Automatic analyzer

Abstract

A reagent container transfer mechanism transfers a reagent container selected from among reagent containers stored in a second reagent container storage section to a first reagent container storage section. A controller controls the reagent container transfer mechanism to transfer a reagent container from a second reagent container storage section to the first reagent container storage section on the basis of a predetermined priority condition. The predetermined priority condition is one of a reagent provided with an effective calibration curve result, a number of remaining tests, and an expiration date of a reagent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism, comprising a step of:
 transferring a regent container selected for reagent containers stored in a second reagent container storage section capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers to a first reagent container storage section capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers,   wherein the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers a regent container holding a reagent prior to other reagent containers based on at least predetermined conditions of the reagent having an effective calibration curve result and a number of remaining tests, when the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers the reagent container from the second reagent container storage section to the first reagent container storage section.   
     
     
         2 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined conditions further include an expiration date of a reagent. 
     
     
         3 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the reagent container transfer mechanism previously transfers a reagent container including remaining test number more than remaining test number of other reagent containers, based on the predetermined condition. 
     
     
         4 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers the reagent container based on a remaining test number when the reagent contained including a reagent to be previously transferred is not decided by the condition that the reagent has an effective curve result or not. 
     
     
         5 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined conditions further include a condition that a reagent container including a reagent to be previously transferred is decided based on an identification information read by an identification information reader. 
     
     
         6 . A method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism, comprising a step of:
 transferring a regent container selected for reagent containers stored in a second reagent container storage section capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers to a first reagent container storage section capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers,   wherein the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers a regent container holding a reagent prior to other reagent container based on at least predetermined conditions of the reagent having an effective calibration curve result and an expiration date of a reagent, when the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers the reagent container from the second reagent container storage section to the first reagent container storage section.   
     
     
         7 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined conditions further include a remaining number of tests of a reagent. 
     
     
         8 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein the reagent container transfer mechanism previously transfers a reagent container including remaining test number more than remaining test number of other reagent containers, based on the predetermined condition. 
     
     
         9 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers the reagent container based on the expiration date of the reagent when the reagent contained including a reagent to be previously transferred is not decided by the condition that the reagent has an effective curve result or not. 
     
     
         10 . The method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined conditions further include a condition that a reagent container including a reagent to be previously transferred is decided based on an identification information read by an identification information reader. 
     
     
         11 . A method for transferring a reagent container by a reagent container transfer mechanism, comprising a step of:
 transferring a regent container selected for reagent containers stored in a second reagent container storage section capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers to a first reagent container storage section capable of storing a plurality of reagent containers,   wherein the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers a regent container holding a reagent prior to other reagent containers based on at least one of following conditions:   (1) the reagent being indispensable to the start of an analysis,   (2) the reagent being already provided with an effective calibration curve result,   (3) the number of tests for which the reagent can be used in the analysis,   (4) the expiration date of the reagent,   when the reagent container transfer mechanism transfers the reagent container from the second reagent container storage section to the first reagent container storage section.