Sample analyzer, sample analyzing method, and computer program product

• US 20090035873A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Shibata, Masaharu
• Granted Patent: US 8,158,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/179
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/10 Investigating individual particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1006 for cytology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1477 Multiparameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1032 Dilution or aliquotting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00584 Control arrangements for automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The present invention is to present a sample analyzer which is automated even when measuring a small amount sample and is capable of improving a measurement precision. The sample analyzer S comprises a sample preparation section for preparing a measurement sample; a detector D3 for detecting an analyte contained in the measurement sample; and a controller 100 being configured to 1) control the sample preparation section so as to prepare a first measurement sample of a first dilution ratio, when measuring an ordinary amount sample; and 2) control the sample preparation section so as to prepare a second measurement sample of a second dilution ratio higher than the first dilution ratio, when measuring a small amount sample.

Claims

1. A sample analyzer comprising:

a sample preparation section for preparing a measurement sample from an undiluted biological sample and a reagent;

a detector for detecting an analyte contained in the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparation section; and

a controller in communication with the sample preparation section, the controller being configured to

1) control the sample preparation section so as to obtain a first amount of an undiluted biological sample from a first sample container, and prepare a first measurement sample of a first dilution ratio, when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount; and

2) control the sample preparation section so as to obtain a second amount of an undiluted biological sample from a second sample container, the second amount being less than the first amount, and prepare a second measurement sample of a second dilution ratio higher than the first dilution ratio, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

2. The sample analyzer of claim 1, further comprising

a sample supplier for supplying the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparation section to the detector,

wherein the controller is configured to

control the sample supplier and the detector so as to detect an analyte contained in the first measurement sample for a first period when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount;

and

control the sample supplier and the detector so as to detect an analyte contained in the second measurement sample for a second period longer than the first period when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

3. The sample analyzer of claim 2, wherein

the controller is configured to control the sample supplier so as to supply the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparation section to the detector at a predetermined speed, whether the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount or the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

4. The sample analyzer of claim 1, further comprising

a sample supplier for supplying the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparation section to the detector,

wherein the controller is configured to

control the sample supplier and the detector to detect an analyte contained in a predetermined amount of the first measurement sample when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount;

and

control the sample supplier and the detector to detect an analyte contained in the second measurement sample whose amount is larger than the predetermined amount, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

5. The sample analyzer of claim 1, further comprising

mode setting means for setting either a first mode or a second mode as an operating mode,

wherein the controller is configured to

control the sample preparation section so as to obtain the first amount of the undiluted biological sample from the first sample container, and prepare the first measurement sample, when the first mode is set by the mode setting means;

and

control the sample preparation section so as to obtain the second amount of the undiluted biological sample from the second sample container, and prepare the second measurement sample, when the second mode is set by the mode setting means.

6. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the detector comprises:

a flow cell for passing the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparation section;

a light emitting section for irradiating light on the measurement sample passing through the flow cell; and

a light receiving section for receiving light from the measurement sample irradiated by the light emitting section.

7. The sample analyzer of claim 1, further comprising

analysis item setting means for setting an analysis item of a biological sample,

wherein

the analysis item setting means sets an analysis item of the biological sample in the second sample container to a predetermined analysis item when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

8. The sample analyzer of claim 1, further comprising

analyzing means for analyzing the biological samples in the first and second sample containers respectively under a predetermined condition based on the analyte detected by the detector, whether the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount or the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

9. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the biological sample is blood.

10. The sample analyzer of claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control the sample preparation section so as to prepare the measurement sample using a predetermined amount of the reagent, whether the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount or the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

11. A sample analyzing method in a sample analyzer being capable of analyzing a biological sample, comprising:

a first step of obtaining a first amount of an undiluted biological sample from a first sample container, and preparing a first measurement sample of a first dilution ratio from the obtained undiluted biological sample and a reagent, when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount;

a second step of obtaining a second amount of the undiluted biological sample from the second sample container, the second amount being less than the first amount, and preparing a second measurement sample of a second dilution ratio higher than the first dilution ratio from the obtained undiluted biological sample and the reagent, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount; and

a third step of detecting an analyte contained in the measurement sample prepared in the first step or the second step.

12. The sample analyzing method of claim 11, wherein the third step comprises a step of

detecting an analyte contained in the first measurement sample for a first period when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount, and

detecting an analyte contained in the second measurement sample for a second period longer than the first period, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

13. The sample analyzing method of claim 12, wherein

the third step comprises a step of supplying the measurement sample prepared in the first step or the second step at a predetermined speed to a detector for detecting the analyte contained in the measurement sample, whether the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount or the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

14. The sample analyzing method of claim 11, wherein the third step comprises a step of

detecting an analyte contained in a predetermined amount of the first measurement sample when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount, and

detecting an analyte contained in the second measurement sample whose amount is larger than the predetermined amount, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

15. The sample analyzing method of claim 11, wherein

the first step comprises a step of preparing the first measurement sample using a predetermined amount of the reagent;

and

the second step comprises a step of preparing the second measurement sample using the predetermined amount of the reagent.

16. A computer program product for enabling a computer to execute a sample analyzing method in a sample analyzer which is capable of performing analysis of a biological sample, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

software instructions, on the computer readable medium, for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations comprising;

a first step of obtaining a first amount of an undiluted biological sample from a first sample container, and preparing a first measurement sample of a first dilution ratio from the obtained undiluted biological sample and a reagent, when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount;

a second step of obtaining a second amount of the undiluted biological sample from the second sample container, the second amount being less than the first amount, and preparing a second measurement sample of a second dilution ratio higher than the first dilution ratio from the obtained undiluted biological sample and the reagent, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount; and

a third step of detecting an analyte contained in the measurement sample prepared in the first step or the second step.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the third step comprises a step of

detecting an analyte contained in the first measurement sample for a first period when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount, and

detecting an analyte contained in the second measurement sample for a second period longer than the first period, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein

the third step comprises a step of supplying the measurement sample prepared in the first step or the second step at a predetermined speed to a detector for detecting the analyte contained in the measurement sample, whether the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount or the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the third step comprises a step of

detecting an analyte contained in a predetermined amount of the first measurement sample when the undiluted biological sample in the first sample container is ordinary amount, and

detecting an analyte contained in the second measurement sample whose amount is larger than the predetermined amount, when the undiluted biological sample in the second sample container is small amount.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein

the first step comprises a step of preparing the first measurement sample using a predetermined amount of the reagent;

and

the second step comprises a step of preparing the second measurement sample using the predetermined amount of the reagent.