liquid to be inspected ends. . Therefore, before the measurement of one liquid to be tested is completed, the next test liquid to be measured can be recognized and the liquid to be tested can be taken out from the liquid to be tested storage means using the spotting means. This can reduce wasted time.

h) Also, the part of the test film used for measurement is maintained at a first predetermined temperature in the test film storage means before being transferred. After transfer, the portion of the test film is maintained at a second predetermined temperature in an incubator. Therefore, the portion of the test film gradually shifts from the first predetermined temperature to the second predetermined temperature with a predetermined time lag after being transferred, but as long as these first and second predetermined temperatures are fixed, the test film The temporal change in temperature after the transfer of the part is always the same. Therefore, even if the spotting is performed while the temperature is changing, the measurement results can be corrected later as necessary, and the results are almost the same as if the spotting was done after the second predetermined temperature has been reached. Substance concentration can be determined with accuracy. Therefore, when spotting is performed and measurement is started without waiting for the part of the test film to be spotted to reach the second predetermined temperature, the spotting is performed after the part reaches the second predetermined temperature. Compared to the previous method, the time from transfer of the test film to its spotting is shortened, and therefore the throughput per unit time of the device is improved.

The second control method of the present invention is to read the attached information attached to the container using the reading means before the measurement of the test liquid currently being measured is completed. If the emergency specimen exists, the emergency specimen; if there is no emergency specimen, the specimen to be tested, which is determined by, for example, the chronological order in which the containers containing the test liquid were set in the test liquid storage means, or the order of the set placement positions, etc. After the test liquid is recognized and the test liquid is taken out from the test liquid storage means using a spotting means, and the measurement of the test liquid that has been measured up to that point is completed, the test necessary for the next measurement is performed. While transporting the film, the transported portion of the test film ( When multiple test films are transferred, the spotting means is moved to a position where it can be spotted on any one of the transferred portions of these multiple test films, so emergency specimens can be Interrupts can be dealt with promptly, wasted time is minimized, and processing capacity per unit time is maximized.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the biochemical analyzer of the present invention.

The illustrated biochemical analyzer 10 is equipped with a transparent lid 11, and the lid l1 is opened to accommodate and take out the test liquid, a long tape-shaped test film 12, etc. into the device 10. It is composed of This device 10 includes
For example, a test liquid storage means 13 is provided for accommodating a large number of test liquids such as serum, urine, etc. in a circular arrangement.
It is taken out and placed. The test film 12 is
A plurality of types of test films 12 are prepared corresponding to the measurement items, such as containing a reagent that exhibits a color reaction with only a specific chemical component or tangible component to be measured in the test liquid. The unused portion of the test film l2 is wound inside the film supply cassette 15, and the portion used for the above measurement is wound inside the film winding cassette 16. Also, the reel in this cassette 16
A test film l is placed in the center of a as described below.
2 into the apparatus lO, this test film 12
A hole 18b is provided which engages with the rotating shaft of a motor for drawing out the film from the film supply cassette t5. The test film l2 is stored in the device 10 while being wound in a cassette 15,18. The film supply cassette i5 and the film winding cassette 16 are separated as shown in this figure.

In order to measure a plurality of items at the same time using this device io, the test film storage section 17 is designed so that unused portions of a large number of test films 12 can be stored in parallel.
It consists of a large number of test film accommodating means each accommodating one film supply cassette 15.

The spotting means l4 has a spotting nozzle 14a at its tip,
The rail l is moved by the moving means 19 placed on the rail 18.
8 is moved in the extending direction, the test liquid is taken out from the test liquid storage means 13, and is spotted at a predetermined position on the test film I2 pulled out from each test film storage means as will be described later. The moving means 19 is also configured to move the spotting means 14 in the vertical direction, and when the moving means 19 moves the spotting means 14 in the left and right direction in which the rail 18 extends, the spotting means 14 is moved vertically. The means is in an elevated position, and is lowered when taking out the liquid to be tested, spotting it, and cleaning as described later.

After spotting on the test film 12, the spotting nozzle 14a connects the test film accommodating section 17 and the test liquid accommodating means 1.
3, it is cleaned by a nozzle cleaning section 20 located close to both, and is reused for the next spotting.

As will be described later, the spotted test film 12 is incubated in an incubator, and its optical density is measured by a photometric means 60 (see FIG. 4) provided for each test film storage means.

Control of the overall operation of the device 10, processing of measurement data, etc. are performed by the circuit section 21 and the computer 2 connected to this circuit section 2l.
2. The operation/display section 23 provided on the front side of the circuit section 2l includes a power switch for the device IO and a power switch for the device IO.
An ammeter and the like for monitoring current consumption in O is provided. The computer 22 includes a keyboard 24 for giving instructions to the device 10, a CRT display 25 for displaying auxiliary information for instructions, measurement results, etc., a printer 26 for printing out measurement results, and a keyboard 24 for giving various instructions to the device 10. A floppy disk device 27 is provided that accommodates a floppy disk for storing commands, measurement result data, and the like.

Figure 3 shows the biochemical analyzer lO whose perspective view is shown in Figure 2.
FIG.

A large number of test film storage means constituting the test film storage section l7 are configured such that predetermined positions 28 at which all the test films pulled out from the test film storage means are placed are arranged in a straight line. The nozzle cleaning section 20 and the test liquid extraction position 13b in the test wave storage means I3 are arranged in a straight line.

The test liquid storage means {3 is configured so that the test liquid contained in the container is stored one by one in each storage section 13a arranged in a substantially circular shape. In addition, this test liquid storage means 1
3 is configured such that each housing part 13a arranged in a substantially circular shape is rotated, and among the liquids to be tested stored in these housing parts 13a, the liquid to be tested to be used for the next measurement is placed at the extraction position. It is automatically rotated by a motor, which will be described later, so that it is located at L3b.

In order to prevent the liquid to be tested stored in the storage section 13a from being deteriorated due to evaporation, a lid (not shown) is placed over the storage section 13a other than the take-out position 13b. Test liquid storage means 1
The serial number of the liquid to be tested is attached to the container placed at 3 as a bar code. The test items for each liquid to be tested and information on whether each liquid to be tested is an emergency specimen can be found on a note placed in the room where the sample is being collected (for example, blood). This biochemical analyzer 10 is written to a floppy disk by the device.
When performing measurements using the floppy disk, the floppy disk is used as the floppy disk device 27 (
(see FIG. 2), the information is read from the floppy disk and stored in the internal memory, and read from the remote memory each time a measurement is made.

Note that this biochemical analyzer IO may be connected to a terminal device in the room where the test liquid is collected through a communication line, so that information can be input directly to the biochemical analyzer IO without going through a floppy disk. .

The point checking means l4 is moved in the extending direction of the rail by the moving means 19 mounted on the rail l8, and is moved to the take-out position 13b.
Take out the liquid to be tested and place it on the test film at a predetermined position 2.
Spot on B.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the cross section taken along line xx' in FIG. 3.

The test film 12 is stored in a film supply cassette 15 and loaded into the apparatus IO, and as it is used in the apparatus IO, it is sequentially wound onto a film winding cassette 16. The inside of the film supply cassette 15 is, for example, 1.
The film winding cassette t6 is housed in a cold storage 50 whose temperature is controlled to 5° C., and the film winding cassette t6 is housed in a winding chamber 5l. The cold storage 50 accommodates a film supply cassette 15 in an interior 50c surrounded by a heat insulating wall 50a.
0a includes a cooling device 5 for cooling the inside 50c to the above temperature.
8 is attached, and the inside 50c is kept at a substantially uniform temperature. By keeping the interior 50C at a low temperature as described above, the film supply cassette 15 in the interior 50c
The temperature is also maintained at the above-mentioned low temperature. In this embodiment, the temperature inside the cold storage of 15° C. corresponds to the first predetermined temperature according to the present invention. Further, a desiccant (not shown) is stored in the film supply cassette 15, and the interior of the cassette 15 is kept in a dry state. The test film l2 drawn out from the film take-out port 15d of the cassette l5 passes through the film draw-out port 50b of the heat insulating wall 50a, and is finally wound up into the film winding cassette l6.

A hole 18b provided in the center of the reel 16a in the film take-up cassette 16 is connected to a take-up motor 53, which is provided in the take-up chamber 5I and is an example of a transfer means according to the present invention. The shafts are engaged, and as the motor 53 rotates, the test film 12 is intermittently drawn out from the film supply cassette l5 via the film draw-out port 50b of the cold storage box 50 and wound onto the film winding cassette l6.

Film supply cassette 15 and film winding cassette 1B
An incubator 55 is disposed in the exposed part of the test film l2 between the two, and an incubator 55 is arranged in which the film is temporarily held and then passed through. A photometric means 60 for measuring the optical density is installed.

As described above, the test film 12 is intermittently pulled out from the cold storage 50 by the rotation of the motor 53, and is intermittently fed to the left in the figure. When the film 12 is fed, the upper lid 55a of the incubator 55 is raised in the direction of arrow A. The test film l2 is moved up M 5 5
a descends in the direction of arrow B and pushes the test film 12. Next, the shutter 54 that was blocking the nozzle insertion hole 55b of the upper lid 55a moves to the right in the figure, and then the nozzle 14
a descends as shown, and the liquid to be tested is spotted at a predetermined position 28 (see FIG. 3) on the test film 12 through the nozzle insertion hole 55b. Furthermore, the nozzle 14a
rises, the shutter 54 moves to the left, closes the nozzle insertion hole 55b, prevents air from entering and exiting the incubator 55 and the outside, and keeps the inside of the incubator at a predetermined temperature (
For example, the temperature is kept at 37°C. In this embodiment, this predetermined temperature corresponds to the second predetermined temperature according to the present invention. The part to be measured 12a on which the test liquid is spotted is placed in the incubator 5.
5, the temperature is maintained constant for a predetermined period of time (for example, 4 minutes). The photometric means 60 measures the optical density of the part to be measured 12a on which the test film 12 is applied before and after the application, after the end of incubation, or during the application. This concentration measurement involves irradiating the film 12 with light containing a pre-selected wavelength emitted from the light irradiator 6l.
This is performed by detecting the light incident on the film 12 and the light reflected from the film 12 using photodetectors 62 and 63, respectively.

The concentration signals measured and determined by the photometric means 60 are manually input to the computer 22 (see FIG. 2), and each is calculated using a conversion table (calibration curve) between optical density and substance concentration stored in the computer 22. The substance concentration of the biochemical substance in the test liquid corresponding to the measurement item is determined. In this embodiment, the combination of the photometric means 60 and the functions of the circuit section 21 and computer 22 for determining the substance concentration based on the measured optical density is considered to be the measurement calculation means according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along YY' in FIG. 3, showing the main parts of the test liquid storage means 13.

The liquid to be tested storage means 13 has a plurality of containers 70 filled with the liquid to be tested arranged in a circle along the periphery of a turntable 71 at the top thereof, and is configured such that the turntable 7l is rotated by a motor 72. There is. Each container 70 has a label 70a affixed thereon with attached information recorded as a bar code for identifying the liquid to be inspected inside, and a motor 72
As the turntable 7l rotates and each container passes a position facing the barcode reader 73, its barcode is read.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the operating sequence of the biochemical analyzer shown in FIGS. 2-5.

In preparation before starting the measurement, test liquids A, B,...
The container containing each of ・ and N is the test liquid storage means l3.
will be placed in In this embodiment, the measurement order is determined by the arrangement order of the test liquid storage means 13 in each storage section 13a (see FIG. 3), except for the emergency specimen. Additionally, barcode labels are affixed to these containers on which serial numbers are recorded to identify the test liquids A, B, . . . , N contained in each container.

In addition, when these test liquids A, B, ..., N are collected, the measurement items of these test liquids A, B, ..., N are as follows. This information is recorded on a floppy disk along with a serial number for identification, and this floppy disk is inserted into the floppy disk device 27 (see FIG. 2) of this biochemical analyzer 10, and this information is transferred to the internal memory of the computer 22. . In this case, it is assumed that none of the test liquids A, B, ..., N are emergency specimens, and the test liquids A, B,
. . , N are arranged in the test liquid storage means 13 so that N is measured in this order.

After the above preparations are completed, the device 10 starts measurement.

First, the turntable 7 is moved by the motor 72 shown in FIG.
1 rotates once, thereby each liquid to be tested A, B,...,
Barcode label 7 affixed to each container 70 containing N
The serial number (attached information) recorded in 0a is read by the barcode reader 73 (step a), and based on this reading, the presence or absence of the test liquid to be measured is determined (step b). The presence or absence of the test liquid to be measured can be determined by whether or not a container to which the barcode label 70a is attached is set on the turntable 71. Here, since there are unmeasured test liquids iA, B, . The information stored in the internal memory of the computer 22 is referred to, it is confirmed that there is no emergency specimen, and the next M
1. The liquid to be tested is recognized as the liquid to be tested A (step c), and the measurement items for the liquid to be tested A are read from the information in the internal memory (step d). After that, spotting means 1
4, the test liquid A is taken out from the test liquid storage means 13 (step e).

Until now, the test liquid ■ has been placed in a container with a barcode label affixed and set in the test liquid storage means 13, and the measurement items for the test liquid ■ and the relevant test dl have been confirmed as emergency samples. Assume that the information indicating that the serial number is transferred from the floppy disk to the internal memory.

The liquid to be inspected A is stored in the liquid to be inspected by the liquid to be inspected by the point monitoring means l4.
After the test liquid is removed from the test liquid A, a determination is made as to whether or not the measurement of the test liquid that was spotted before the test liquid A has been completed (step f). Since a new measurement has been started here, it is assumed that the measurement of the previously deposited test liquid has been completed.

Thereafter, one or more test films corresponding to the measurement items for the test liquid A are transferred (step g), and the film is stood by in this state (step h). During that time, the spotting means 14 that has taken out the test liquid A is moved by the moving means 19 (see FIG. 2) to spot it on a predetermined position 28 (see FIG. 3) on the transferred test film l2. (Step i). When a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the transfer of the test film 12, a predetermined position 28 of the test film l2
In addition, spotting is performed even if the predetermined position 28 has not reached the internal temperature of the incubator (step j). After this spotting, the optical density of the test liquid A is measured by the photometric means 60 (step k).

While the test liquid A is being measured, the turntable 7 is moved by the motor 72 shown in FIG. 5 in the same manner as described above.
1 rotates once, and the serial number affixed to each container 70 is read again by the barcode reader 73. Through this reading, the liquid to be tested next is once recognized as the liquid to be tested from the placement position of the container on the turntable 72, but from the information recorded in the internal memory of the computer 22, it is recognized that the liquid to be tested next is the liquid to be tested. It is recognized that the liquid I is an emergency specimen, the test items for the test liquid ■ are read out, and the spotting means I is
4, the test liquid I is taken out from the test liquid storage means 13 (steps a-e).

While the test liquid A is being measured, the above Q(a) is performed on the test liquid ■, and as soon as the measurement of all measurement items for the test liquid A is completed, for the test liquid ■, The operations of steps g-k described above are performed.

By repeating the above operations, efficient dpj determination is performed sequentially for a large number of test liquids, the wasted time of the biochemical analyzer IO is minimized, and the throughput per unit time of the biochemical analyzer 10 is increased. will improve. Further, as described above, it is possible to easily and quickly deal with interruptions caused by urgent specimens.

The above embodiment is an example in which the aim is to improve the processing capacity per unit time of the biochemical analyzer 10 in addition to dealing with the interruption of urgent specimens. If the purpose is to handle the test easily and quickly, before taking out the test liquid from the test liquid storage means 13 using the spotting means 14, turn the turntable 7l once and use the barcode reader 73 to remove the test liquid. It is only necessary to include a step of reading the barcode attached to each container 70.

In addition, the above embodiment is an example of a case where it is not directly attached to the container whether or not the test liquid contained in the container and placed in the test liquid storage means is an emergency specimen. It may also be attached directly to the Furthermore, information such as inspection items can be attached directly to the container. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the measurement order of test liquids other than emergency samples is determined by the arrangement position of the test liquid storage means 13, but regardless of the arrangement position, it may also be determined in the order of serial numbers attached to the containers, etc. It's good.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, the first control method of the present invention is that before taking out the test liquid from the test liquid storage means using the spotting means, the reading means Since the apparatus includes a step of sequentially reading the attached information attached to the containers held by the means, it is possible to easily and quickly deal with interruptions caused by urgent specimens.

Further, the second control method of the present invention is such that after the optical density measurement of the portion of the test film that has been transferred to the predetermined position is completed, the portion of the test film that will be used for the next measurement can be immediately transferred to the predetermined position. As such, before the measurement of the optical density is completed, the reading means sequentially reads the attached information attached to the container held in the test liquid storage means to recognize the test liquid to be measured next. After the process of taking out the recognized test liquid from the test liquid storage means using a spotting means and the measurement of the optical density of the portion transferred to a predetermined position of the test film, the next step is to The part of each test film that will be used for the next measurement corresponding to one or more measurement items for the test liquid is transferred to each predetermined position, and the part that is used for the next measurement that is transferred to each predetermined position is transferred to each predetermined position. Before the part reaches the second predetermined temperature and a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the transfer, a spot is placed on any one part of the part to be used for the next measurement that has been transferred to each predetermined position. Since it is equipped with a process to move the spotting means to a position where it can be deposited, it is possible to easily and quickly deal with interruptions of emergency specimens, and also minimizes wasted time and reduces processing time per unit time of the device. Your abilities will improve.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation sequence of the biochemical analyzer shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the biochemical analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a plan view of the main parts of the biochemical analyzer shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the cross section taken along line xx' in Figure 3; FIG. 5 shows Y in FIG. 3, showing the main parts of the test liquid storage means.
-Y' is a cross-sectional view along the line. IO...Biochemical analyzer 12a...Measurement part 13...Test liquid storage means 14...Spotting means 15...Film supply cassette 16...Film winding cassette 17... Test film storage section 21...Circuit section 22...Computer 12...Test film 14a...Dotting nozzle 12b...Measurement surface 2 Figure 3 Figure x゜

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A test liquid storage means for holding a plurality of containers each containing a test liquid and attached with attached information for specifying the measurement order of the test liquid, held in the test liquid storage means. a reading means for sequentially reading the attached information attached to the container, each containing a reagent prepared for each measurement item that causes a change in optical density by reacting with each biochemical substance in the test liquid; a plurality of test film accommodating means each accommodating any one of a plurality of types of long tape-shaped test films and maintaining it at a first predetermined temperature; and the measurement items for the liquid to be tested to be measured next. A transfer means for transferring a portion of the test film corresponding to the test film to be used for the next measurement from inside the test film storage means to a predetermined position outside the test film storage means for each measurement, from the test liquid storage means a spotting means for taking out the test liquid and spotting it on the portion of the test film that has been transferred to the predetermined position; an incubator that maintains the portion of the test film that has been transferred to the predetermined position at a second predetermined temperature; A biochemical analysis device comprising measurement calculation means for measuring the optical density of the portion of the test film transferred to the predetermined position and determining the substance concentration of the biochemical substance in the test liquid based on the optical density. A control method, wherein before the liquid to be tested is taken out from the liquid to be tested using the spotting means, the reading means is applied to the container held in the liquid to be tested by the reading means. A method for controlling a biochemical analyzer, comprising the step of sequentially reading the attached information. (2) A test liquid storage means for holding a plurality of containers each containing a test liquid and attached with attached information for specifying the measurement order of the test liquid, held in the test liquid storage means. a reading means for sequentially reading the attached information attached to the container, each containing a reagent prepared for each measurement item that causes a change in optical density by reacting with each biochemical substance in the test liquid; a plurality of test film accommodating means each accommodating any one of a plurality of types of long tape-shaped test films and maintaining it at a first predetermined temperature; and the measurement items for the liquid to be tested to be measured next. A transfer means for transferring a portion of the test film corresponding to the test film to be used for the next measurement from inside the test film storage means to a predetermined position outside the test film storage means for each measurement, from the test liquid storage means a spotting means for taking out the test liquid and spotting it on the portion of the test film that has been transferred to the predetermined position; an incubator that maintains the portion of the test film that has been transferred to the predetermined position at a second predetermined temperature; A biochemical analysis device comprising measurement calculation means for measuring the optical density of the portion of the test film transferred to the predetermined position and determining the substance concentration of the biochemical substance in the test liquid based on the optical density. The control method is such that after the optical density measurement of the portion of the test film transferred to the predetermined position is completed, the portion of the test film to be used for the next measurement can be immediately transferred to the predetermined position. Before the measurement of the optical density is completed, the reading means sequentially reads the attached information attached to the container held in the test liquid storage means, thereby determining the test liquid to be measured next. and taking out the recognized test liquid from the test liquid storage means using the spotting means, and measuring the optical density of the portion of the test film transferred to the predetermined position. After completion, the portions of each of the test films to be used for the next measurement, which correspond to one or more of the measurement items for the liquid to be tested next, are transferred to each of the predetermined positions, and each The part to be used for the next measurement transferred to the predetermined position is transferred to each of the predetermined positions by the time when spotting is performed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the transfer before the part used for the next measurement reaches the second predetermined temperature. 1. A method for controlling a biochemical analyzer, comprising the step of moving the spotting means to a position where it can be spotted on any one of the parts to be used for the next measurement.