Abstract:
A reagent-containing assembly comprising: a reagent-accommodating section comprising an opening sealed by a seal member; and a seal-opening section comprising a breaking portion for breaking the seal member, and a suction hole configured to provide access to the reagent-accommodating section; wherein the reagent-accommodating section and the seal-opening section are configured for detachable engagement with each other is disclosed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-276464 filed Oct. 10, 2006, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to reagent-containing assemblies, in particular, to a reagent-containing assembly having an opening sealed by a seal member. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, a reagent-containing assembly having an opening sealed with reagent accommodated therein is known (see e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-177254). 
     The reagent-containing assembly disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-177254 includes a reagent container for accommodating reagent, and a cap to be attached to the reagent container. The cap includes a circular disc shaped sealing body, arranged in the vicinity of the opening of the reagent container, made up of an elastic body radially formed with slits from a center towards the outer periphery, and an openable/closable member that moves downward by being pushed from above thereby pushing and widening the slit of the sealing body downward and opening the slit. The openable/closable member is biased upward by a spring member. 
     In the reagent-containing assembly disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-177254, the slit of the sealing body is opened by pushing the openable/closable member from above thereby enabling division of reagents when dividing the reagents. After dividing the reagent, the pushing on the openable/closable member is released, and the openable/closable member moves upward by the biasing force of the spring member, whereby the shape of the slit that was pushed and widened of the sealing body made of elastic body restores. The opening of the reagent container thereby closes. 
     However, since the reagent-containing assembly of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-177254 is configured such that the reagent container closes when the shape of the slit of the sealing body that was pushed and widened restores by elastic force, the reagent container cannot be sealed. Thus, the opening of the reagent container is sealed with a sealing dedicated cap when supplying the reagent to the user, and the user must remove such sealing dedicated cap of the reagent container when using the reagent (when suctioning the reagent) and changing such cap with the cap described above. The reagent accommodated in the reagent container might get contaminated, or the reagent might attach to the user when changing the cap, thereby causing contamination accidents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a reagent-containing assembly comprising: a reagent-accommodating section comprising an opening sealed by a seal member; and a seal-opening section comprising a breaking portion for breaking the seal member, and a suction hole configured to provide access to the reagent-accommodating section; wherein the reagent-accommodating section and the seal-opening section are configured for detachable engagement with each other. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is a reagent-containing assembly comprising: a reagent container comprising an opening sealed by a seal member; a holder configured for holding the reagent container; and a case, movable in a direction towards a bottom part of the holder, configured for covering the reagent container; wherein the case comprises a breaking portion for breaking the seal member, and a suction hole configured to provide access to the reagent container; and the holder and the case are configured for detachable engagement with each other. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is a reagent-containing assembly comprising: a holder for holding a reagent container comprising an opening sealed by a seal member; and a case, movable in a direction towards a bottom part of the holder, configured for covering the reagent container; wherein the case comprises a breaking portion for breaking the seal member, and a suction hole to provide access to the reagent container; and the holder and the case are configured for detachable engagement with each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an immune analyzer using a reagent-containing assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the immune analyzer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram including a control unit of a measurement mechanism section of the immune analyzer using the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a configuration of the control unit of the measurement mechanism section shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a control device of the immune analyzer using the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a reagent installing unit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a reagent holder of the reagent installing unit shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the reagent holder of the reagent installing unit shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a rack for holding the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a front surface of a lid of the reagent installing unit shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a back surface of the lid of the reagent installing unit shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an outer appearance view of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an outer appearance view of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a reagent container holder of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the reagent container holder and a reagent container of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of the reagent container holder of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the reagent container holder, the reagent container, and an upper lid part of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing an upper lid main body of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 19  is a cross sectional view showing an unused state of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 20  is an outer appearance view of a reagent-containing assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  is an outer appearance view of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view showing a reagent container holder of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 23  is an exploded perspective view of the reagent container holders and reagent containers of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of the reagent container holder of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 25  is a cross sectional view taken along line  100 - 100  of the reagent container shown in  FIG. 23 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a cross sectional view taken along line  200 - 200  of the reagent container shown in  FIG. 25 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a perspective view of the reagent container holder, the reagent container, and the upper lid part of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view showing an upper lid main body of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 29  is a cross sectional view showing the upper lid part of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view showing an unused state of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 31  is a cross sectional view showing an usage state of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 32  is a perspective view showing an unused state of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 33  is a cross sectional view showing the unused state of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 34  is a cross sectional view showing the usage state of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG. 35  is a cross sectional view showing a state in which a slide lid of the reagent-containing assembly is closed when suctioning reagent; 
         FIG. 36  is a cross sectional view showing a state in which the slide lid of the reagent-containing assembly is opened when suctioning reagent; and 
         FIG. 37  is a cross sectional view showing a variant of the upper lid main body of the reagent-containing assembly according to the one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective view and plan view, respectively, showing an overall configuration of an immune analyzer using a reagent-containing assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 3 to 6  and  FIG. 20  are views describing details of each unit of the immune analyzer according to the one embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . The overall configuration of the immune analyzer  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , and  FIG. 20 . 
     The immune analyzer  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for carrying out examinations on various items such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tumor marker, and thyroid hormone using samples such as blood. In the immune analyzer  1 , magnetic particles (R2 reagent) are bonded to a trapped antibody (R1 reagent) bonded to an antigen contained in a sample such as blood, which is the measuring object, and thereafter, the bound antigen, trapped antibody, and magnetic particles are attracted to a magnet (not shown) of a BF (Bound Free) separator  14  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to remove the R1 reagent containing non-reactive (free) trapped body. A labeled antibody (R3 reagent) is bonded to the antigen bound with magnetic particles, and thereafter, the bound magnetic particles, antigen, and labeled antibody are attracted to a magnet of a BF separator  14  to remove a R3 reagent containing non-reactive (free) labeled antibody. Furthermore, a light emitting substrate (R5 reagent) that emits light in the reaction process with the labeled antibody is added, and a light emitting amount generated through the reaction of the labeled antibody and the light emitting substrate is measured. After such processes, the antigen contained in the sample that bonds with the labeled antibody is quantitatively measured. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the immune analyzer  1  includes a measurement mechanism section  2 , a sample conveyance section (sampler)  3  arranged on the front surface side of the measurement mechanism section  2 , and a control device  4  including PC (personal computer) electrically connected to the measurement mechanism section  2 . The measurement mechanism section  2  is configured by a sample dispensing arm  5 , reagent installing units  6  and  7 , reagent dispensing arms  8 ,  9 , and  10 , a primary reaction unit  11  and a secondary reaction unit  12 , a cuvette supplying unit  13 , a BF separator  14 , and a detector  15 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each mechanism (various dispensing arms, reagent installing unit  6 , and reagent installing unit  7 , and the like) in the measurement mechanism section  2  are controlled by a control unit  2   a  arranged in the measurement mechanism section  2 . Specifically, the control unit  2   a  receives signals of various sensors (sensors  60   d ,  60   f  and origin detection sensor  60   e , and the like) arranged in the reagent installing unit  7 , and controls the drive of various driving sources (stepping motors  53 ,  63 , and motor  73 , and the like) arranged in the reagent installing unit  7 . The conveyance mechanism section  3  is also controlled by the control unit  2   a . The various dispensing arms, various sensors, and various driving sources will be described in detail below. 
     The control unit  2   a  is mainly configured by a CPU  2   b , a ROM  2   c , a RAM  2   d , and a communication interface  2   e.    
     The CPU  2   b  executes computer programs stored in the ROM  2   c  and the computer programs read by the RAM  2   d . The ROM  2   c  stores computer programs executed by the CPU  2   b , data used in executing the computer program, and the like. The RAM  2   d  is used to read out the computer program stored in the ROM  2   c . In executing the computer program, the RAM  2   d  is used as a work region of the CPU  2   b.    
     The communication interface  2   e  is connected to the control device  4 , and transmits optical information (data of received light amount generated by reaction of the labeled antibody and light emitting substrate) of the sample to the control device  4 , and receives signals from the control unit  4   a  of the control device  4 . The communication interface  2   e  has a function of transmitting a command from the CPU  2   b  for driving each unit of the conveyance mechanism section  3  and the measurement mechanism section  2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sample conveyance section  3  is configured to convey a rack  101  mounted with a plurality of test tubes  100  accommodating the sample to a position corresponding to a suction position  1   a  at where the sample dispensing arm  5  suctions the sample. The sample conveyance section  3  includes a rack set part  3   a  for setting the rack  101  in which the test tubes  100  accommodating non-processed sample are mounted, and a rack storing part  3   b  for storing the rack  101  in which the test tubes  100  accommodating the dispensing processed sample are mounted. The test tube  100  accommodating the non-processed sample is conveyed to a position corresponding to the suction position  1   a  of the sample dispensing arm  5 , so that the sample dispensing arm  5  suctions the sample such as blood in the test tube  100 , and thereafter, the rack  101  mounted with the test tube  100  is stored in the rack storing part  3   b.    
     The control device  4  ( FIG. 1 ) consists of a personal computer (PC), and includes a control unit  4   a  including CPU, ROM, RAM, a display unit  4   b  and a keyboard  4   c . The display unit  4   b  is arranged to display result of analysis obtained by analyzing data of digital signals transmitted from a detector  15 . 
     The configuration of the control device  4  will now be described. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the control device  4  is configured by a computer  401  mainly consisting of the control unit  4   a , the display unit  4   b , and the keyboard  4   c . The control unit  4   a  is mainly configured by a CPU  401   a , a ROM  401   b , a RAM  401   c , a hard disc  401   d , a read-out device  401   e , an input/output interface  401   f , a communication interface  401   g , and an image output interface  401   h . The CPU  401   a , the ROM  401   b , the RAM  401   c , the hard disc  401   d , the read-out device  401   e , the input/output interface  401   f , the communication interface  401   g , and the image output interface  401   h  are connected by a bus  401   i.    
     The CPU  401   a  executes computer programs stored in the ROM  401   b  and the computer programs loaded in the RAM  401   c . The computer  401  serves as the control device  4  when the CPU  401   a  executes the application program  404   a , as hereinafter described. 
     The ROM  401   b  is configured by mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and the like, and is recorded with computer programs to be executed by the CPU  401   a , data used for the same, and the like. 
     The RAM  401   c  is configured by SRAM, DRAM, and the like. The RAM  401   c  is used to read out the computer programs recorded on the ROM  401   b  and the hard disc  401   d . The RAM  401   c  is used as a work region of the CPU  401   a  when executing the computer programs. 
     The hard disc  401   d  is installed with various computer programs to be executed by the CPU  401   a  such as operating system and application program, as well as data used in executing the computer program. The immune analysis application program  404   a  according to the present embodiment is also installed in the hard disc  401   d.    
     The read-out device  401   e  is configured by flexible disc drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, and the like, and is able to read out computer programs and data recorded on a portable recording medium  404 . The immune analysis application program  404   a  is stored in the portable recording medium  404 , where the computer  401  reads out the application program  404   a  from the portable recording medium  404 , and installs the application program  404   a  to the hard disc  401   d.    
     The application program  404   a  is not only provided by the portable recording medium  404 , but also provided through communication line (wired or wireless) from external devices communicatably connected with the computer  401  through the communication line. For instance, the application program  404   a  may be stored in the hard disc of the server computer on the Internet, so that the computer  401  can access the server computer to download the application program  404   a  and install the application program  404   a  to the hard disc  401   d.    
     Operating system providing graphical user interface environment such as Windows® manufactured and sold by US Microsoft Co. is installed in the hard disc  401   d . In the following description, the application program  404   a  according to the first embodiment is assumed to operate on the operating system. 
     The output interface  401   f  is configured by serial interface such as USB, IEEE1394, RS-232C; parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE, IEEE1284; analog interface such as D/A converter, A/D converter, and the like. The keyboard  4   c  is connected to the input/output interface  401   f , so that the user can input data to the computer  401  using the keyboard  4   c.    
     The communication interface  401   g  is, for example, Ethernet® interface. The computer  401  transmits and receives data with the measurement mechanism section  2  using a predetermined communication protocol by means of the communication interface  401   g.    
     The image output interface  401   h  is connected to the display unit  4   b  configured by LCD, CRT, or the like, and is configured to output an image signal corresponding to the image data provided from the CPU  401   a  to the display unit  4   b . The display unit  4   b  displays the image (screen) according to the input image signal. 
     The immune analysis application program  404   a  installed in the hard disc  401   d  of the control unit  4   a  measures the amount of antigen in the measurement specimen using the received light amount (data of digital signal) of the measurement specimen transmitted from the detector  15  of the measurement mechanism section  2 . 
     The sample dispensing arm  5  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) has a function of dispensing the sample in the test tube  100  conveyed to the suction position  1   a  by the sample conveyance section  3  into a cuvette  150  held by a holder  11   b  of a rotatable table  11   a  of the primary reaction unit  11  to be hereinafter described. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sample dispensing arm  5  includes a motor  5   a , a drive transmitting part  5   b  connected to the motor  5   a , and an arm  5   d  attached to the drive transmitting part  5   b  by way of a shaft  5   c . The drive transmitting part  5   b  is configured to turn the arm  5   d  with the shaft  5   c  as the center by the driving force from the motor  5   a , and move the arm in the up and down direction (Z direction). A pipette  5   e  for suctioning and discharging the sample is arranged at the distal end of the arm  5   d.    
     The reagent installing unit  6  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is provided to install a reagent-containing assembly  200  (see  FIG. 20 ) for holding a reagent container in which R1 reagent containing trapped antibody is accommodated and a reagent container in which R3 reagent containing labeled antibody is accommodated. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the reagent installing unit  6  includes a reagent holder  20  for holding the reagent-containing assembly  200 , a lid  30  attached to the reagent holder  20 , and a raising and lowering unit  40  for replacing the reagent-containing assembly  200  in the reagent holder  20  through a hole  30   a  formed in the lid  30 . 
     The reagent installing unit  7  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is arranged to install a reagent-containing assembly  300  (see  FIG. 22 ) for holding a test container in which a R2 reagent containing magnetic particles is accommodated. The configuration of the reagent installing unit  7  will be hereinafter described in detail. 
     The reagent dispensing arm  8  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) has a function of suctioning the R1 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly installed in the reagent installing unit  6  and dispensing the suctioned R1 reagent into the cuvette  150  dispensed with the sample of the primary reaction unit  11 . The reagent dispensing arm  8  includes a motor  8   a , a drive transmitting part  8   b  connected to the motor  8   a , and an arm  8   d  attached to the drive transmitting part  8   b  by way of a shaft  8   c . The drive transmitting part  8   b  is configured to turn the arm  8   d  with the shaft  8   c  as the center by the driving force from the motor  8   a , and move the arm in the up and down direction. A pipette  8   e  (see  FIG. 1 ) for suctioning and discharging the R1 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly is arranged at the distal end of the arm  8   d . That is, the pipette  8   e  is configured to suction the R1 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly installed in the reagent installing unit  6 , and thereafter, dispense the suctioned R1 reagent into the cuvette  150  dispensed with the sample of the primary reaction unit  11 . 
     The reagent dispensing arm  9  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) has a function of dispensing the R2 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly  300  installed in the reagent installing unit  7  into the cuvette  150  dispensed with the sample and the R1 reagent of the primary reaction unit  11 . The reagent dispensing arm  9  includes a motor  9   a , a drive transmitting part  9   b  connected to the motor  9   a , and an arm  9   d  attached to the drive transmitting part  9   b  by way of a shaft  9   c . The drive transmitting part  9   b  is configured to turn the arm  9   d  with the shaft  9   c  as the center by the driving force from the motor  9   a , and move the arm in the up and down direction. A pipette  9   e  (see  FIG. 1 ) for suctioning and discharging the R2 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly  300  is arranged at the distal end of the arm  9   d . Thus, the pipette  9   e  is configured to suction the R2 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly  300  installed in the reagent installing unit  7 , and thereafter, dispense the suctioned R2 reagent into the cuvette  150  dispensed with the sample and the R1 reagent of the primary reaction unit  11 . 
     The reagent dispensing arm  10  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) has a function of suctioning the R3 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly installed in the reagent installing unit  6 , and dispensing the suctioned R3 reagent into the cuvette  150  dispensed with the sample, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent of the secondary reaction unit  12 . The reagent dispensing arm  10  includes a motor  10   a , a drive transmitting part  10   b  connected to the motor  10   a , and an arm  10   d  attached to the drive transmitting part  10   b  by way of a shaft  10   c . The drive transmitting part  10   b  is configured to turn the arm  10   d  with the shaft  10   c  as the center by the driving force from the motor  10   a , and move the arm in the up and down direction. A pipette  10   e  (see  FIG. 1 ) for suctioning and discharging the R3 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly is arranged at the distal end of the arm  10   d . That is, the pipette  10   e  is configured to suction the R3 reagent in the reagent-containing assembly installed in the reagent installing unit  6 , and thereafter, dispense the suctioned R3 reagent into the cuvette  150  dispensed with the sample, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent of the secondary reaction unit  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the primary reaction unit  11  is arranged to rotatably transfer the cuvette  150  held by the holder  11   b  of the rotatable table  11   a  by a predetermined angle for every predetermined period (18 seconds in the present embodiment), and to stir the sample, the R1 reagent, the and the R2 reagent in the cuvette  150 . That is, the primary reaction unit  11  is arranged to react the R2 reagent containing magnetic particles and the antigen in the sample in the cuvette  150 . The primary reaction unit  11  is configured by a rotatable table  11   a  for conveying the cuvette  150  accommodating the sample, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent in the rotating direction, and a container conveying part  11   c  for stirring the sample, R1 reagent, and R2 reagent in the cuvette  150  and conveying the cuvette  150  accommodating the stirred sample, R1 reagent and R2 reagent to the BF separator  14  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to be hereinafter described. 
     The rotatable table  11   a  is configured so as to rotatably transfer the cuvette  150  held in the holder  11   b  by a predetermined angle every 18 seconds. Thus, various devices (sample dispensing arm  5 , reagent dispensing arms  8  and  9  etc.) of the immune analyzer  1  are controlled so as to operate on the cuvette  150  at the predetermined transferred position at a timing the cuvette is transferred to the predetermined position by the rotatable table  11   a.    
     The container conveying part  11   c  is rotatably arranged at the central portion of the rotatable table  11   a . The container conveying part  11   c  has a function of gripping the cuvette  150  held in the holder  11   b  of the rotatable table  11   a  and stirring the sample in the cuvette  150 . Furthermore, the container conveying part  11   c  has a function of transferring the cuvette  150  accommodating the specimen obtained by stirring and incubating the sample, the R1 reagent and the R2 reagent to the BF separator  14  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The secondary reaction unit  12  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) has a configuration similar to the primary reaction unit  11 , and is arranged to rotatably transfer the cuvette  150  held by the holder  12   b  of the rotatable table  12   a  by a predetermined angle for every predetermined period (18 seconds in the present embodiment), and to stir the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, the R3 reagent, and the R5 reagent in the cuvette  150 . That is, the secondary reaction unit  12  is arranged to react the R3 reagent containing labeled antibody and the antigen in the sample in the cuvette  150 , and to react the R5 reagent containing light emitting substrates and the labeled antibody of the R3 reagent. The R5 reagent is dispensed into the cuvette  150  accommodating the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, and the R3 reagent of the secondary reaction unit  12  by a R5 reagent dispensing arm (not shown) arranged near the secondary reaction unit  12 . The secondary reaction unit  12  is configured by a rotatable table  12   a  for conveying the cuvette  150  accommodating the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, the R3 reagent, and the R5 reagent in the rotating direction, and a container conveying part  12   c  for stirring the sample, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, R3 reagent, and the R5 reagent in the cuvette  150  and conveying the cuvette  150  accommodating the stirred sample etc. to the BF separator  14 . The container conveying part  12   c  has a function of again conveying the cuvette  150  processed by the BF separator  14  to the holder  12   b  of the rotatable table  12 . The detailed structure of the secondary reaction unit  12  is similar to the primary reaction unit  11 , and thus the description thereof will be omitted. 
     The cuvette supplying unit  13  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is configured to sequentially supply a plurality of cuvettes  150  to the holder  11   b  of the rotatable table  11   a  of the primary reaction unit  11 . 
     The BF separator  14  has a function of separating the non-reacting R1 reagent (unnecessary component) and the magnetic particles from the specimen in the cuvette  150  conveyed by the container conveying part  11   c  of the primary reaction unit  11 , and a function of separating the non-reacting R3 reagent (unnecessary component) and the magnetic particles from the specimen in the cuvette  150  (see  FIG. 1 ) conveyed by the container conveying part  12   c  of the secondary reaction unit  12 . 
     The detector  15  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is arranged to measure the amount of antigen contained in a sample by acquiring the light generated in the reaction process of the labeled antibody bound to the antigen of the sample performed with a predetermined process and the light emitting substrate with a photo multiplier tube. 
       FIGS. 6 to 19  are views describing details of the reagent installing unit installed with the reagent-containing assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention and the reagent-containing assembly. The configuration of a reagent-containing assembly  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention and the reagent installing unit  7  installed with the reagent-containing assembly  300  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the reagent installing unit  7  includes a reagent holder  50  of cylindrical shape for holding the reagent-containing assembly  300  in a circular ring shape, a lid  60  attached to the reagent holder  50  in an openable and closable manner, and a raising and lowering unit  70  attached to the side surface (outer wall part  51 ) of the cylindrical reagent holder  50 . A Peltier element (not shown) is also attached at the bottom of the reagent installing unit  7 , and the inside of the reagent installing unit  7  is maintained at about 15° C. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the reagent holder  50  is configured similar to reagent holder  20 , and includes a cylindrical outer wall part  51 , a rotatable rotation shaft  52  arranged at the center, a stepping motor  53  for rotating the rotation shaft  52 , and a belt  54  for transmitting the driving force of the stepping motor  53  to the rotation shaft  52  (see  FIG. 8 ). A heat insulating material (not shown) is attached over the entire surface on the inner surface of the outer wall part  51 , so that the temperature inside the reagent holder  50  is maintained at low temperature (about 15° C.). As shown in  FIG. 8 , the driving force of the stepping motor  53  is transmitted to the rotation shaft  52  via the belt  54  by a pulley  53   a  that rotates by the stepping motor  53  and a pulley  52   a  coaxially fixed to the rotation shaft  52 . 
     A rack  600  for holding a plurality of reagent-containing assemblies  300  in a circular ring form is fixedly attached to the rotation shaft  52 . The rack  600  holding the reagent-containing assemblies  300  rotates when the rotation shaft  52  is rotated with the reagent-containing assemblies  300  held in the rack  600 , and thus the reagent-containing assembly  300  holding the reagent to be suctioned can be moved to below a hole  60   b  of the lid  60  to be hereinafter described. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the rack  600  includes an inserting part  601 , formed at the center of the rack  600 , to which the rotation shaft  52  is inserted; a plurality of holders  602 , formed in a circular ring form with the inserting part  601  as the center, for holding the reagent-containing assembly  300 , and an origin detection strip  603  arranged so as to project above the inserting part  601 . The holder  602  is configured by a partition plate  602   a  and a supporting part  602   b . The partition plate  602   a  is arranged in plurals at a predetermined angular interval so as to radially extend from the inserting part  601 . The supporting part  602   b  is arranged at the lower part of the portions facing each other of the partition plates  602   a  and at the lower part of the inserting part  601  so as to project to the inner side. Each reagent-containing assembly  300  is arranged so that a peripheral edge of a bottom part  324  (see  FIG. 16 ) is supported by a supporting part  602   b  in a space sandwiched by a pair of partition plates  602   a . A mounting section  71  of the raising and lowering unit  70  for raising and lowering the reagent-containing assembly  300  is configured to be raised and lowered by having an upper part, a lower part, and an outside part in the radial direction of the holder  602  as open ends. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the present embodiment, the rotation shaft  52  is rotatable in a reciprocating manner in a direction of an arrow A and in a direction of an arrow B by driving the stepping motor  53 . In order to stir the R2 reagent (magnetic particles) installed in the reagent installing unit  7 , the rack  600  holding the reagent container  310  (reagent-containing assembly  300 ) accommodating the R2 reagent is rotated in a reciprocating manner in the direction of the arrow A and in the direction of the arrow B to stir the R2 reagent, thereby suppressing the R2 reagent (magnetic particles), which are particles having larger weight compared to common particles, from precipitating. Specifically, the rack  600  rotates in a reciprocating manner in an angular range of angle α (about 27 degrees) at a speed of one rotation/four sec. In other words, the rack  600  is configured such that the rotating direction reverses every 0.3 second in the angular range of angle ((about 27 degrees). The rotation angle in the direction of the arrow A and the rotation angle in the direction of the arrow B in time of stirring are set substantially equal. The rotation speed in the direction of the arrow A and the rotation speed in the direction of the arrow B are also set to be substantially equal. The rack  600  is constantly rotated in a reciprocating manner other than in time of suctioning the reagent and in time of replacing the reagent-containing assembly  300  (addition, retrieval) so that the reagent can be stirred. The rack  600  rotates in a reciprocating manner even in stand-by mode of the immune analyzer  1  (state waiting for instruction of analysis, state in which sample measuring operation is not being performed). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lid  60  is attached in an openable and closable manner to the reagent holder  50  by way of a hinge part  60   a . The lid  60  is configured to shield outside air so that the temperature in the reagent installing unit  7  is maintained at a low temperature ( 15 (C), and so as to enable the reagent in the reagent installing unit  7  to be suctioned from the outside and the reagent-containing assembly  300  to be placed in or taken out from the reagent installing unit  7 . Specifically, the lid  60  includes the hole  60   b  to be inserted with a pipette  9   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  9  when suctioning the reagent from the reagent container  310  of the reagent-containing assembly  300 , and the input/output hole  60   c  for placing in or taking out the reagent-containing assembly  300  from the reagent installing unit  7  by the raising and lowering unit  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Furthermore, the lid  60  includes an openable/closable member  61  for opening or closing a slide lid  370  of the reagent-containing assembly  300  arranged below the hole  60   b , a linear movement guide  62  for slidably supporting the openable/closable member  61 , and the stepping motor  63  for driving the openable/closable member  61  in a reciprocating manner. The lid  60  is arranged with a reflection sensor  60   d  for detecting whether or not the reagent-containing assembly  300  is held in the holder  602  of the rack  600 , a transmissive origin detection sensor  60   e  for detecting an origin position of the rack  600 , and a transmissive sensor  60   f  for detecting an origin position of the openable/closable member  61 . The sensor  60   d  is arranged on the front surface side of the lid  60  so that light can be irradiated towards the back surface side of the lid  60 , and the origin detection sensor  60   e  is arranged on the back surface side of the lid  60 . The transmissive sensor  60   f  is arranged on the front surface side of the lid  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the openable/closable member  61  includes a two-forked engagement strip  61   a , similar to an openable/closable member  31 . When the reagent-containing assembly  300  is arranged below the hole  60   b  with the slide lid  370  closed, the engagement strip  373  (see  FIG. 12 ) of the slide lid  370  of the reagent-containing assembly  300  is positioned between the two-forked engagement strips  61   a  of the openable/closable member  61 . A pair of guide strips  60   g  is attached near the hole  60   b  of the back surface of the lid  60 . The pair of guide holes  60   g  has a function of contacting the engagement strip  373  of the slide lid  370  and guiding the same when arranged below the hole  60   b  with the slide lid  370  of the reagent-containing assembly  300  opened, thereby positioning the engagement strip  373  of the slide lid  370  between the two-forked engagement strips  61   a  of the openable/closable member  61 . 
     The reflection sensor  60   d  is configured to detect whether or not the reagent-containing assembly  300  is held in the holder  602  of the rack  600 . The transmissive origin detection sensor  30   e  has a function of detecting the origin detection strip  603  arranged in the rack  600  to detect the origin position of the rotating rack  600 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the raising and lowering unit  70  is arranged to place in and take out the reagent-containing assembly  300  in the reagent installing unit  7 . The raising and lowering unit  70  includes the mounting section  71  to be mounted with the reagent-containing assembly  300 , the arm  72  for supporting the mounting section  71 , and a driving section  73  for sliding the arm  72  in the up and down direction. A cross-shaped groove  71   a  that engages ribs  325  arranged at the bottom  324  of the reagent container holder  320  of the reagent-containing assembly  300  is formed in the mounting section  71 . The arm  72  has a function of moving the mounting section  71  in the up and down direction by the driving force of the driving section  73  arranged exterior to the reagent holder  50  by way of a hole (not shown) extending in the vertical direction on the outer wall part  51 . The raising and lowering unit  70  lowers the mounting section  71  with the reagent-containing assembly  300  mounted on the mounting section  71 , so that the reagent-containing assembly  300  can be held by the rack  600 . The raising and lowering unit  70  also moves the mounting section  71  upward from below the reagent-containing assembly  300  held by the rack  600  to lift the reagent-containing assembly  300  held by the rack  600 , so that the reagent-containing assembly  300  can be taken out from the input/output hole  60   c  of the lid  60 . 
     The reagent installing unit  6  has a configuration similar to the reagent installing unit  7  except for that two openable/closable mechanisms are arranged on the lid  30  to open and close two slide lids  280  and  290  (see  FIG. 20 ) of the reagent-containing assembly  200  in correspondence to the reagent-containing assembly  200  held by the reagent holder  6  including two reagent containers of a reagent container  210  for accommodating the R1 reagent and a reagent container  220  (see  FIG. 20 ) for accommodating the R2 reagent, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. 
     The reagent-containing assembly  300  according to the present embodiment will now be described in detail. As shown in  FIGS. 12 to 19 , the reagent-containing assembly  300  according to the present embodiment includes a reagent container  310  accommodating the R2 reagent, a reagent container holder  320  for holding the reagent container  310 , and a case  330  to be attached to the reagent container holder  320  so as to cover the reagent container  310 . 
     The reagent container  310  is made of high density polystyrene. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the reagent container  310  is sealed by attaching an aluminum seal  310   a  to the opening  312   a  so that deterioration, leakage etc. of the reagent accommodated in the reagent container  310  are suppressed before use (when supplied to the user). The reagent container  310  includes a body part  311  in which the reagent is accommodated, a head part  312  with the opening  312   a  for suctioning the reagent, and a neck part  313  for connecting the body part  311  and the head part  312 . The head part  312  is formed into a cylindrical form, where an inner diameter d 3  of the head part  312  (see  FIG. 19 ) is formed to be substantially equal to an outer diameter D 3  (see  FIG. 19 ) of a tubular part  361  to be hereinafter described. Furthermore, a seal accommodating portion  312   b  where the aluminum seal  310   a  is to be accommodated when the aluminum seal  310   a  sealed to the opening  312   a  is broken by a projecting portion  361   c , as hereinafter described, is arranged near the opening  312   a  of the head part  312 , as shown in  FIG. 19 . Specifically, an inner diameter d 4  near the opening  312   a  of the head part  312  is formed larger than the inner diameter d 3  of other portions of the head part  312 , so that the broken aluminum seal  310   a  is accommodated in the portion having the inner diameter d 4  (seal accommodating portion  312   b ). The neck part  313  is formed so as to constrict with respect to the head part  312  and the body part  311 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the reagent container holder  320  can removably hold the reagent container  310 , and includes an engagement part  321  that engages with the neck part  313  of the reagent container  310 , a pair of hooks  322  for suppressing the reagent container holder  320  from moving downward with respect to the case  330 , an engagement part  323  for suppressing the reagent container holder  320  from moving upward with respect to the case  330 , and the ribs  325  arranged at the bottom part  324  to engage with the mounting section  71  of the raising and lowering member  70 . 
     The engagement part  321  is configured to hold the reagent container  310  at the reagent container holder  320  by engaging the neck part  313  of the reagent container  310 . The pair of hooks  322  has a function of suppressing the reagent container holder  320  from detaching from the case  330  by engaging with a pair of holes  341  and  342  formed in the case  330 , to be hereinafter described. Moreover, the engagement part  323  has a function of suppressing the reagent container holder  320  from moving upward from a predetermined position with respect to the case  330  by engaging with a hole  343  formed in the case  330 , to be hereinafter described. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the ribs  325  formed on the bottom part  324  are arranged in a cross shape. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the case  330  has a case main body  340  for covering the side surfaces of the reagent container  310  and the reagent container holder  320 , and an upper lid part  350  fixedly attached to the case main body  340 . The case  330  is formed into a box shape having the lower end  330   a  opened with the case main body  340  and the upper lid part  350  in a fixed state. A pair of holes  341  that engage with the pair of hooks  322  of the reagent container holder  320 , a pair of holes  342  arranged with a predetermined spacing above the pair of holes  341 , the hole  343  that engages with the engagement part  323  of the reagent container holder  320 , and a slit  344  (see  FIG. 13 ) formed so as to extend in an up and down direction are formed in the case main body  340 . In the present embodiment, the reagent-containing assembly  300  is configured so that the amount of reagent accommodated in the reagent container  310  can be viewed through the slit  344 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 to 19 , the upper lid part  350  includes an upper lid main body  360 , and a slide lid  370  slidably attached to the upper lid main body  360 . The upper lid main body  360  has a tubular part  361  to be inserted to the opening  312   a  of the reagent container  310 , a reflection part  362  for reflecting the light irradiated by the reflection sensor  60   e  arranged on the lid  60 , slide rails  363  for the slide lid  370  to slide, and a concave part  364  for respectively regulating the position of the slide lid  370 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , the tubular part  361  is formed so that an opening end face  361   a  on the upper side has an inclined surface inclined by a predetermined angle from a horizontal plane. The opening end face  361   b  on the lower side is formed so as to be a horizontal plane. The pointed projecting portion  361   c  projecting downward is arranged on the opening end face  361   b  on the lower side. The aluminum seal  310   a  attached to the opening  312   a  is broken by the projecting portion  361   c.    
     Furthermore, the concave part  364  has a function of regulating the movement of the slide lid  370  by contacting a projecting part  372  of the slide lid  370  and suppressing the slide lid  370  from slipping off from the upper lid main body  360 . A convex shaped rib  364   a  that engages the projecting part  372  of the slide lid  370  when the slide lid  370  is at a position of closing the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  is arranged in the concave part  364 . The slide lid  370  thus can be fixed with the slide lid  370  sealing the tubular part  361 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , the slide lid  370  includes engagement parts  371  that engage with the slide rails  363 , the projecting part  372  fitted into the concave part  364  of the upper lid main body  360 , an engagement strip  373  that engages the openable/closable member  61  of the lid  60 , and a contacting part  374  formed so as to have an inclined surface inclined by a predetermined angle. A plate shaped silicone sheet  374   a  that closely attaches to the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  when the slide lid  370  seals the tubular part  361  is attached to the contacting part  374 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , the reagent container  310  includes a bottom part  314  formed to a smooth concave surface shape, a middle part  315  formed to a cylindrical shape, and a tapered shape part  316  formed so that the cross sectional area of the horizontal cross section gradually narrows towards the upper side from the upper end of the middle part  315 . The horizontal cross section of the bottom part  314  is formed into a circular shape, and an inner shape including a distal end  314   a  is formed into a substantially spherical surface shape. Furthermore, a step portion  314   b  projecting towards the inner side is formed on the inner surface of the bottom part  314 . The R2 reagent is accommodated in the reagent container  310  such that the liquid level is lower than a lower end  316   a  of the tapered shape part  316 . 
     The details of the reagent-containing assembly  200  according to the present embodiment will now be described. As shown in  FIGS. 20 to 29 , the reagent-containing accommodating assembly  200  according to the present embodiment includes the reagent container  210  accommodating the R1 reagent, the reagent container  220  accommodating the R3 reagent, the reagent container holder  230  for holding the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220 , and a case  240  to be attached to the reagent container holder  230  so as to cover the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220 . 
     The reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220  are made of high density polystyrene. As shown in  FIG. 23 , the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220  are respectively sealed by attaching aluminum seal  210   a  and  220   a  to the opening  212   a  and the opening  222   a  to be hereinafter described, respectively, so that deterioration, leakage etc. of the reagent accommodated in the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220  are suppressed before use (when supplied to the user). The reagent container  210  includes a body part  211  in which the reagent is accommodated, a head part  212  with the opening  212   a  for suctioning the reagent, and a neck part  213  for connecting the body part  211  and the head part  212 . As shown in  FIGS. 25 and 26 , a convex portion  211   a  projecting towards the inner side so as to extend in the vertical direction (see  FIG. 25 ) and a convex portion  211   b  projecting towards the inner side so as to extend in the horizontal direction (see  FIG. 26 ) are formed on the inner surface of the body part  211 . The head part  212  is formed into a cylindrical form, where an inner diameter d 1  of the head part  212  (see  FIG. 26 ) is formed to be substantially equal to an outer diameter D 1  (see  FIG. 29 ) of a tubular part  271  to be hereinafter described. Furthermore, a seal accommodating portion  212   b  where the aluminum seal  210   a  is to be accommodated when the aluminum seal  210   a  sealed to the opening  212   a  is broken by a projecting portion  271   c , as hereinafter described, is arranged near the opening  212   a  of the head part  212 , as shown in  FIG. 26 . Specifically, an inner diameter d 2  near the opening  212   a  of the head part  212  is formed larger than the inner diameter d 1  of other portions of the head part  212 , so that the broken aluminum seal  210   a  is accommodated in the portion having the inner diameter d 2  (seal accommodating portion  212   b ). The neck part  313  is formed so as to constrict with respect to the head part  212  and the body part  211 . Furthermore, the reagent container  220  also includes a body part  221 , a head part  222  and a neck part  223 , similar to the reagent container  210 , and includes convex portions  221   a  projecting towards the inner side so as to extend in the vertical direction, convex portions  221   b  projecting towards the inner side so as to extend in the horizontal direction, and a seal accommodating portion (not shown), as shown in  FIG. 23 . The inner diameter of the head part  222  of the reagent container  220  is formed substantially equal to the outer diameter D 2  of the tubular part  272  to be hereinafter described (see  FIG. 29 ). 
     The reagent container holder  230  can removably hold the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220 , and includes an engagement part  231  that engages with the neck part  213  of the reagent container  210 , an engagement part  232  that engages with the neck part  223  of the reagent container  220 , a pair of hooks  232  for suppressing the reagent container holder  230  from moving downward with respect to the case  240 , an engagement part  234  for suppressing the reagent container holder  230  from moving upward with respect to the case  240 , ribs  236  arranged at the bottom part  235  to engage with grooves  41   a  of the mounting section  41  of the raising and lowering unit  40 , and a slit  237  formed at a position corresponding to a slit  254  of a case main body  250 , to be hereinafter described, as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . 
     The engagement part  231  and the engagement part  232  are respectively formed with a concave part having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the neck part  213 ,  223  so as to engage with the neck part  213  and  223  of the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220 . The reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220  are held by the reagent container holder  230  by engaging the neck parts  213 ,  223  with the engagement parts  231 ,  232 . The pair of hooks  233  has a function of suppressing the reagent container holder  230  from detaching from the case  240  by engaging with a pair of holes  251  and  252  formed in the case  240 , to be hereinafter described. Moreover, the engagement part  234  has a function of suppressing the reagent container holder  230  from moving upward from a predetermined position with respect to the case  240  by engaging with a hole  253  formed in the case  240 , to be hereinafter described. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the ribs  236  formed on the bottom part  235  is arranged in cross shape. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the case  240  has a case main body  250  for covering the side surfaces of the reagent container  210 , the reagent container  220 , and the reagent container holder  230 , and an upper lid part  260  fixedly attached to the case main body  250 . The case  240  is formed into a box shape having the lower end  240   a  opened with the case main body  250  and the upper lid part  260  in a fixed state. A pair of holes  251  that engage with the pair of hooks  233  of the reagent container holder  230 , a pair of holes  252  arranged with a predetermined spacing above the pair of holes  251 , the hole  253  that engages with the engagement part  234  of the reagent container holder  230 , and slits  254  and  255  formed so as to extend in the up and down direction are formed in the case main body  250 . In the present embodiment, the reagent-containing assembly  200  is configured so that the amount of reagent accommodated in the reagent container  210  can be viewed through the slit  254  and the slit  237  of the reagent container holder  230 . Furthermore, the reagent-containing assembly  200  is configured so that the amount of reagent accommodated in the reagent container  220  can be viewed through the slit  255 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 27 to 29 , the upper lid part  260  includes an upper lid main body  270 , and a slide lid  280  and a slide lid  290  slidably attached to the upper lid main body  270 . The upper lid main body  270  has a tubular part  271  and a tubular part  272  to be inserted to the opening  212   a  of the reagent container  210  and the opening  222   a  of the reagent container  220 , respectively, a reflection part  273  for reflecting the light irradiated by a reflection sensor  30   f  arranged on the lid  30 , slide rails  274  for the slide lid  280  and the slide lid  290  to slide, and a concave part  275  and a concave part  276  for respectively regulating the position of the slide lid  280  and the slide lid  290 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 28 and 29 , the tubular part  271  is formed so that an opening end face  271   a  on the upper side has an inclined surface inclined by a predetermined angle from a horizontal plane. The opening end face  271   b  on the lower side is formed so as to be a horizontal plane. The pointed projecting portion  271   c  projecting downward is arranged on the opening end face  271   b  on the lower side. The aluminum seal  210   a  attached to the opening  212   a  of the reagent container  210  is broken by the projecting portion  271   c . Similar to the tubular part  271 , the tubular part  272  also includes an opening end face  272   a  on the upper side, an opening end face  272   b  on the lower side, and a pointed projecting portion  272   c  projecting downward from the opening end face  272   b  on the lower side. 
     Furthermore, the concave part  275  has a function of regulating the movement of the slide lid  280  by contacting the projecting part  282  of the slide lid  280  to be hereinafter described and suppressing the slide lid  280  from slipping off from the upper lid main body  270 . A convex shaped rib  275   a  that engages the projecting part  282  of the slide lid  280  when the slide lid  280  is at a position of closing the opening end face  271   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  271  is arranged in the concave part  275 . The slide lid  280  thus can be fixed with the slide lid  280  sealing the tubular part  282 . Similar to the concave part  275 , the concave part  276  is also arranged with a convex shaped rib  276  a that engages the projecting part  282  of the slide lid  290  when the slide lid  290  is at a position of closing the opening end face  272   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  272 . 
     The slide lid  280  is configured to open and close the tubular part  271  by sliding with respect to the upper lid main body  270 . The slide lid  280  includes engagement parts  281  that engage with the slide rails  274 , the projecting part  282  fitted into the concave part  275  of the upper lid main body  270 , an engagement strip  283  that engages the openable/closable member  31  of the lid  30 , and a contacting part  284  formed so as to have an inclined surface inclined by a predetermined angle. A plate shaped silicone sheet  284   a  that closely attaches to the opening end face  271   a  on the upper side of the tubular part when the slide lid  280  seals the tubular part is attached to the contacting part  284 . Similar to the slide lid  280 , the slide lid  290  is configured to open and close the tubular part  272  by sliding with respect to the upper lid main body  270 . As shown in  FIG. 29 , the slide lid  290  includes engagement parts  291  (see  FIG. 27 ) that engage with the slide rails  274 , the projecting part  292 , an engagement strip  293  that engages the openable/closable member  34  of the lid  30 , and a contacting part  294  attached with a silicone sheet  294   a.    
       FIGS. 19 and 30  are cross sectional view and perspective view, respectively, showing an unused state of the reagent-containing assembly.  FIG. 31  is a cross sectional view showing a usage state of the reagent-containing assembly. The method of using the reagent-containing assembly  300  according to the present embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 19 ,  30 , and  31 . 
     The reagent-containing assembly  300  according to the present embodiment is supplied to the user in the state shown in  FIGS. 19 and 30 . In other words, when supplied to the user, the hole  343  of the case main body  340  and the engagement part  323  of the reagent container holder  320  are engaged, and the hole  341  of the case main body  340  and the hook  322  of the reagent container holder  320  are engaged. The reagent container holder  320  holding the reagent container  310  is thereby held at a predetermined position (hereinafter referred to as unused position) with respect to the case  330 . In this state, the projecting portion  361   c  projecting from the opening end face  361   b  on the lower side of the tubular part  361  of the upper lid main body  360  and the aluminum seal  310   a  attached to the opening  312   a  of the reagent container  310  are spaced apart. Thus, the reagent container  310  has the opening  312   a  sealed by the aluminum seal  310   a , and leakage and degradation of the reagent suppressed when supplied to the user. 
     When using the reagent-containing assembly  300 , the user pushes the engagement part  323  of the reagent container holder  320  in the direction of the arrow C to release the engagement of the engagement part  323  of the reagent container holder  320  and the hole  343  of the case main body  340 . The reagent container holder  320  thus can be moved upward with respect to the case  330 . The reagent container holder  320  is moved upward (direction of arrow D) from the unused position with respect to the case  330 . In the course of moving the reagent container holder upward with respect to the case  330 , the aluminum seal  310   a  attached to the opening  312   a  of the reagent container  310  is broken by the projecting portion  361   c  projecting downward from the tubular part  361  of the upper lid main body  360 . When the reagent container holder  320  is further moved upward, the tubular part  361  is inserted to the head part  312  of the reagent container  310 . The pipette  9   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  9  thus can suction the reagent of the reagent container  310  through the tubular part  361  of the upper lid main body  360 . In this case, the aluminum seal  310   a  broken by the projecting portion  361   c  is accommodated in the seal accommodating portion  312   b  arranged near the opening  312   a  of the reagent container  310 . When the reagent container holder  320  is further moved upward, the hole  342  of the case main body  340  and the hook  322  of the reagent container holder  320  engage, and the bottom part  324  of the reagent container holder  320  and the lower end  330   a  of the case  330  contact, thereby closing the open end of the case  330 . The reagent container holder  320  is thereby held at a position (usage position) at where the reagent-containing assembly  300  can be used for analysis with respect to the case  330 , as shown in  FIG. 31 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the reagent-containing assembly  300  can be used for analysis by positioning the reagent container holder  320  at the usage position with respect to the case  330  and opening the seal of the reagent container  310 . 
     The reagent-containing assembly  200  can also be used for analysis with the seals of the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220  broken through procedures similar to that of the reagent-containing assembly  300 .  FIGS. 32 and 33  are perspective view and cross sectional view, respectively, showing an unused state of the reagent-containing assembly.  FIG. 34  is a cross sectional view showing a usage state of the reagent-containing assembly. The method of using the reagent-containing assembly  200  according to the present embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 32 to 34 . 
     The reagent-containing assembly  200  is supplied to the user in the state shown in  FIGS. 32 and 33 . In other words, it is held with respect to the case  240  at an unused position where the engagement part  234  of the reagent container holder  230  and the hole  253  of the case main body  250  engage, and the hook  233  of the reagent container holder  230  and the hole  251  of the case main body  250  engage. When the engagement of the engagement part  234  of the reagent container holder  230  and the hole  253  of the case main body  250  is released and the reagent container holder  230  is moved upward with respect to the case  240 , the aluminum seal  210   a  and  220   a  attached to the opening  212   a  of the reagent container  210  and the opening  222   a  of the reagent container  220  are broken by the projecting portion  271   c  and the projecting portion  272   c , respectively, of the upper lid main body  270 . The broken aluminum seal  210   a  and  220   a  are accommodated in the seal accommodating portion  212   b  of the reagent container  210  and the seal accommodating portion (not shown) of the reagent container  220 . When the reagent container holder  230  is further moved upward, the hook  233  of the reagent container holder  230  and the hole  252  of the case main body  250  engage, and the bottom part  235  of the reagent container holder  230  and the lower end  240   a  of the case  240  contact so that the lower end  240   a  of the case  240  closes, as shown in  FIG. 34 . The reagent container holder  230  is thereby held with respect to the case  240  at a position (usage position) at where the pipette  8   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  8  and the pipette  10   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  10  can suction the reagent of the reagent container  210  and the reagent container  220 , respectively, through the tubular part  271  and the tubular part  272  of the upper lid main body  270 . 
       FIGS. 35 and 36  are cross sectional views showing the reagent-containing assembly, the hole of the lid, and the pipette for suctioning the reagent. The suctioning operation of suctioning the reagent from the reagent-containing assembly  300  according to the present embodiment with the pipette  9   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  9  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  8 ,  11 ,  35 , and  36 . 
     First, the reagent-containing assembly  300  including the reagent container  310  accommodating the reagent to be suctioned is moved to below the hole  60   b  of the lid  60  by rotating the rack  600  holding the reagent-containing assembly  300  by the rotation shaft  52  (see  FIG. 8 ) of the reagent holder  50 . When the reagent-containing assembly  300  moves to below the hole  60   b  of the lid  60 , the engagement strip  373  of the slide lid  370  is arranged between the two-forked engagement portions  61   a  of the openable/closable member  61  of the lid  60  if the slide lid  370  of the reagent-containing assembly  300  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 35 . When the reagent-containing assembly  300  moves to below the hole  60   b  of the lid  60 , the engagement strip  373  of the slide lid  370  is guided by a guide strip  60   g  (see  FIG. 11 ) arranged near the hole  60   b  of the lid  60  so as to be arranged between the two-forked engagement portions  61   a  of the openable/closable member  61  if the slide lid  370  of the reagent-containing assembly  300  is opened. 
     When the openable/closable member  61  is sled in the direction of the arrow E by the stepping motor  63  in this state, the engagement strip  373  of the slide lid  370  slides in the direction of arrow E with the two-forked engagement portions  61   a  and the slide lid  370  opens, as shown in  FIG. 36 . The pipette  9   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  9  can then be inserted inside the reagent container  310  through a region created when the openable/closable member  61  is sled of the holes  60   b  of the lid  60 , and the tubular part  361 . The pipette  9   e  is moved to above the hole  60   b  of the lid  60  by turning with the motor  9   a  and the drive transmitting portion  9   b , the pipette  9   e  is lowered with the slide lid  370  opened so that the pipette  9   e  can be inserted into the reagent container  310  through the hole  60   b  and the tubular part  361 , and the reagent is suctioned. The aluminum seal  310   a  that was sealing the reagent container  310  is accommodated in the seal accommodating portion  312   b , and thus the broken aluminum seal  310   a  is suppressed from contacting the pipette  9   e  when the pipette  9   e  is inserted into the reagent container  310 . 
     The pipette  9   e  that has suctioned the reagent is raised and turned by the motor  9   a  and the drive transmitting portion  9   b  to be moved to above the primary reaction unit  11  (see  FIG. 1 ). The reagent suctioned from the reagent container  310  is then dispensed into the cuvette  150  of the primary reaction unit  11 . 
     After the suction of the reagent is terminated, the turning member  61  is moved in the direction of the arrow F by the stepping motor  63 , so that the engagement strip  373  of the slide lid  370  slides in the direction of the arrow F with the two-forked engagement portion  61   a . The opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  and the silicone sheet  374   a  attached to the contacting part  374  of the slide lid  370  thereby closely attach, so that the reagent is in the sealed state. The projecting part  372  of the slide lid  370  and the rib  364   a  arranged in the concave part  364  of the upper lid main body  360  engage with the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  and the silicone sheet  374   a  closely attached, and the slide lid  370  is fixed. The sealed state of the reagent is thereby maintained when the rack  600  is rotated and the reagent-containing assembly  300  is moved. 
     When suctioning the reagent from the reagent container  210  of the reagent-containing assembly  200  with the pipette  8   a  of the reagent dispensing arm  8 , or when suctioning the reagent from the reagent container  220  of the reagent-containing assembly  200  with the pipette  10   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  10 , the reagent is suctioned through the procedures similar to when suctioning from the reagent-containing assembly  300  with the pipette  9   e  of the reagent dispensing arm  9  described above. 
     In the present embodiment, the reagent in the reagent container  310  can be suctioned through the tubular part  361  and the opening  312   a , the aluminum seal  310   a  of which is broken by the projecting portion  361   c , when the reagent container holder  320  is held at the usage position with respect to the case  330 , as described above. Since the user does not need to perform the task of peeling the aluminum seal  310   a  and the like, the reagent can be suctioned without contaminating the reagent accommodated in the reagent container  310 , or while suppressing the occurrence of contamination accidents such as the reagent attaching to the user. 
     In the present embodiment, by arranging the seal accommodating portion  312   b  at where the aluminum seal  310   a  broken by the projecting portion  361   c  is to be accommodated in the reagent container  310 , as described above, the reagent can be suctioned through the opening  312   a  and the tubular part  361  without being influenced by the broken aluminum seal  310   a  since the broken aluminum seal  310   a  is accommodated in the seal accommodating portion  312   b  so as not to be left on the path of the pipette  9   e.    
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, according to the configuration of holding the reagent container holder  320  with respect to the case  330  at the usage position at where the projecting portion  361   c  breaks the aluminum seal  310   a  and is positioned in the opening  312   a  of the reagent container  310  and an unused position at where the projecting portion  361   c  is spaced apart from the aluminum seal  310   a , as described above, the reagent container holder  320  can be held at the unused position at where the projecting portion  361   c  is spaced apart from the aluminum seal  310   a  before using the reagent-containing assembly  300  and the reagent container holder  320  can be held at the usage position at where the projecting portion  361   c  breaks the aluminum seal  310   a  and is positioned in the opening  312   a  of the reagent container  310  when using the reagent-containing assembly  300 . Thus, storage, conveyance, and the like of the reagent-containing assembly  300  can be performed with the reagent container holder  320  held at the unused position, and the reagent-containing assembly  300  can be used (suction reagent) with the reagent container holder  320  held at the usage position, thereby enhancing the convenience of the user. 
     In the present embodiment, the slide lid  370  capable of opening and closing the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  is arranged on the upper lid part  350  of the case  330 , as described above, whereby the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  can be opened and closed by the slide lid  370  even after the aluminum seal  310   a  is broken by the projecting portion  361   c . The slide lid  370  is opened and the reagent is suctioned when suctioning the reagent, and the slide lid  370  is closed and the reagent is stored in a sealed state when not using the reagent. 
     Furthermore, the slide lid  370  is sled to open and close the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  in the present embodiment, as described above, whereby the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  is easily opened and closed by sliding the slide lid  370 . 
     Moreover, the silicone sheet  375  for sealing the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361  is attached to the slide lid  370  in the present embodiment, as described above, whereby the sealed state of the reagent is easily obtained by closing the slide lid  370  and closely attaching the silicone sheet  375  to the opening end face  361   a  on the upper side of the tubular part  361 . 
     In the present embodiment, the convex portions  211   a  and  211   b  projecting towards the inner side and extending in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction are arranged in the reagent container  210 , as described above, whereby the movement of the reagent is suppressed as the reagent contacts the convex portions  211   a  and  211   b  arranged on the inner surface side of the reagent container  210  when the reagent moves in the reagent container  210  with the rotation and movement of the reagent-containing assembly  200  in the reagent holder  20 . The reagent is thereby suppressed from foaming. 
     In the present embodiment, when the aluminum seal  310   a  is broken by the projecting portion  361   c  and opened, the tubular part  361  is fitted to the opening  312   a , and the pipette  9   e  for suctioning the reagent is inserted into the reagent container  310  through the tubular part  361 , as described above, whereby the pipette  9   e  can be easily inserted into the reagent container  310  through the tubular part  361  fitted to the opening  312   a  after the aluminum seal  310   a  is broken by the projecting portion  361   c.    
     According to the configuration in which the lower end  330   a  of the case  330  is closed by the bottom part  324  of the reagent container holder  320  when the aluminum seal  310   a  is broken and opened by the projecting portion  361   c  in the present embodiment, as described above, the case  330  and the reagent container holder  320  are integrated with the aluminum seal  310   a  broken by the projecting portion  361   c  and opened, and thus the reagent-containing assembly  300  can be readily handled. 
     In the present embodiment, the slit  344  that enables the reagent in the reagent container  310  to be viewed is formed in the case main body  340  of the box shaped case  330 , as described above, and thus the user can check the amount of reagent in the reagent container  310  through the slit  344 . 
     In the present embodiment, the rib  435  for engaging the groove  71   a  of the mounting part  71  of the raising and lowering unit  70  is arranged on the bottom part  324  of the reagent container holder  320 , as described above, whereby the reagent-containing assembly  300  is easily raised and lowered by the raising and lowering unit  70  by engaging the rib  325  to the groove  71   a.    
     The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and should not be construed as being restrictive. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description of the embodiments, and all changes that fall within meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims. 
     For instance, an example of using the reagent-containing assemblies  200  and  300  in the immune analyzer  1  has been described in the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and such reagent-containing assemblies may be used in other analyzers as long as reagent is used in the analyzer. 
     An example of configuring the reagent-containing assembly  200  so as to hold two reagent containers  210  and  220 , and configuring the reagent-containing assembly  300  so as to hold one reagent container  310  has been described in the above embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reagent-containing assembly may be configured to hold three or more reagent containers. 
     An example of forming a cut-out of the opening end face  361   b  on the lower side of the tubular part  361  of the upper lid main body  360  so as to be a horizontal plane has been described in the above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cut-out of an opening end face  701   a  on the lower side of a tubular part  701  may be formed to an inclined surface inclined by a predetermined angle as in an upper lid main body  700  according to a variant shown in  FIG. 37 .