A blood sample testing apparatus may include: a blood-cell-count measurement unit that performs measurement of a blood sample stored in a sample container positioned in a first position; a smear preparation unit that prepares a smear of the blood sample stored in the sample container positioned in a second position; and a transport unit that transports the sample container from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

Each adapter disposed on a rack includes a pair of arms that configure an opening/closing mechanism. During rack conveyance, a guiding block is slotted between a pair of legs contained in the rack. The opening/closing mechanism being abutted against the guiding block causes the opening/closing mechanism to perform an opening/closing operation. When the state of the opening/closing mechanism is changed from closed to open, a pre-measurement sample container is passed from a sample storage unit to a lifting mechanism. Subsequent to the post-measurement sample container being returned to the sample storage unit, the state of the opening/closing mechanism is changed from open to closed.

An adapter is attached to each sample storage unit in a rack. Each adapter includes a pair of arms, and these arms include a pair of lower-end structural bodies. An opening force being imparted to a pair of the lower-end structural bodies in the horizontal direction when a sample container is mounted on the pair of lower-end structural bodies causes the bodies to retreat towards the outside in the horizontal direction. In the subsequent opened state, the sample container is passed from the rack to a lifting mechanism. In the closed state, pressure being applied to the sample container in the vertical direction causes a stopper segment, which is contained in each attachment, to be lowered. In this lowered state, the opening motion of the pair of arms is restricted.

An analyzer including a housing with a mutually adjacent first side and a second side, and an annular reagent holding part disposed within the housing is disclosed. An immunoassay method for measuring antigen or antibody of a measurement object contained in a sample and performed by the analyzer is also disclosed.

Provided is an automatic analysis device that enables a reagent to be reliably loaded in and loaded out within a stipulated amount of time, even during analysis and without stopping the analysis, and that enables a reagent to be exchanged without causing a long wait for the operator. Provided is the automatic analysis device that comprises the following: a reagent cooling box that cools and holds a plurality of reagent containers, and that accommodates therein a reagent holder for movably holding the reagent containers which are inside the reagent cooling box and a reagent loader for loading the reagent containers into and out of the reagent cooling box by moving in a vertical direction with respect to the reagent cooling box; a reagent cooling box cover that covers the upper surface of the reagent cooling box and that has an opening through which the reagent loader can pass; an instruction means that provides instructions for the movement of the reagent loader; and a control device that includes, within the time of one cycle, a first time slot in which an operation for analysis is carried out and a second time slot in which an operation for the loading in or out of the reagent containers is carried out, and that executes control so that the reagent loader is not moved if the driving of the reagent loader was instructed by the instruction means in the second time slot.

A method of handling laboratory sample containers is presented. The method comprises moving a laboratory sample container to a target position. The target position is a position at which the laboratory sample container is inserted into a corresponding orifice of a laboratory sample container rack provided that the laboratory sample container rack is placed at an intended position. The laboratory sample container is prevented from moving horizontally more than a predetermined horizontal distance if inserted into the corresponding orifice of the laboratory sample container rack. The method also comprises applying a force in a horizontal direction (xy) to the laboratory sample container, determining if the laboratory sample container moves in the horizontal direction (xy) more than the predetermined horizontal distance, and performing an error procedure if it is determined that the laboratory sample container moves in the horizontal direction (xy) more than the predetermined horizontal distance.

The specimen storage apparatus includes: a specimen conveyor line which conveys a specimen for which the pre-processing is completed and which is installed on a specimen conveyance holder; a lift mechanism capable of driving a specimen tray having the specimen installed therein in front-and-back and vertical directions; a specimen chuck mechanism which transfers the specimen from a specimen acquisition position of the specimen conveyor line to the specimen tray on the lift mechanism; a specimen storage unit which receives the specimen tray from the lift mechanism, includes hierarchical specimen storage spaces in a vertical direction, and accommodates a plurality of specimen trays in a lateral direction while keeping them cold; a shutter mechanism which is opened and closed at the time of delivery of the specimen tray between the lift mechanism and the specimen storage unit; and a control unit which controls each of the mechanisms.

A method and a device for transferring tubes between a laboratory automation system and a sample archiving system are presented. When transferring a tube from the laboratory automation system to the sample archiving system, a tube carrier carrying a tube is conveyed to a first take-over module via a first conveyor. At the first take-over module, the tube is removed from the tube carrier and the empty tube carrier is conveyed away from the first take-over module via a second conveyor. When transferring a tube from the sample archiving system to the laboratory automation system, an empty tube carrier is conveyed to a second take-over module via a third conveyor. At the second take-over module, at least one tube is inserted into the tube carrier and the tube carrier carrying the at least one tube is conveyed away from the second take-over module via a fourth conveyor.

An automatic analysis device has a structure that allows the operator to add or replace a reagent. A reagent container loading portion has an opening through which a reagent container is adapted to be introduced into the device. A reagent container transport tool has a plurality of reagent container insertion slots and is movable up and down. A refrigerator to cool a plurality of reagent containers has an opening that allows the reagent container transport tool to pass therethrough. An elevating and lowering mechanism is configured to elevate or lower the reagent container transport tool. A reagent container loading portion has a plurality of guide grooves arranged radially on its lower surface in front of the opening that are adapted to guide a reagent container. The guide grooves communicate with the respective reagent container insertion slots arranged radially on the reagent container transport tool at an elevated position.

Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.