Control method for an automatic analyzer, automatic analyzer

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to alleviate automatic analysis device operation time chart restriction that occurs when a conveyance mechanism and a nozzle access the same installation location. In the automatic analysis device control method pertaining to the present disclosure, the automatic analysis device is configured so that a container conveyance mechanism and a nozzle cannot access an installation part for the container at the same time, and after the nozzle sucks in a liquid from a first container installed in the installation part, the conveyance mechanism installs a second container in the installation part before the nozzle discharges the liquid to the second container installed in the installation part (see fig. 3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an automatic analyzer.

Background Art

[0002] An automatic analyzer for liquid samples analyzes specific components contained in a specimen such as blood or urine. The automatic analyzer sucks a liquid such as a specimen or a reagent from a container by a nozzle or discharges the liquid to the container. The automatic analyzer further includes a transport mechanism that moves the container to an installation location.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for transporting a liquid container mounted on a rack to under a nozzle (see paragraph 0006). Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for discharging a specimen or a reagent to reaction vessels arranged on a reaction disk (see paragraph 0038).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the prior art such as Patent Documents 1 and 2, the transport mechanism moves the container to the installation location, and the nozzle also moves to the installation location to suck the liquid from the container or discharge the liquid to the container. That is, it is necessary for both the transport mechanism and the nozzle to access the space where the container is installed.

[0006] Depending on the shapes and sizes of the transport mechanism and the nozzle, it may be the case that only one of them can access the installation location of the container. For example, when the installation location is fixed and one of the transport mechanism and the nozzle cannot access the installation location unless the other retreats from the installation location, this corresponds to this case. As a result, the operation of the transport mechanism or the nozzle is restricted, and thus restrictions associated therewith occur in the operation time chart of the automatic analyzer.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to relax the restrictions on the operation time chart of the automatic analyzer that occur when the transport mechanism and the nozzle access the same installation location.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In the control method of the automatic analyzer according to the present disclosure, the automatic analyzer is configured such that the transport mechanism of the container and the nozzle cannot simultaneously access the installation portion of the container, and after the nozzle sucks liquid from a first container installed in the installation portion, before the nozzle discharges the liquid to a second container installed in the installation portion, the transport mechanism installs the second container in the installation portion.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the control method of the automatic analyzer according to the present disclosure, it is possible to relax the restrictions on the operation time chart of the automatic analyzer that occur when the transport mechanism and the nozzle access the same installation location. Other features, advantages, configurations, etc. of the present disclosure will become apparent by referring to the following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

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Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] <Embodiment 1: Device Configuration> FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the automatic analyzer 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, the automatic analyzer 100 includes a pretreatment unit 101 that performs pretreatment of a sample, a separation unit 102 that separates components in the sample, an analysis unit 103 that analyzes the separated components, a control unit 104 that controls the overall operation of the automatic analyzer 100, an input unit 105 for a user to input information to the device, a display unit 106 for displaying information to the user, and a storage unit 107 such as a storage medium that stores various information related to the control of the automatic analyzer 100.

[0012] The control unit 104, the input unit 105, the display unit 106, and the storage unit 107 constitute a control device that controls the overall operation of the automatic analyzer 100.

[0013] The pretreatment unit 101 includes a transport mechanism 112 that transports a sample container 111 containing a sample to be analyzed to a sample dispensing position, a reaction vessel disk 120 that can hold the solution in the reaction vessel 116 at a constant temperature by mounting the reaction vessels 116 on a plurality of openings 119, a reagent disk 122 that holds a plurality of reagent containers 121 containing reagents, and a sample dispensing mechanism 113 that dispenses a sample from the sample container 111 transported to the sample dispensing position into the reaction vessel 116 housed in the opening 119 of the reaction vessel disk 120.

[0014] The pretreatment unit 101 further includes a reagent dispensing mechanism 123 that dispenses a reagent from the reagent container 121 into the reaction vessel 116 of the reaction vessel disk 120, a disposable dispensing tip mounting rack 115 that mounts unused disposable dispensing tips 115a attached to the nozzles of the sample dispensing mechanism 113, and a dispensing tip attaching / detaching unit 114 that removes and discards the used dispensing tips 115a from the nozzles of the sample dispensing mechanism 113 or attaches unused dispensing tips 115a to the nozzles.

[0015] The pretreatment unit 101 further includes a reaction vessel mounting rack 117 that mounts unused reaction vessels 116, a transport mechanism 118 that transports unused dispensing tips 115a from the dispensing tip mounting rack 115 to the dispensing tip attaching / detaching unit 114, transports the used reaction vessels 116 from the openings 119 of the reaction vessel disk 120 to a disposal unit (not shown), and transports unused reaction vessels 116 from the reaction vessel mounting rack 117 to the openings 119 of the reaction vessel disk 120.

[0016] The pretreatment unit 101 further includes a magnetic separation mechanism 124 that separates magnetic beads in the solution contained in the reaction vessel 116 by the magnetic force of a magnet, an evaporation concentration mechanism 131 that evaporates and concentrates the component to be analyzed in the solution in the reaction vessel 116, and a transport mechanism 132 that transports the reaction vessel 116 between the reaction vessel disk 120 / magnetic separation mechanism 124 / evaporation concentration mechanism 131.

[0017] The pretreatment unit 101 further includes a dispensing mechanism 133 for the separation unit that dispenses the solution in the reaction vessel 116 after evaporation and concentration to the separation unit 102. As will be described later, the dispensing mechanism 133 for the separation unit also has a role of dispensing liquid between the container held by the magnetic separation mechanism 124 and the container held by the evaporation and concentration mechanism 131.

[0018] The reaction vessel disk 120 functions as an incubator that keeps the temperature of the reaction vessel 116 installed in the opening 119 constant, and incubates the reaction vessel 116 installed in the opening 119 for a certain period of time.

[0019] The separation unit 102 is, for example, LC (Liquid Chromatography), and includes a column and the like as a function of separating the components in the reaction solution dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 133 for the separation unit. The separation unit 102 separates the components in the reaction solution dispensed from the reaction vessel 116 by the dispensing mechanism 133 for the separation unit, and sequentially introduces the separated components to the analysis unit 103.

[0020] The analysis unit 103 is, for example, MS (Mass Spectrometry), and includes an electron multiplier tube and the like as a function of ionizing and mass-analyzing the components introduced from the separation unit 102. The analysis unit 103 ionizes the components introduced from the separation unit 102 to detect the ion amount (that is, the component amount), and outputs the detection result to the control unit 104.

[0021] The control unit 104 controls the operations of the entire automatic analyzer 100, such as the operation of the magnetic separation mechanism 124, the operation of the evaporation and concentration mechanism 131, the operation of the separation unit 102, and the operation of the analysis unit 103. Further, the control unit 104 calculates the concentration value of the components in the sample using the detection result (ion amount) from the analysis unit 103 and the calibration curve acquired in advance, stores it in the storage unit 107 as an analysis result, and displays the analysis result on the display unit 106.

[0022] <Embodiment 1: Operations of the Transfer Mechanism and the Nozzle> FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the conventional operations of the transport mechanism and the nozzle. Here, it is assumed that the transport mechanism 132 installs a container for the magnetic separation mechanism 124 or the evaporation concentration mechanism 131, and the nozzle of the dispensing mechanism 133 for the separation section (hereinafter simply referred to as the nozzle 133 for convenience) accesses the container to suck or discharge a liquid. The transport mechanism 132 and the nozzle 133 are controlled by the control unit 104.

[0023] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic separation mechanism 124 includes a first installation portion 221 as a location (a hole for receiving the container) for installing the container. Similarly, the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 includes a second installation portion 222 as a location for installing the container. The transport mechanism 132 accesses these installation portions and installs the containers respectively. FIG. 2 shows a state where the first container 211 has been installed in the first installation portion 221 (FIG. 2(1)). As the first container 211 and the second container 212 to be described later, any container can be considered. For example, it is conceivable to install the reaction container 116 as the first container 211 or the second container 212.

[0024] The transport mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 on the second installation portion 222 (FIG. 2(2)). The transport mechanism 132 is configured as a mechanism that holds the second container 212 by, for example, sandwiching it, inserts the second container 212 into the second installation portion 222, and then releases the second container 212. Such a mechanism requires a certain amount of space size. Thus, while the transport mechanism 132 is accessing the first installation portion 221 or the second installation portion 222, the nozzle 133 cannot access the first installation portion 221 and the second installation portion 222 (if it attempts to access, the transport mechanism 132 and the nozzle 133 will collide). Therefore, while the transport mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 on the second installation portion 222, the nozzle 133 retreats to a position away from the first installation portion 221 and the second installation portion 222.

[0025] The transfer mechanism 132 retracts to a position away from the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222. When the transfer mechanism 132 retracts, the nozzle 133 can access the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222. The nozzle 133 accesses the first container 211 held by the first installation part 221 (i.e., the nozzle 133 is introduced into the first container 211). The nozzle 133 sucks the liquid contained in the first container 211 (Fig. 2(3)).

[0026] The nozzle 133 accesses the second installation part 222 (i.e., moves above the second installation part 222). The nozzle 133 accesses the second container 212 held by the second installation part 222 (i.e., the nozzle 133 is introduced into the second container 212). The nozzle 133 discharges the liquid sucked into the nozzle 133 to the second container 212 (Fig. 2(4)).

[0027] As an example of a case where it is necessary to perform the above suction and discharge operations, in order to prevent the magnetic beads used for purifying the measurement target substance from being introduced into the separation part 102, a first container 211 containing a liquid with magnetic beads is installed in the first installation part 221, and only the supernatant liquid is transferred to the second container 212 installed in the second installation part 222.

[0028] According to the conventional operation described above, the transfer mechanism 132 cannot access the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 (i.e., cannot install the next container) until the nozzle 133 completes discharging the liquid after starting to suck the liquid (and until the nozzle 133 retracts to a position where it does not collide with the transfer mechanism 132). As a result, constraints will occur in the operation time chart of the automatic analyzer 100.

[0029] One of the reasons for this is that the transport mechanism 132 and the nozzle 133 cannot simultaneously access the first installation part 221 or the second installation part 222. In addition to this, the conventional operation procedure shown in FIG. 2 causes such restrictions. In particular, in the first embodiment, attention is paid to the fact that the transport mechanism 132 must wait while the nozzle 133 sucks and then discharges the liquid.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operations of the transport mechanism 132 and the nozzle 133 in the first embodiment. Similar to FIG. 2, the explanation starts from the state where the first container 211 is already installed in the first installation part 221 (FIG. 3(1)).

[0031] Before the transport mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 in the second installation part 222, the nozzle 133 accesses (moves above) the first installation part 221. The nozzle 133 accesses (introduces the nozzle 133 to) the first container 211 held by the first installation part 221. The nozzle 133 sucks the liquid contained in the first container 211 (FIG. 3(2)).

[0032] The nozzle 133 retracts to a position away from the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 (FIG. 3(3)). When the nozzle 133 retracts, the transport mechanism 132 can access the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222.

[0033] The transport mechanism 132 holds the second container 212 and accesses (moves above) the second installation part 222. The transport mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 in the second installation part 222 (FIG. 3(4)).

[0034] The transfer mechanism 132 retracts to a position away from the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222. The nozzle 133 accesses the second installation part 222 (moves above the second installation part 222). The nozzle 133 accesses the second container 212 held by the second installation part 222 (introduces the nozzle 133 into the second container 212). The nozzle 133 discharges the liquid sucked into the nozzle 133 to the second container 212 (Fig. 3(5)).

[0035] According to the operation in the first embodiment described above, during the period from when the nozzle 133 sucks the liquid until it discharges the liquid, the operation of the transfer mechanism 132 for installing the second container 212 intervenes. As a result, compared with Fig. 2, the transfer mechanism 132 does not need to wait from when the nozzle 133 sucks the liquid until it discharges the liquid. That is, the constraints on the operation time chart of the automatic analyzer 100 can be relaxed compared with Fig. 2.

[0036] Fig. 4 is a time chart of the conventional operation described in Fig. 2. While the transfer mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 to the second installation part 222, the nozzle 133 cannot perform liquid suction or discharge (the period corresponding to "Container installation" and "Dispensing not possible" in Fig. 4, Fig. 2(2)). After the transfer mechanism 132 retracts, the nozzle 133 sucks the liquid from the first container 211 and discharges the liquid to the second container 212 (the period corresponding to "Liquid suction" and "Liquid discharge" in Fig. 4, Fig. 2(3)(4)). When the liquid discharge is completed and the nozzle 133 retracts, the transfer mechanism 132 can transfer the next container to the first installation part 221 or the second installation part 222.

[0037] After the nozzle 133 discharges the liquid, the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 starts evaporation concentration by depressurizing the inside of the second container 212 (Fig. 4 "Evaporation start").

[0038] FIG. 5 is a time chart of the operations in the first embodiment described in FIG. 3. After the nozzle 133 sucks the liquid from the first container 211 (the period corresponding to "liquid suction" in FIG. 5 and FIG. 3(2)), the nozzle 133 retracts to, for example, the vicinity of the cleaning tank (the period corresponding to "retraction" in FIG. 5 and FIG. 3(3)). While the nozzle 133 is retracted, the transport mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 (the period corresponding to "container installation" in FIG. 5 and FIG. 3(4)). After the transport mechanism 132 has retracted, the nozzle 133 discharges the liquid into the second container 212 (the period corresponding to "liquid discharge" in FIG. 5 and FIG. 3(5)).

[0039] After the nozzle 133 discharges the liquid, the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 starts evaporation concentration by reducing the pressure inside the second container 212 (FIG. 5 "start of evaporation").

[0040] In the first embodiment, the reason why the constraints on the operation time chart are relaxed can be considered as follows. In the first embodiment, during the period from when the nozzle 133 sucks the liquid in the first container 211 until it discharges that liquid into the second container 212, the operation of the transport mechanism 132 installing the second container 212 in the second installation portion 222 is interposed. That is, the period during which the transport mechanism 132 is non-transportable and the period during which the nozzle 133 is non-dispensable are subdivided compared to the conventional operation. As a result, the non-operation period and the operation possible period can be arranged more flexibly on the time chart than before, so it is easier than before to optimize the constraints on the time chart. The relaxation of constraints in the first embodiment is due to this.

[0041] Liquid suction generally exhibits stable behavior when performed at a low speed. In the conventional operation, the longer the liquid suction time by the nozzle 133, the longer the time required for the retraction of the transport mechanism 132, so the constraints on the time chart increase. By using the first embodiment, the suction time can be extended without increasing the constraints on the time chart of the transport mechanism 132.

[0042] In the first embodiment, it is also conceivable to realize the same operation procedure as in FIG. 3 by using a mechanism for moving the first installation unit 221 and the second installation unit 222 (for example, the same mechanism as the reaction vessel disk 120). However, in that case, the mechanism for moving the installation unit is likely to become large, which is not necessarily desirable from the viewpoints of the size and cost of the apparatus. The first embodiment is also advantageous from the viewpoint of such an apparatus size. In other words, the first installation unit 221 and the second installation unit 222 are arranged outside the reaction vessel disk 120, and the container placed on the reaction vessel disk 120 is installed on the first installation unit 221 or the second installation unit 222 to perform the operation of FIG. 3, or after performing the operation of FIG. 3 on the first installation unit 221 and the second installation unit 222, the container is moved with respect to the reaction vessel disk 120.

[0043] <Summary of the First Embodiment> In the automatic analyzer 100 according to the first embodiment, the transport mechanism 132 and the nozzle 133 are configured so as not to be able to access the first installation unit 221 or the second installation unit 222 simultaneously. After the nozzle 133 sucks the liquid from the first container 211, before the nozzle 133 discharges the liquid to the second container 212, the transport mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 with respect to the second installation unit 222. Thereby, the transport mechanism 132, which has many operations for transporting the reaction vessel 116 among a plurality of mechanisms on the apparatus and has large constraints in creating a time chart, can shorten the time interval required to retreat from the position where it collides with the nozzle 133 as compared with the prior art. That is, the constraints on the operation time chart of the automatic analyzer 100 can be relaxed.

[0044] In the automatic analyzer 100 according to the first embodiment, when the transport mechanism 132 accesses the first installation unit 221 or the second installation unit 222, the nozzle 133 is retracted, and when the nozzle 133 accesses the first installation unit 221 or the second installation unit 222, the transport mechanism 132 is retracted. Thereby, while avoiding the collision between the transport mechanism 132 and the nozzle 133, the constraints on the operation time chart of the automatic analyzer 100 can be relaxed.

[0045] In the automatic analyzer 100 according to the first embodiment, the period from when the transport mechanism 132 installs the second container 212 until the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 starts evaporation concentration is shortened compared to the conventional operation. When the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 uses heat evaporation in combination, if a long time elapses without proceeding with the process while the second container 212 is installed on the evaporation concentration mechanism 131, the second container 212 will be heated unnecessarily. According to the first embodiment, it is advantageous that such heating time can be shortened.

[0046] <Embodiment 2> FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of the automatic analyzer 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. In the first embodiment, an example in which the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 are configured as part of the magnetic separation mechanism 124 or the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 has been described. The locations where the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 are arranged are not limited to this, and they may be any other locations where the respective containers are arranged in order to transfer liquid between the first container 211 and the second container 212 by means of a nozzle. For example, the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 can be used as a temporary installation position 600 for temporarily installing the containers in order to transfer liquid. The first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 may be arranged at other appropriate locations.

[0047] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the temporary installation position 600 includes the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222. The temporary installation position 600 is an empty space for temporarily installing the containers. For example, when diluting the liquid contained in the first container 211, the temporary installation position 600 can also be used as a space for transferring a small amount to the second container 212 and adding the diluent by a diluent discharge nozzle (not shown). The operation time chart for the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0048] <Embodiment 3> FIG. 7A is an overall configuration diagram of the automatic analyzer 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. In Embodiment 1, an operation example in the case of dispensing liquid between the magnetic separation mechanism 124 and the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 was described. However, the locations where the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222 are arranged are not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the magnetic separation mechanism 124 has the first installation part 221, the temporary installation position 600 has the second installation part 222, and the same operation as in Embodiment 1 may be performed between the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222.

[0049] FIG. 7B is another configuration diagram of the automatic analyzer 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7B, the temporary installation position 600 has the first installation part 221, the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 has the second installation part 222, and the same operation as in Embodiment 1 may be performed between the first installation part 221 and the second installation part 222.

[0050] <Regarding the modification example of the present disclosure> The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modification examples. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present disclosure, and it is not necessary to necessarily include all the configurations described. Also, a part of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. Also, the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Also, for a part of the configuration of each embodiment, a part of the configuration of another embodiment can be added, deleted, or replaced.

[0051] In Embodiment 1, the input unit 105 and the display unit 106 were shown as separate bodies. Instead, for example, the input unit 105 and the display unit 106 may be integrally configured like a touch panel type monitor.

[0052] In the above embodiments, the transport mechanism 132 may transport an article other than the first container 211 or the second container 212 during the "non-transportable" period on the time chart. Thereby, the operating efficiency of the transport mechanism 132 can be increased.

[0053] In the above embodiments, the reaction vessel 116 was exemplified as an example of the first container 211 and the second container 212, and further, the nozzle 133 was exemplified as a mechanism for dispensing liquid to the first container 211 and the second container 212. It should be noted that the containers and the dispensing mechanism are not limited to these, and the method according to the present disclosure can be applied to any other containers and dispensing mechanisms.

[0054] In the above embodiments, the evaporation concentration mechanism 131 was described as concentrating the liquid by reducing the pressure inside the container. However, the method of concentrating the liquid is not limited to this, and it may be concentrated by other appropriate methods. Even in that case, it should be noted that the method according to the present disclosure can be applied.

[0055] In the above embodiments, the control unit 104 (controller) can be configured by hardware such as a circuit device that implements its function, or can be configured by software that implements its function being executed by an arithmetic device (for example, a Central Processing Unit: CPU).

[0056] In the above embodiments, the numerical values shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are examples, and it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited by these numerical values.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0057] 100: Automatic analyzer 104: Control unit 124: Magnetic separation mechanism 131: Evaporation concentration mechanism 132: Conveying mechanism 133: Nozzle 211: First container 212: Second container 221: First installation part 222: Second installation part

Claims

1. A control method for controlling an automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, wherein the automatic analyzer includes a nozzle for sucking or discharging a liquid, a first installation section on which a first container for containing the liquid is placed, a second installation section on which a second container for containing the liquid is placed, a transport mechanism for transporting the first container and the second container, and is provided with both the nozzle and the transport mechanism are accessible to the first container placed in the first installation section and the second container placed in the second installation section respectively, when the nozzle accesses the first container placed in the first installation section while the transport mechanism accesses the second container placed in the second installation section, they are respectively installed at positions where the transport mechanism and the nozzle come into contact, the control method includes a step of sucking the liquid from the first container placed in the first installation section by the nozzle, after the nozzle sucks the liquid from the first container, a step of placing the second container on the second installation section by the transport mechanism, a step of discharging the liquid to the second container by the nozzle, and has the control method further has a step of retracting the transport mechanism from the second installation section after the transport mechanism places the second container on the second installation section and before the nozzle discharges the liquid to the second container, in the step of discharging the liquid, the nozzle is moved to a position where the nozzle can discharge the liquid to the second container by moving the nozzle with respect to the space generated by the step of retracting the transport mechanism, characterized in that it is a control method.

2. A control method for controlling an automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, wherein the automatic analyzer includes a nozzle for sucking or discharging a liquid, a first installation section on which a first container for containing the liquid is placed, a second installation section on which a second container for containing the liquid is placed, a transport mechanism for transporting the first container and the second container, and is provided with both the nozzle and the transport mechanism are accessible to the first container placed in the first installation section and the second container placed in the second installation section respectively, While the conveying mechanism is accessing the second container placed in the second installation part, when the nozzle accesses the first container placed in the first installation part, they are respectively installed at positions where the conveying mechanism and the nozzle come into contact. The control method is as follows: A step of sucking the liquid from the first container placed in the first installation part by the nozzle; After the nozzle sucks the liquid from the first container, a step of placing the second container on the second installation part by the conveying mechanism; A step of discharging the liquid to the second container by the nozzle; It has: The control method further has a step of retracting the nozzle from the first installation part after the nozzle sucks the liquid from the first container and before the conveying mechanism places the second container on the second installation part. In the step of placing the second container on the second installation part, after the nozzle is retracted so that the conveying mechanism and the nozzle do not come into contact, the conveying mechanism is moved to a position where the conveying mechanism can place the second container on the second installation part. A control method characterized by the above.

3. In the step of retracting the nozzle from the first installation part, the nozzle is retracted from the first installation part while holding the liquid sucked by the nozzle from the first container in the nozzle. In the step of discharging the liquid to the second container, the liquid held in the nozzle is discharged to the second container. The control method according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The automatic analyzer further includes a reaction disk on which a reaction container for accommodating the sample is placed when reacting the sample. The first installation part and the second installation part are arranged outside the reaction disk. The control method further has a step of placing the first container or the second container on the reaction disk as the reaction container, or moving the first container or the second container from the reaction disk to the first installation part or the second installation part by moving the first container between the first installation part and the reaction disk or moving the second container between the second installation part and the reaction disk. The control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

5. The automatic analysis device further includes a magnetic separation device for separating magnetic particles contained in the liquid in the container. The first installation part is configured as a place for installing the first container with respect to the magnetic separation device. The step of sucking is performed on the first container placed in the magnetic separation device. The control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

6. The automatic analysis device further includes an evaporation concentration device for concentrating the liquid by evaporating the liquid contained in the container. The second installation part is configured as a place for installing the second container with respect to the evaporation concentration device. The step of placing the second container and the step of discharging are performed on the second container placed in the evaporation concentration device. The control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

7. The control method further includes a step of evaporating and concentrating the liquid in the second container after discharging the liquid to the second container. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. An automatic analysis device for analyzing a sample, An automatic analysis device, characterized by comprising a controller for controlling the automatic analysis device by implementing the control method according to claim 1 or 2.

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