Light-emission analysis device and light-emission analysis method

Abstract

The present application provides a luminescence analysis device and a luminescence analysis method, which can accurately determine whether a measuring container is stored in a measuring chamber and obtain the concentration of a component to be measured without using a special light detector and a container, etc. When the door (12) of the measuring chamber (10) is in an open state and then becomes a closed state, it is determined whether the measuring container (1) is stored in the measuring chamber (10) according to whether the light detector (20) can detect the background luminescence of the luminescence reagent itself, and when it is determined that the measuring container (1) is stored in the measuring chamber (10), the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution is obtained according to the luminescence amount detected by the light detector (20).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a luminescence analysis device and a luminescence analysis method. More specifically, the present application relates to a luminescence analysis device and a luminescence analysis method that enable simple implementation of luminescence analysis based on bioluminescence and chemiluminescence. BACKGROUND

[0002] Since bioluminescence and chemiluminescence enable quantification of trace substances in a sample solution, they are used in various fields such as medicine, biochemistry, clinical examination, agriculture, and food-related fields.

[0003] For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a bioluminescence method for high-sensitivity detection of endotoxin, which causes a luminescent substrate to be released from a synthetic substrate by a reagent activated by endotoxin and causes the released luminescent substrate to emit light.

[0004] As a device for implementing luminescence analysis, Patent Literature 2 discloses a sample luminescence measuring device that has a reagent injection device that injects a luminescent reagent into a light-transmissive measuring container stored in a measuring chamber.

[0005] In order to avoid injection of the luminescent reagent in a state where the measuring container is not stored in the measuring chamber, the device of Patent Literature 2 judges that the measuring container has been stored in the measuring chamber only when natural luminescence emitted by the measuring container itself is detected, and injects the luminescent reagent.

[0006] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0007] PATENT LITERATURE

[0008] Patent Literature 1: International Publication No. 2009 / 063840

[0009] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-270153 SUMMARY

[0010] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0011] However, the device of Patent Literature 2 is complicated because it has the reagent injection device that injects the luminescent reagent.

[0012] Therefore, the present inventors and others have conceived that, if the luminescent reagent is added to the measuring container together with the sample solution in advance, it is possible to simply perform analysis by storing the measuring container in the measuring chamber of the luminescence analysis device that automatically starts measurement in accordance with opening and closing of a door of the measuring chamber.

[0013] However, in this case, if measurement is automatically started in accordance with opening and closing of the door of the measuring chamber, there is a possibility that the luminescence analysis device erroneously judges that the measuring container has been stored in the measuring chamber and makes an erroneous judgment that the component to be measured is not contained.

[0014] When a plurality of sample liquids are sequentially added to a measurement container to which a sample and a luminescent reagent have been added, and the measurement container is stored in a measurement chamber of a luminescent analysis device and a determination result is recorded, in a case where a determination result is recorded although the measurement container is not stored in the measurement chamber, the determination result can be erroneously recognized as a determination result of a certain specific sample liquid.

[0015] Therefore, the present inventors and others have studied a scheme in which, as in Patent Literature 2, it is determined that the measurement container has been stored in the measurement chamber only when natural luminescence emitted by the container itself is detected.

[0016] However, the present inventors and others have found the following problems in studying the method disclosed in Patent Literature 2 for determining whether the measurement container has been stored.

[0017] In order for the container itself to emit luminescence, the container needs to be excited with external light. Therefore, in a case where the external light is weak, when the time of exposure to the external light is short, it is difficult to detect the natural luminescence emitted by the container itself.

[0018] For example, it is difficult to detect when the container is set immediately after being taken out of a case or the like.

[0019] Furthermore, since the natural luminescence emitted by the container itself is extremely weak, in order to suppress stray light, it is necessary to use a measurement chamber that can strictly shield external light, and it is also necessary to use an expensive light detector with higher sensitivity.

[0020] Moreover, when the wavelength of the natural luminescence emitted by the container itself is different from the wavelength of the luminescence originating from the luminescent reagent, it is necessary to prepare a light detector for detecting the natural luminescence of the container in addition to the light detector for detecting the luminescence originating from the luminescent reagent.

[0021] Furthermore, it is also necessary to use a container of a specific material to ensure that the natural luminescence of the container coincides with the detection wavelength range and detection sensitivity of the light detector for detecting the natural luminescence.

[0022] The present application has been achieved in view of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a luminescent analysis device with which it is possible to accurately determine whether a measurement container has been stored in a measurement chamber and to obtain the concentration of a component to be measured, without using a special light detector and a container or the like, simply by storing the measurement container in the measurement chamber. Furthermore, the present application aims to provide a luminescent analysis method with which it is possible to obtain the concentration of a component to be measured by using the luminescent analysis device with simple operation.

[0023] Technical Solution to the Problem

[0024] In order to achieve the above-described object, the present application adopts the following configuration.

[0025] A luminescence analysis device according to a first aspect of the present application includes:

[0026] a measurement chamber that is capable of housing a measurement container in a state in which external light is shielded;

[0027] a light detector that detects light from inside a measurement container housed in the measurement chamber; and

[0028] a calculation device that is inputted with a luminescence amount detected by the light detector,

[0029] the measurement container is a container that contains a sample liquid and a luminescent reagent that luminesces in response to a component to be measured in the sample liquid,

[0030] the measurement chamber has a measurement chamber main body that has an opening portion, and a door that covers the opening portion of the measurement chamber main body in an openable and closable manner,

[0031] when the door is in an open state and then becomes a closed state, the calculation device determines whether or not the measurement container has been housed in the measurement chamber based on whether or not the light detector can detect background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself, and when it is determined that the measurement container has been housed in the measurement chamber, a concentration of the component to be measured in the sample liquid is obtained based on the luminescence amount detected by the light detector.

[0032] A luminescence analysis device according to a second aspect of the present application includes:

[0033] a measurement chamber that is capable of housing a measurement container in a state in which external light is shielded;

[0034] a light detector that detects light from inside a measurement container housed in the measurement chamber; and

[0035] a calculation device that is inputted with a luminescence amount detected by the light detector,

[0036] the measurement container is a container that contains a sample liquid and a luminescent reagent that luminesces in response to a component to be measured in the sample liquid, and a luminescent substance,

[0037] the measurement chamber has a measurement chamber main body that has an opening portion, and a door that covers the opening portion of the measurement chamber main body in an openable and closable manner,

[0038] When the door is in the open state and then becomes in the closed state, the operation device judges whether the measurement container has been stored in the measurement chamber based on whether the light detector can detect the luminescence combining the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself and the luminescence of the luminescent substance, and when it is judged that the measurement container has been stored in the measurement chamber, the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution is obtained based on the amount of luminescence detected by the light detector.

[0039] The third aspect of the present application is the luminescence analysis device according to the first aspect or the second aspect, characterized in that the light detector detects light only when the door is in the closed state.

[0040] The fourth aspect of the present application is a luminescence analysis method for analyzing a component to be measured in a sample solution using the luminescence analysis device according to the first aspect, characterized in that,

[0041] the sample solution is injected into a measurement container that has been previously housed with the luminescent reagent,

[0042] after the measurement container into which the sample solution has been injected is stored in the measurement chamber, the door is brought into the closed state.

[0043] The fifth aspect of the present application is a luminescence analysis method for analyzing a component to be measured in a sample solution using the luminescence analysis device according to the second aspect, characterized in that,

[0044] the sample solution is injected into a measurement container that has been previously housed with the luminescent reagent and the luminescent substance,

[0045] after the measurement container into which the sample solution has been injected is stored in the measurement chamber, the door is brought into the closed state.

[0046] The sixth aspect of the present application is the luminescence analysis method according to the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect, characterized in that a reagent that emits light by bioluminescence is used as the luminescent reagent.

[0047] Effects of the Invention

[0048] The luminescence analysis device according to the present application can accurately judge whether a measurement container has been stored in a measurement chamber and obtain the concentration of a component to be measured without using a special light detector and container, etc., by only storing the measurement container in the measurement chamber.

[0049] The luminescence analysis method according to the present application can obtain the concentration of a component to be measured with a simple operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0050] Figure 1 is a structural schematic view of a luminescence analysis device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] [First Embodiment]

[0052] Figure 1 A luminescence analysis device is one embodiment of the present application. The luminescence analysis device of the present embodiment is provided with: a measurement chamber 10 which can store a measurement container 1; a light detector 20 which detects light from inside the measurement container 1 housed in the measurement chamber 10; and a computing device 30 which is inputted with the amount of luminescence detected by the light detector 20.

[0053] The measurement chamber 10 is composed of a bottomed cylindrical measurement chamber main body 11 whose upper end is an open portion 11a, and a door 12 which covers the open portion 11a in an openable and closable manner.

[0054] The measurement chamber main body 11 is light-shielded except for a light-transmissive detection window 11b provided on the side surface. Also, the door 12 is light-shielded.

[0055] When the door 12 is in an open state (the state of the door 12 in the broken line in FIG. 1), the measurement container 1 can be taken out of / put into the measurement chamber main body 11 from / into the open portion 11a. Also, when the door 12 is in a closed state (the state of the door 12 in the solid line in FIG. 1), the measurement chamber 10 can shield external light from entering the inside of the measurement chamber 10. Figure 1 Figure 1

[0056] As the light detector 20, a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, a phototransistor, an avalanche photodiode, or the like can be appropriately used.

[0057] In the present embodiment, the light detector 20 detects light only when the door 12 is in the closed state. For example, when the light detector 20 is a photomultiplier tube, a voltage is applied to the light detector 20 only when the door 12 is in the closed state.

[0058] The method of detecting light by the light detector 20 only when the door 12 is in the closed state is not particularly limited, and for example, can be a method in which the door 12 itself is used as a switch, and the circuit which applies a voltage to the light detector 20 is closed by the top end of the door 12 contacting the periphery of the open portion 11a of the measurement chamber main body 11. Also, the light detector 20 can be caused to operate in accordance with the result of the determination of the open / close state of the door 12 made by the computing device 30 described later.

[0059] The measurement container 1 housed in the measurement chamber 10 is composed of a bottomed cylindrical container main body 2 whose upper end is open, and a lid 3 which liquid-tightly closes the upper end of the container main body 2.

[0060] ​​The container body 2 is made of a transparent material such as glass to ensure sufficient light transmission at least in the wavelength range of light to be detected by the light detector 20.

[0061] In the first embodiment, the measurement solution 4 contained in the measurement container 1 includes a sample solution and a luminescent reagent that emits light in response to a component to be measured in the sample solution.

[0062] In the present application, the luminescent reagent means a reagent or a group of reagents necessary to generate luminescence corresponding to the concentration of the component to be measured, and a group of reagents composed of a plurality of reagents corresponds to the luminescent reagent.

[0063] For example, when the component to be measured is a microbial impurity such as endotoxin or β-glucan, and analysis is performed using bioluminescence, a luminescent reagent including a reagent activated by the microbial impurity, a luminescent synthetic substrate that releases a luminescent substrate from the activated reagent activated by the microbial impurity, a luminescent enzyme that emits light from the released luminescent substrate, and other compounds necessary for the luminescent reaction are used.

[0064] Next, the luminescent reagent when the component to be measured is endotoxin will be described in detail.

[0065] As the reagent activated by endotoxin, a reagent containing a factor C activated by binding with endotoxin is preferable, and a reagent containing, in addition to the factor C, a factor B activated by the active factor C and a pre-clotting enzyme activated by the active factor B and generating a clotting enzyme is more preferable. As the reagent containing the factor C, the factor B, and the pre-clotting enzyme, a limulus hemocyte extract component (lysis reagent) can be preferably used.

[0066] As the luminescent synthetic substrate, a luminescent synthetic substrate in which a luminescent substrate is bound to a peptide can be used. As the luminescent synthetic substrate when the component to be measured is endotoxin, a substance having a structure in which the binding of the luminescent substrate to the peptide is cleaved by the action (protease activity) of at least any one of the active factor C, the active factor B, and the clotting enzyme can be used.

[0067] As the luminescent substrate, fluorescein can be preferably used. As the peptide bound to the luminescent substrate, an amino acid sequence in which the amide binding of the fluorescein to the C-terminal of the peptide is cleaved by the protease activity of at least any one of the active factor C, the active factor B, and the clotting enzyme can be used.

[0068] The luminescent enzyme is an enzyme that catalyzes bioluminescence of the luminescent substrate released from the luminescent synthetic substrate to generate light. When the luminescent substrate is fluorescein, the luminescent enzyme is luciferase, and the other compounds necessary for the luminescent reaction are ATP and a divalent metal ion.

[0069] Note that, when the sample solution contains salt, the luminescent reagent can further contain NaCl in order to eliminate errors due to the concentration of the salt.

[0070] When the door 12 is in the open state and then becomes the closed state, the operation device 30 judges whether the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10 based on whether the light detector 20 can detect the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself.

[0071] Further, when it is judged that the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10, the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution that constitutes the measurement solution 4 is obtained based on the amount of luminescence detected by the light detector 20.

[0072] The method by which the operation device 30 judges the open / close state of the door 12 is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, a method in which the door 12 itself is used as a switch, and the circuit that applies voltage to the light detector 20 is closed by the top end of the door 12 contacting the periphery of the opening portion 11a of the measurement chamber main body 11. In addition, a contact sensor or the like that senses the contact of the top end of the door 12 with the periphery of the opening portion 11a of the measurement chamber main body 11 can also be used.

[0073] When the door 12 is in the open state and then becomes the closed state, it is judged whether the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10. The judgment of whether it has been stored is made based on whether the light detector 20 can detect the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself.

[0074] The background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself is produced, for example, by the luminescence of free luminescent substrate included in the luminescent synthesis substrate due to the luminescent enzyme.

[0075] Specifically, it is judged whether the background luminescence can be detected based on whether the amount of luminescence detected by the light detector 20 is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value.

[0076] The threshold value is the amount of luminescence that can be clearly judged to be the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself.

[0077] Note that, the amount of luminescence of natural luminescence emitted from the measurement container 1 or an amount of luminescence close to this amount should not be used as the threshold value. This is because, if the extremely small amount of luminescence of natural luminescence emitted from the measurement container 1 is used as the threshold value, it is necessary to prepare a light detector 20 with extremely high sensitivity, and it is difficult to accurately judge the presence or absence of the background luminescence.

[0078] The amount of luminescence of the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself can be confirmed by measuring the amount of luminescence of the measurement solution 4 that contains a blank solution that does not contain the component to be measured and the luminescent reagent.

[0079] The threshold value is preferably 10% to 100% of the luminescence amount of the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself, more preferably 30% to 70%, and for example, can be about 50%.

[0080] When the operation device 30 determines that the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10, the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution constituting the measurement solution 4 is calculated from the luminescence amount detected by the light detector 20.

[0081] A calibration curve showing the relationship between the luminescence amount and the concentration of the component to be measured is stored in advance in the operation device 30, and the concentration of the component to be measured is calculated from the detected luminescence amount based on the calibration curve.

[0082] Preferably, the calculated concentration of the component to be measured can be displayed on a display device built in the luminescence analysis device of the present embodiment or an independent display device, and can be output to a built-in or independent printer or an external computer.

[0083] When the luminescence analysis method is performed using the luminescence analysis device of the first embodiment, preferably, the luminescent reagent is accommodated in the measurement container 1 in advance before the sample solution is injected into the measurement container 1. For example, the luminescent reagent can be attached to the bottom of the container main body 2 in a freeze-dried state in advance.

[0084] As long as the luminescent reagent is accommodated in the measurement container 1 in advance, only the sample solution needs to be injected into the measurement container 1, and it can be used in the analysis using the luminescence analysis device of the present embodiment.

[0085] That is, the sample solution is injected into the measurement container 1 in which the luminescent reagent is accommodated in advance, and after the measurement container 1 into which the sample solution is injected is stored in the measurement chamber 10, the light detector 20 detects the light from the measurement container 1 when the door 12 is closed. Regardless of whether the component to be measured is contained in the sample solution or not, since the luminescence amount detected by the light detector 20 is at least the luminescence amount of the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself or more, it exceeds the threshold value. Therefore, the operation device 30 determines that the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10, and the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution is calculated from the luminescence amount detected by the light detector 20 and the calibration curve stored in advance.

[0086] Note that in the calibration curve, the luminescence amount corresponding to the concentration of the component to be measured being zero is equal to the luminescence amount corresponding to the luminescence amount of the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself.

[0087] If the door 12 is opened and closed, but the measurement container 1 is not stored in the measurement chamber 10, the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 is not the amount of light of the background light emission of the light emitting reagent itself, and does not exceed the threshold value. Therefore, the operation device 30 determines that the measurement container 1 is not stored in the measurement chamber 10, and does not calculate the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation where the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution or the like for the next measurement is erroneously assumed to be zero.

[0088] When the sensitivity of the light detector 20 is confirmed, a blank solution not containing the component to be measured is used as the sample solution in the measurement solution 4. Further, the operator stores the measurement container 1 containing the measurement solution 4 including the blank solution in the measurement chamber 10 and performs an input operation to request confirmation of the sensitivity.

[0089] Then, the operation device 30 compares the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 with the amount of light of the calibration curve stored in advance at which the concentration of the component to be measured is zero, and confirms the change in the sensitivity of the light detector 20.

[0090] Here, the amount of light of the calibration curve stored in advance at which the concentration of the component to be measured is zero (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "zero reference amount of light") corresponds to the background light emission of the light emitting reagent itself. The background light emission of the light emitting reagent itself is generated, for example, by the light emission of free light emitting substrates included in the light emission synthetic substrate due to the light emitting enzyme.

[0091] The operation device 30 compares the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 with the zero reference amount of light. The comparison is performed, for example, by calculating the ratio of the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 to the zero reference amount of light or by calculating the difference between them.

[0092] When the ratio of the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 to the zero reference amount of light is calculated, in a case where the calculated ratio is smaller than or exceeds a predetermined prescribed range, the operation device 30 determines that the sensitivity of the light detector 20 has changed beyond the prescribed allowable range.

[0093] Further, when the difference is calculated, in a case where the calculated difference exceeds a predetermined prescribed range, the operation device 30 determines that the sensitivity of the light detector 20 has changed beyond the prescribed allowable range.

[0094] The prescribed range can be appropriately set according to the required measurement accuracy or the like and stored in the operation device 30.

[0095] When the operation device 30 confirms that the sensitivity of the light detector 20 has changed beyond the prescribed allowable range, the operator can be caused to take measures such as adjustment of the sensitivity of the light detector 20 or replacement of the light detector 20 by outputting an alarm or the like.

[0096] If the light detector 20 is a photomultiplier tube, the sensitivity of the light detector 20 can be adjusted by changing the voltage applied to the light detector 20.

[0097] [Second Embodiment]

[0098] The device configuration of the luminescence analysis device of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2, includes a measurement chamber 10 that can store a measurement container 1, a light detector 20 that detects light from the measurement container 1 stored in the measurement chamber 10, and a computing device 30 that is inputted with the amount of luminescence detected by the light detector 20. Figure 1

[0099] In the luminescence analysis device of the second embodiment, the measurement solution 4 stored in the measurement container 1 is different. In addition, the operation of the computing device 30 is also different in correspondence with the difference in the measurement solution 4. Other matters are the same as those of the luminescence analysis device of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[0100] In the second embodiment, the measurement solution 4 stored in the measurement container 1 includes a sample solution and a luminescent reagent and a luminescent substance that luminesce in response to a component to be measured in the sample solution.

[0101] As in the description in the first embodiment, the luminescent reagent means a reagent or a group of reagents necessary to generate luminescence corresponding to the concentration of the component to be measured, and a group of reagents composed of a plurality of reagents corresponds to the luminescent reagent.

[0102] In the present application, the luminescent substance is a substance that luminesces in response to the luminescent reagent in the absence of the component to be measured, or a substance that luminesces by itself, and can also be a group of reagents composed of a plurality of reagents.

[0103] The wavelength range of the light emitted from the luminescent substance is preferably equal to, and more preferably the same as, the wavelength range of the light emitted in response to the component to be measured acting on the luminescent reagent. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10 based on a common signal from the light detector 20.

[0104] As the substance that luminesces in response to the luminescent reagent in the absence of the component to be measured, for example, there can be a luminescent substrate that luminesces in response to a luminescent enzyme included in the luminescent reagent, and when the luminescent enzyme is firefly luciferase, there can be luciferin or the like.

[0105] As the substance that luminesces by itself, there can be a combination of another luminescent enzyme different from the luminescent enzyme included in the luminescent reagent and a luminescent substrate that luminesces in response to the another luminescent enzyme, for example, a combination of click beetle luciferase and luciferin, a combination of sea pansy luciferase and coelenterazine, or the like.

[0106] ​When the luminescent substance is a combination of a luminescent substrate that emits light due to a luminescent enzyme contained in the luminescent reagent and a luminescent substrate that emits light due to the other luminescent enzyme, it is preferable that the combination emit light in a wavelength range equivalent to that of the luminescent substrate that emits light due to the luminescent synthesis substrate contained in the luminescent reagent.

[0107] For example, as the luminescent substance when the luminescent reagent contains a luminescent synthesis substrate that releases aminofluorescein and the luminescent enzyme contains luciferase, it is preferable to use aminofluorescein.

[0108] When the luminescent substance is a combination of a luminescent substrate that emits light due to a luminescent enzyme contained in the luminescent reagent and a luminescent substrate that emits light due to the other luminescent enzyme, it is preferable that the combination emit light in a wavelength range equivalent to that of the luminescent substrate that emits light due to the luminescent synthesis substrate contained in the luminescent reagent.

[0109] For example, as the luminescent substance when the luminescent reagent contains a luminescent synthesis substrate that releases aminofluorescein and the luminescent enzyme uses luciferase, it is preferable to use a combination of click beetle luciferase and fluorescein.

[0110] When the door 12 is in the open state and then becomes the closed state, the operation device 30 judges whether or not the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10 based on whether or not the light detector 20 can detect the luminescence that combines the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself and the luminescence of the luminescent substance.

[0111] Further, when it is judged that the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10, the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution that constitutes the measurement solution 4 is obtained based on the amount of luminescence detected by the light detector 20.

[0112] The method by which the operation device 30 judges the open / close state of the door 12 is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0113] The amount of luminescence of the luminescence that combines the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself and the luminescence of the luminescent substance is greater than in the case of the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself alone. Therefore, it is possible to more easily judge whether or not the measurement container 1 has been stored in the measurement chamber 10.

[0114] Specifically, it is judged whether or not the luminescence that combines the background luminescence and the luminescence of the luminescent substance can be detected based on whether or not the amount of luminescence detected by the light detector 20 is equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold value.

[0115] The threshold value is an amount of luminescence that can be definitely judged to be the luminescence that combines the background luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself and the luminescence of the luminescent substance.

[0116] Note that the amount of light emitted from the measuring container 1 by natural light emission or an amount of light close to the amount of light emitted by natural light emission should not be used as the threshold value. This is because, if the extremely small amount of light emitted from the measuring container 1 by natural light emission is used as the threshold value, a light detector 20 having extremely high sensitivity must be prepared, and it is difficult to accurately determine the presence or absence of light emission combined with the background light emission and the light emission of the light emitting substance.

[0117] The amount of light emitted by light emission combined with the background light emission of the light emitting reagent itself and the light emission of the light emitting substance can be confirmed by measuring the amount of light emitted from the measuring solution 4 containing the blank solution, the light emitting reagent, and the light emitting substance using a sample solution not containing the component to be measured as the blank solution.

[0118] The threshold value is preferably 10% to 100% of the amount of light emitted by light emission combined with the background light emission of the light emitting reagent itself and the light emission of the light emitting substance, more preferably 30% to 70%, and for example, can be about 50%.

[0119] When the operation device 30 determines that the measuring container 1 has been stored in the measuring chamber 10, the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution constituting the measuring solution 4 is calculated based on the amount of light detected by the light detector 20.

[0120] A calibration curve showing the relationship between the amount of light and the concentration of the component to be measured is stored in advance in the operation device 30, and the concentration of the component to be measured is calculated from the detected amount of light based on the calibration curve.

[0121] Preferably, the calculated concentration of the component to be measured can be displayed on a display device built into the luminescence analysis device of the present embodiment or an independent display device, and can be output to a built-in or independent printer or an external computer.

[0122] When the luminescence analysis method is performed using the luminescence analysis device of the second embodiment, it is preferable that the light emitting reagent and the light emitting substance are accommodated in the measuring container 1 in advance before the sample solution is injected into the measuring container 1. For example, the light emitting reagent and the light emitting substance can be attached to the bottom of the container main body 2 in a freeze-dried state in advance.

[0123] As long as the light emitting reagent and the light emitting substance are accommodated in the measuring container 1 in advance, the sample solution can be injected into the measuring container 1, and the analysis using the luminescence analysis device of the present embodiment can be performed.

[0124] That is, after the sample solution is injected into the measurement container 1 in which the light emitting reagent and the light emitting substance are accommodated in advance, the measurement container 1 in which the sample solution is injected is stored in the measurement chamber 10, and when the door 12 is closed, the light detector 20 detects the light from the measurement container 1. Whether or not the sample solution contains the component to be measured, since the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 is at least the amount of light in which the background light of the light emitting reagent itself and the light of the light emitting substance are combined, it exceeds the threshold value. Therefore, the arithmetic device 30 determines that the measurement container 1 is stored in the measurement chamber 10, and calculates the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution based on the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 and the calibration curve stored in advance.

[0125] Note that, in the calibration curve, the amount of light corresponding to the concentration of the component to be measured being zero is equal to the amount of light in which the background light of the light emitting reagent itself and the light of the light emitting substance are combined.

[0126] If the door 12 is opened and closed, but the measurement container 1 is not stored in the measurement chamber 10, the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 is not the amount of light in which the background light of the light emitting reagent itself and the light of the light emitting substance are combined, and does not exceed the threshold value. Therefore, the arithmetic device 30 determines that the measurement container 1 is not stored in the measurement chamber 10, and does not calculate the concentration of the component to be measured in the sample solution. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a mistake that the concentration of the component to be measured of the sample solution or the like to be measured next is zero.

[0127] When the sensitivity of the light detector 20 is confirmed, a blank solution not containing the component to be measured is used as the sample solution in the measurement solution 4. Further, the operator stores the measurement container 1 in which the measurement solution 4 containing the blank solution is accommodated in the measurement chamber 10 and performs an input operation required to confirm the sensitivity.

[0128] Then, the arithmetic device 30 compares the amount of light detected by the light detector 20 with the amount of light of the calibration curve stored in advance when the concentration of the component to be measured is zero, and confirms the change in the sensitivity of the light detector 20.

[0129] Here, the amount of light of the calibration curve stored in advance when the concentration of the component to be measured is zero corresponds to the amount of light in which the background light of the light emitting reagent itself and the light of the light emitting substance are combined.

[0130] The comparison method and the use method of the comparison result are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0131] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0132] 1 Measurement container

[0133] 2 Container main body

[0134] 3 Cover

[0135] 4 Measurement solution

[0136] 10 measurement chamber

[0137] 11 measurement chamber body

[0138] 11a opening portion

[0139] 11b detection window

[0140] 12 door

[0141] 20 light detector

[0142] 30 arithmetic device

Claims

1. A luminescence analysis device, characterized by, Possessing: a measurement chamber capable of housing a measurement container in a state in which external light is shielded; a light detector that detects light from within a measurement container housed in the measurement chamber; and an arithmetic device that is inputted with an amount of light detected by the light detector, the measurement container is a container that contains a sample liquid and a luminescent reagent that luminesces in reaction with a component to be measured in the sample liquid, the measurement chamber has a measurement chamber main body that has an opening portion, and a door that covers the opening portion of the measurement chamber main body in an openable and closable manner, when the door is in an open state and then becomes a closed state, the arithmetic device judges whether or not the luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself can be detected based on whether or not an amount of light of the luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself detected by the light detector is equal to or greater than a threshold value, thereby judging whether or not the measurement container has been housed in the measurement chamber, and when it is judged that the measurement container has been housed in the measurement chamber, a concentration of the component to be measured in the sample liquid is obtained based on the amount of light detected by the light detector, wherein the threshold value is 10%-100% of the amount of light of the luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself.

2. A luminescence analysis device, characterized by Possessing: a measurement chamber capable of housing a measurement container in a state in which external light is shielded; a light detector that detects light from within a measurement container housed in the measurement chamber; and an arithmetic device that is inputted with an amount of light detected by the light detector, the measurement container is a container that contains a sample liquid and a luminescent reagent that luminesces in reaction with a component to be measured in the sample liquid and a luminescent substance, the measurement chamber has a measurement chamber main body that has an opening portion, and a door that covers the opening portion of the measurement chamber main body in an openable and closable manner, when the door is in an open state and then becomes a closed state, the arithmetic device judges whether or not the luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself can be detected based on whether or not an amount of light of the luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself detected by the light detector is equal to or greater than a threshold value, thereby judging whether or not the measurement container has been housed in the measurement chamber, and when it is judged that the measurement container has been housed in the measurement chamber, a concentration of the component to be measured in the sample liquid is obtained based on the amount of light detected by the light detector, wherein the threshold value is 10%-100% of the amount of light of the luminescence of the luminescent reagent itself.

3. The luminescence analysis device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light detector detects light only when the door is in a closed state.

4. A luminescence analysis method that analyzes a component to be measured in a sample liquid using the luminescence analysis device according to claim 1, characterized by: injecting the sample liquid into a measurement container that has previously contained the luminescent reagent, after housing the measurement container into which the sample liquid has been injected in the measurement chamber, bringing the door into a closed state.

5. A luminescence analysis method of analyzing a component to be measured in a sample solution using the luminescence analysis apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by, injecting the sample solution into a measurement vessel that previously contains the luminescence reagent and the luminescent substance, after the measurement vessel into which the sample solution is injected is stored in the measurement chamber, bringing the door to a closed state.

6. The luminescence analysis method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by, using a reagent that emits light by a bioluminescence phenomenon as the luminescence reagent.

7. The luminescence analysis method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, using a reagent that emits light by a chemiluminescence phenomenon as the luminescence reagent.

8. The luminescence analysis method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by, using a reagent that emits light by a chemiluminescence phenomenon as the luminescence reagent.

9. The luminescence analysis method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by, using a reagent that emits light by a chemiluminescence phenomenon as the luminescence reagent.

10. The luminescence analysis method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, using a reagent that emits light by a chemilumines

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