Abstract:
An analyzer enabling the user to hardly breathe in a malodor given off from a reagent when exchanging a reagent container is obtained. This analyzer, connected with a reagent container including a flexible container body storing the reagent, comprises an analyzer body analyzing an analyte with the reagent and reagent transporter having a first end connected to the analyzer body and a second end connected to the reagent container. The reagent transporter includes a first connectional part, detachably connected to the reagent container, having a first switching member forming and blocking a first passage between the analyzer body and the reagent container, while the first switching member blocks the first passage when the first connectional part is separated from the reagent container, and forms the first passage when the first connectional part is connected to the reagent container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European Patent Application No. 03028679.3, filed Dec. 16, 2003. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an analyzer and a reagent container, and more particularly, it relates to an analyzer analyzing an analyte with a reagent and a reagent container. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     A structure obtained by connecting a reagent container for storing an analytical reagent employed in a clinical test apparatus with the clinical test apparatus through a tube is known in general. Such a structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-297146 (1997), for example. In the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-297146, a flexible tube is connected to an opening of the reagent container, in which a suction pipe is arranged. The suction pipe sucks the reagent stored in the reagent container for supplying the sucked reagent to the clinical test apparatus through the tube mounted on the opening of the reagent container. 
     When the reagent is almost used up and the tube is detached from the reagent container for exchanging the same in the aforementioned structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-297146, however, the reagent partially remaining in the reagent container or the tube disadvantageously comes into contact with the air. If the reagent coming into contact with the air is a reagent hemolyzing blood cells which is giving off a malodor, for example, the user of the reagent disadvantageously breathes in such a malodor when exchanging the reagent container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an analyzer enabling the user to hardly breathe in a malodor given off from a reagent when exchanging a reagent container. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a reagent container enabling the user to hardly breathe in a malodor given off from a reagent stored therein when exchanging the reagent container. 
     In order to attain the aforementioned objects, an analyzer according to a first aspect of the present invention, connected with a reagent container including a flexible container body storing a reagent, comprises an analyzer body analyzing an analyte with the reagent and reagent transporter having a first end connected to the analyzer body and a second end connected to the reagent container. The reagent transporter includes a first connectional part, detachably connected to the reagent container, having a first switching member forming and blocking a first passage between the analyzer body and the reagent container. The first switching member blocks the first passage when the first connectional part is separated from the reagent container, and forms the first passage when the first connectional part is connected to the reagent container. 
     As hereinabove described, the analyzer according to the first aspect is provided with the first connectional part having the first switching member forming and blocking the first passage between the analyzer body and the reagent container while the first switching member is so structured as to block the first passage when the first connectional part is separated from the reagent container and form the first passage when the first connectional part is connected to the reagent container, whereby the first switching part blocks the first passage between the analyzer body and the reagent container when the first connectional part is separated from the reagent container for exchanging the reagent container and hence the reagent partially remaining in the reagent container and the reagent transporter can be inhibited from coming into contact with the air when the reagent container is exchanged. Even if the reagent gives off a malodor when coming into contact with the air, therefore, the user of the analyzer hardly breathes in such a malodor when exchanging the reagent container. 
     In the aforementioned-analyzer according to the first aspect, the first switching member preferably moves to a position for blocking the first passage with the urging force of a first elastic member when the first connectional part is separated from the reagent container, and preferably moves to an opposite direction against the urging force of the first elastic member for forming the first passage when the first connectional part is connected to the reagent container. According to this structure, the first switching member can automatically block the first passage between the analyzer body and the reagent container with the urging force of the first elastic member when the first connectional part is separated from the reagent container for exchanging the reagent container. 
     In the aforementioned analyzer according to the first aspect, the reagent container preferably includes a second connectional part detachably connected to the first connectional part, and the first connectional part preferably includes a recess portion at least partially storing the second connectional part of the reagent container, a fixing member mounted to be capable of advancing in/retreating from the recess portion for fixing the second connectional part of the reagent container to the first connectional part and a pressing member movably mounted with respect to the recess portion for pressing the fixing member into the recess portion on a first position while canceling the pressing against the fixing member on a second position. According to this structure, the first connectional part can be easily detachably connected to the second connectional part of the reagent container by moving the pressing member to the first position and the second position. 
     In this case, a second elastic member preferably urges the pressing member with its urging force to locate the pressing member on the first position for pressing the fixing member. According to this structure, the first connectional part can be kept mounted/fixed on/to the second connectional part of the reagent container with the urging force of the second elastic member. 
     In the aforementioned analyzer according to the first aspect, the reagent transporter preferably includes a sensor for determining presence/nonpresence of the reagent in the container body. According to this structure, it is possible to easily detect that the reagent is used up and the container body must be exchanged. 
     In this case, the sensor preferably includes a light source part applying light to the first passage and a photodetector receiving the light from the light source part. According to this structure, presence/nonpresence of the reagent can be easily detected through the light source part and the photodetector. 
     In the aforementioned analyzer according to the first aspect, the reagent container preferably includes a second connectional part provided on an opening of the aforementioned flexible container body and detachably connected to the first connectional part, the second connectional part preferably includes a second switching member forming and blocking a second passage between the reagent transporter and the container body, and the second switching member preferably blocks the second passage when the second connectional part is separated from the first connectional part, and preferably forms the second passage when the second connectional part is connected to the first connectional part. According to this structure, the second switching member blocks the second passage between the reagent transporter and the container body when the second connectional part is separated from the first connectional part for exchanging the reagent container, whereby the reagent partially remaining in the container body can be inhibited from coming into contact with the external air when the reagent container is exchanged. Even if the reagent gives off a malodor when coming into contact with the air, therefore, the user hardly breathes in such a malodor. 
     A reagent container according to a second aspect of the present invention, detachably connected to a second end of reagent transporter of an analyzer comprising an analyzer body analyzing an analyte and the reagent transporter having a first end connected to the analyzer body for transporting a reagent to the analyzer body, comprises a flexible container body storing the reagent and a connectional part provided on an opening of the container body and detachably connected to the reagent transporter. The connectional part includes a switching member forming and blocking a passage between the reagent transporter and the container body, and the switching member blocks the passage when the connectional part is separated from the reagent transporter, and forms the passage when the connectional part is connected to the reagent transporter. 
     As hereinabove described, the reagent container according to the second aspect is provided with the connectional part including the switching member forming and blocking the passage between the reagent transporter and the container body while the switching member is so structured as to block the passage when the connectional part is separated from the reagent transporter and form the passage when the connectional part is connected to the reagent transporter, whereby the switching part blocks the passage between the reagent transporter and the container body when the connectional part is separated from the reagent transporter of the analyzer for exchanging the reagent container and hence the reagent partially remaining in the container body can be inhibited from coming into contact with the external air when the reagent container is exchanged. Even if the reagent gives off a malodor when coming into contact with the air, therefore, the user of the reagent container hardly breathes in such a malodor when exchanging the container body. 
     In the aforementioned reagent container according to the second aspect, the switching member preferably moves to a position for blocking the passage with the urging force of an elastic member when the connectional part is separated from the reagent transporter, and preferably moves to an opposite direction against the urging force of the elastic member for forming the passage when the connectional part is connected to the reagent transporter. According to this structure, it is possible to automatically block the passage between the container body and the reagent transporter with the urging force of the elastic member when the reagent transporter is separated from the container body for exchanging the reagent container. 
     In the aforementioned reagent container according to the second aspect, the container body preferably includes a flexible tube connected to the connectional part therein. According to this structure, it is possible to deform the tube in response to the degree of contraction of the flexible container body, whereby the reagent can be easily transported to the reagent transporter through the tube also when the volume of the reagent remaining in the container body is reduced. In this case, the container body includes an anchor, mounted on the forward end of the tube, having a hole for sucking the reagent. According to this structure, the forward end of the tube can be regularly positioned on the bottom of the container body while the reagent can be sucked through the hole of the anchor. 
     The aforementioned reagent container according to the second aspect preferably further comprises a box storing the container body. According to this structure, the aforementioned box can inhibit the flexible container body storing the reagent from damage caused by external force. 
     In the aforementioned reagent container according to the second aspect, the reagent preferably includes a reagent hemolyzing blood cells. Such a reagent hemolyzing blood cells may give off a malodor when coming into contact with the air. With the reagent container according to the present invention, however, the user hardly breathes in such a malodor when exchanging the reagent container. 
     In the aforementioned reagent container according to the second aspect, the flexible container body preferably consists of a bag contracting in response to the residual quantity of the reagent. According to this structure, the container body may be provided with no air hole, whereby the reagent stored in the container body can be more reliably prevented from coming into contact with the air. 
     The aforementioned reagent container according to the second aspect preferably further comprises the reagent stored in the container body. 
     A reagent container according to a third aspect of the present invention, detachably connected to an analyzer, comprises a container body storing a reagent, and a connectional part for opening and closing the container body, being detachably connected to the analyzer. The connectional part closes the container body when the connectional part is separated from the analyzer, and opens the container body when the connectional part is connected to the analyzer. 
     As hereinabove described, the reagent container according to the third aspect is provided with the connectional part for opening and closing the container body while the connectional part is so structured as to close the container body when the connectional part is separated from the analyzer and to open the container body when the connectional part is connected to the analyzer, whereby the connectional part blocks the passage between the analyzer and the container body when the connectional part is separated from the analyzer for exchanging the reagent container and hence the reagent partially remaining in the container body can be inhibited from coming into contact with the external air when the reagent container is exchanged. Even if the reagent gives off a malodor when coming into contact with the air, therefore, the user of the reagent container hardly breathes in such a malodor when exchanging the container body. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates the overall structures of a blood cell analyzer and a reagent container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a contracting container body of the reagent container according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially fragmented sectional view showing the structure of a connectional part between the blood cell analyzer and the reagent container according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in detail; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially fragmented sectional view showing a socket employed for the connectional part according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the socket shown in  FIG. 4  taken along a portion provided with balls; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially fragmented sectional view showing a cap screw for fixing a plug and the reagent container according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  to each other; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially fragmented sectional view showing the plug, a tube and an anchor according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  are partially fragmented sectional views for illustrating an operation of connecting the socket and the plug according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  with each other; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view showing a bubble sensor according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing an unlidded state of the bubble sensor shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to the drawings. 
     First, the overall structures of a blood cell analyzer and a reagent container according to the embodiment of the present invention are described with reference to  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the analyzer and the reagent container according to the present invention are applied to the blood cell analyzer and the reagent container employed for this blood cell analyzer. The reagent container stores a reagent for hemolyzing red blood cells employed for measuring immature white blood cells in the blood cell analyzer according to this embodiment. 
     According to this embodiment, the blood cell analyzer body  12  and a container body  1  consisting of a flexible bag for storing the reagent for hemolyzing red blood cells are connected with each other through flexible tubes  8  and  10  of silicon, as shown in  FIG. 1 . As the reagent is sucked from the container body  1  and the volume thereof is reduced, the container body  1  contracts as shown in  FIG. 2  without incorporating the outside air. The forward end of the tube  8  is connected to a socket  4 , which in turn is connected to a plug  3 . The plug  3  is mounted on the container body  1  through a cap screw  2 . Still another flexible tube  5  of silicon is arranged in the container body  1  for sucking the reagent. The tube  5  has a first end connected to the plug  3  and a second end mounted with an anchor  6  of resin. This anchor  6  is provided for regularly positioning the forward end of the tube  5  on the bottom of the container body  1 . 
     A bubble sensor  9  is arranged between the tubes  8  and  10 , in order to detect presence/nonpresence of the reagent supplied from the tube  8  to the tube  10 . A power supply line  11  from the blood cell analyzer body  12  is connected to the bubble sensor  9 . The tube  10  is provided with a check valve  13  for preventing the reagent from regurgitating from the blood cell analyzer body  12  to the tube  10 . The container body  1  of the reagent container is stored in a corrugated fiberboard box  7 . 
     The structures of the cap screw  2 , the plug  3 , the socket  4 , the tube  5  and the anchor  6  are now described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 7 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the socket  4  includes a connectional part  41 , a body part  42  of resin, a switching member  43  of resin, O-rings  44   a  and  44   b  of rubber, a helical compression spring  45  of a metal, a lid member  46  of resin, balls  47  of a metal, a pressing member  48  of resin and another helical compression spring  49  of a metal. The connectional part  41  is provided with a screw part  41   a  and a reagent supply hole  41   b . A tube joint member  14  of a metal is mounted on the forward end of the connectional part  41 . The tube joint member  14  is fixed by fitting a fixing nut  15  with the screw part  41   a  of the connectional part  41 . The tube  8  is engaged with the forward end of the tube joint member  14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the body part  42  of the socket  4  is provided with a recess portion  42   a  for receiving the plug  3 . A void  42   d  is provided above the recess portion  42   a  through a passage forming hole  42   b . A switching member  43  of resin is vertically movably arranged in the passage forming hole  42   b  and the void  42   d . In other words, the switching member  43  is arranged to be movable between a lower position for closing the passage forming hole  42   b  and blocking a passage and an upper position for opening the passage forming hole  42   b  and forming the passage. 
     A cylindrical forward end  43   a  of the switching member  43  closer to the void  42   a  comes into contact with the plug  3 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The switching member  43  is also provided with a tapered part  43   b  continuous with the forward end  43   a . The tapered part  43   b  has a shape capable of blocking the passage forming hole  42   b . The aforementioned O-ring  44   a  of rubber is arranged between the tapered part  43   b  and a flange part  43   c . This O-ring  44   a  has a function of preventing the reagent from leaking from the passage forming hole  42   b  blocked with the tapered part  43   b  toward the void  42   a . The switching member  43  is further provided with a barrel  43   d  continuous with the flange part  43   c  and a forward end  43   e , closer to the lid member  46  and continuous with the barrel  43   d , having a smaller diameter than the barrel  43   d . The forward end  43   e  closer to the lid member  46  is vertically movably inserted in an insertion hole  46   a  of the lid member  46 . The aforementioned helical compression spring  45  is arranged between the flange part  43   c  and the lid member  46 . This helical compression spring  45  is arranged to urge the tapered part  43   b  of the switching member  43  and the O-ring  44   a  to the lower position for closing the passage forming hole  42   b . The O-ring  44   b  is arranged between the lower surface of the lid member  46  arranged in the void  42   d  of the body part  42  and the body part  42 , in order to prevent the reagent from leaking from between the lid member  46  and the body part  42 . The body part  42  is provided with a hole  42   e  for connecting the void  42   d  and the supply hole  41   b  of the connectional part  41  with each other. 
     Ball retention holes  42   c  are provided on prescribed portions of the recess portion  42   a  of the body part  42 . The aforementioned balls  47  of a metal are mounted in the ball retention holes  42   c  to be able to advance in/retreat from the recess portion  42   a . The ball retention holes  42   c  have octagonal openings, and the balls  47  have diameters incapable of passing through the ball retention holes  42   c . The balls  47  are arranged between the body part  42  and the pressing member  48 , not to drop also when the socket  4  is detached from the plug  3 . While the ball retention holes  42   c  may alternatively have circular openings, polygonal openings capable of preventing the balls  47  from anchoring to the ball retention holes  42   c , are more preferable. The aforementioned pressing member  48  is provided outside the position of the body part  42  formed with the recess portion  42   a , in order to press the balls  47  into the recess portion  42   a . This pressing member  48  presses the balls  47  when located on a lower position while canceling the pressing against the balls  47  when located on an upper position. The pressing member  48  is provided with a grip part  48   b  easily graspable for vertically moving the pressing member  48 . The aforementioned helical compression spring  49  is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the body part  42  and the inner peripheral surface of the pressing member  48 , in order to urge the pressing member  48  downward. The body part  42  is further provided with a stopper  42   f  coming into contact with a pressing part  48   a  of the downwardly urged pressing member  48 . In a normal state, the pressing part  48   a  of the pressing member  48  is arranged on the lower position for pressing the balls  47  with the urging force of the helical compression spring  49 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the cap screw  2  includes a screw part  21  formed on its inner surface, a lower hole  22 , an upper hole  23  and a protruding portion  24  formed on its outer side surface. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the plug  3  includes a tube joint part  31 , a flange part  32 , an insertion part  33 , an O-ring  34  of rubber, a switching member  35 , a helical compression spring  36  of a metal and a support part  37 . The tube joint part  31 , the flange part  32 , the insertion part  33  and the support part  37  are made of resin such as polyethylene or polyacetal. The switching member  35  consists of thermoplastic polyester elastomer such as Hytrel by Du Pont-Toray Co., Ltd., for example. This thermoplastic polyester elastomer has intermediate softness between those of rubber and plastic. 
     The tube joint part  31  of the plug  3  is constituted of a plurality of tapered parts capable of connecting the tube  5 . The flange part  32  is formed to be integrally continuous with the tube joint part  31 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the flange part  32  is engaged with the upper hole  23  of the cap screw  2 . The insertion part  33  is formed to be integrally continuous with the flange part  32 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the insertion part  33  is inserted into the recess portion  42   a  of the body part  42  of the socket  4 . The insertion part  33  is provided with a fixing groove  33   a  and an O-ring receiving groove  33   b . The fixing groove  33   a  has a width smaller than the outer diameter of the balls  47  of the socket  4 , and both ends of this fixing groove  33   a  closer to an opening are chamfered. The aforementioned O-ring  34  of rubber is arranged in the O-ring receiving groove  33   b . As shown in  FIG. 3 , this O-ring  34  is provided for preventing the reagent from leaking from the recess portion  42   a  when the insertion part  33  of the plug  3  is inserted in the recess portion  42   a  of the socket  4 . 
     The plug  3  is provided therein with a void  33   c  and a passage forming hole  33   d  formed above the void  33   c . The void  33   c  is provided therein with the aforementioned support part  37  having a hole  37   a  vertically movably receiving a shank  35   d  of the aforementioned switching member  35 . In other words, the switching member  35  is movable between a position for closing the passage forming hole  33   d  and blocking a passage and a position for opening the passage forming hole  33   d  and forming the passage. The switching member  35  is provided on its upper end with a contact part  35   a  coming into contact with the forward end  43   a  of the switching member  43  of the socket  4 . A tapered part  35   b  is formed to be continuous with the contact part  35   a . This tapered part  35   b  has a shape capable of blocking the passage forming hole  33   d  from inside. The switching member  35  is also provided with a flange part  35   c . The helical compression spring  36  is arranged between the flange part  35   c  and the support part  37 . The helical compression spring  36  has a function of urging the tapered part  35   b  to block the passage forming hole  33   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the anchor  6  of resin connected to an end of the tube  5  is provided with a hole  6   a  for sucking the reagent. 
     An operation of attaching/detaching the socket  4  to/from the plug  3  mounted on the container body  1  through the cap screw  2  is now described with reference to  FIGS. 8 to 10 . In order to attach the socket  4  to the plug  3 , the pressing member  48  of the socket  4  is moved upward as shown in  FIG. 8 . At this time, the pressing member  48  can be easily elevated by grasping the grip part  48   b  of the pressing member  48 . Thus, the balls  47  are released from the pressing by the pressing part  48   a  of the pressing member  48 , to be outwardly retreated from the recess portion  42   a.    
     The recess portion  42   a  of the socket  4  is engaged with the insertion part  33  of the plug  3  while the pressing member  48  is elevated in the aforementioned manner, to attain the state shown in  FIG. 9 . In the state shown in  FIG. 9 , the contact part  35   a  of the switching member  35  of the plug  3  is pushed down by the forward end  43   a  of the switching member  43  of the socket  4  while the forward end  43   a  of the switching member  43  of the socket  4  is pushed up due to reaction from the contact part  35   a  of the switching member  35  of the plug  3 . Thus, both of the passage forming holes  42   b  and  33   d  of the socket  4  and the plug  3  are opened to form the passages. In the state shown in  FIG. 9 , further, the O-ring  34  mounted on the insertion part  33  of the plug  3  comes into close contact with the inner surface of the recess portion  42   a  of the socket  4 , thereby preventing the reagent from leaking from the recess portion  42   a.    
     From the state shown in  FIG. 9 , the pressing member  48  is returned downward for urging the helical compression spring  49  as shown in  FIG. 10 , so that the pressing part  48   a  of the pressing member  48  externally presses the balls  47  inward. Thus, the balls  47  move into the recess portion  42   a  to engage with the fixing groove  33   a  of the insertion part  33  of the plug  3 , thereby fixing the plug  3  and the socket  4  to each other. Thus, the socket  4  is attached to the plug  3 . 
     In order to exchange the container body  1  when the reagent stored therein is used up, the socket  4  is detached from the plug  3  contrarily to the above attaching operation. In this case, the grip part  48   b  of the pressing member  48  is elevated from the state shown in  FIG. 10  thereby moving up the pressing member  48  as shown in  FIG. 9 , for extracting the socket  4  upward from the plug  3 . Thus, the switching member  35  of the plug  3  closes the passage forming hole  33   d  with the urging force of the helical compression spring  36  while the switching member  43  of the socket  4  also closes the passage forming hole  42   b  with the urging force of the helical compression spring  45 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the socket  4  is detached from the plug  3  for exchanging the container body  1  in the aforementioned manner, the passages are so quickly blocked that the reagent partially remaining in the container body  1  or the tube  8  is inhibited from coming into contact with the air. 
     The bubble sensor  9  shown in  FIG. 1  is now described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In the bubble sensor  9  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a light-emitting diode  93  and a photodetector  94  are oppositely arranged in a case  91  of resin at a prescribed interval. A square pole-shaped light-transmittable transparent member  95  having an elongated passage  95   a  is arranged between the light-emitting diode  93  and the photodetector  94 . Joint members  96  are provided on both ends of the transparent member  95 , in order to connect the tubes  8  and  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) with the bubble sensor  9 . A lid  92  is mounted on the upper portion of the case  91 . 
     A method of detecting presence/nonpresence of the reagent flowing through the passage  95   a  with the light-emitting diode  93  and the photodetector  94  is described with reference to  FIG. 11 . When no reagent is present in the passage  95   a , light emitted from the light-emitting diode  93  is reflected upward, and hence the photodetector  94  receives no light from the light-emitting diode  93 . When the reagent flows is present in the passage  95   a , on the other hand, the light emitted from the light-emitting diode  93  is straightforwardly transmitted through the passage  95   a . Thus, the photodetector  94  receives the light from the light-emitting diode  93 . Therefore, whether or not the reagent is present in the passage  95   a  is determined by determining whether or not the photodetector  94  receives the light from the light-emitting diode  93 . If the photodetector  94  receives no light from the light-emitting diode  93  although the blood cell analyzer body  12  operates to suck the reagent from the container body  1 , it is determined that the reagent stored in the container body  1  is used up. 
     According to this embodiment, the socket  4  is provided with the switching member  43  blocking the passage when the socket  4  is separated from the plug  3  while forming the passage when the socket  4  is connected with the plug  3  and the plug  3  is provided with the switching member  35  blocking the passage when the plug  3  is separated from the socket  4  while forming the passage when the plug  3  is connected with the socket  4  as described above. When the socket  4  is separated from the plug  3  mounted on the container body  1  for exchanging the container body  1 , therefore, the passages are so blocked that the reagent partially remaining in the container body  1  and the tube  8  can be inhibited from coming into contact with the air. Also in this embodiment employing the reagent for hemolyzing blood cells, giving off a malodor when coming into contact with the air, therefore, the user hardly breathes in such a malodor when exchanging the container body  1 . 
     According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the switching member  43  of the socket  4  is so structured as to block the passage with the urging force of the helical compression spring  45  while the switching member  35  of the plug  3  is also so structured as to block the passage with the urging force of the helical compression spring  36 , whereby the passages formed between the plug  3  and the socket  4  can be automatically blocked with the urging force of the helical compression springs  36  and  45  when the socket  4  is detached from the plug  3  mounted on the container body  1 . 
     According to this embodiment, further, the pressing member  48  is so provided on the socket  4  as to press the balls  47  on the lower position and cancel the pressing against the balls  47  on the upper position as hereinabove described, whereby the socket  4  can be easily detachably connected to the plug  3 . In addition, the socket  4  can be easily kept attached and fixed to the plug  3  by urging the pressing member  48  to the lower position for pressing the balls  47  with the urging force of the helical compression spring  49 . 
     According to this embodiment, further, the bubble sensor  9  detecting presence/nonpresence of the reagent is provided for detecting presence/nonpresence of the reagent in the passage  95   a  as hereinabove described, whereby it is possible to easily detect that the reagent stored in the container body  1  is used up and the container body  1  must be exchanged. 
     According to this embodiment, further, the flexible tube  5  is arranged in the container body  1  as hereinabove described, whereby the tube  5  can be deformed in response to the degree of contraction of the flexible container body  1  so that the reagent can be easily sucked through the tube  5  also when the volume of the reagent stored in the container body  1  is reduced. In addition, the anchor  6  having the hole  6   a  for sucking the reagent is mounted on the forward end of the tube  5 , so that the forward end of the tube  5  can be regularly positioned on the bottom of the container body  1  and the reagent can be sucked through the hole  6   a  of the anchor  6 . 
     According to this embodiment, further, the container body  1  is arranged in the corrugated fiberboard box  7  as hereinabove described, whereby the flexible container body  1  storing the reagent can be inhibited from damage caused by external force. 
     According to the aforementioned embodiment, further, the container body  1  is constituted of the bag contracting in response to the residue of the reagent so that the container body  1  may be provided with no air hole as hereinabove described, whereby the reagent stored in the container body  1  can be further reliably prevented from coming into contact with the air. 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. 
     For example, while the above embodiment has been described with reference to the blood cell analyzer body  12  serving as an exemplary analyzer body, the present invention is not restricted to this but is also applicable to an analyzer body, other than the blood cell analyzer body  12 , employing a reagent. In particular, the present invention is effective for employing a reagent giving off a malodor when coming into contact with the air. 
     While the bubble sensor  9  consists of the light-emitting diode  93  and the photodetector  94  in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this but another sensor capable of detecting presence/nonpresence of a reagent may alternatively be employed. 
     While the balls  47  are employed for fixing the plug  3  and the socket  4  to each other in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this but a similar effect can also be attained by employing fixing members having shapes other than those of balls.