| abstract |
An analyzer has a reaction disk (1) for holding a plurality of reaction containers (2) and a fluorophotometer (19) for measuring fluorescence stemming from solutions in the containers. Most of the containers contain solid phases (50) attached with antibodies (51) but at least one container does not contain any solid phase. In normal operation of the analyzer, a test sample (11) containing antigens (53) and a latently fluorescent reagent such as antibodies labeled by enzyme are added to a container (2) containing a solid phase (50). In this container, a fluorescent substance is created through an enzyme reaction. Exciting light (22) is irradiated on the container and fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance is measured. In mid course of measurement operation of test samples, fluorescence stemming from a reference sample (12) such as quinine sulfate is measured to produce measured values for the reference sample by which measured values for the test samples are corrected. Prior to measurement of general test samples (11) by the analyzer, fluorescence stemming from a reference sample (12) in a container removed of any solid phase is measured to enable the analyzer itself to decide whether the analyzer operates normally. In this case, a value measured for the reference sample is compared with a setting value. When the results of comparison indicate that the normal operation is difficult to continue, the sampling operation by the pipetter is discontinued. |