Abstract:
A computer for receiving first and second sample attribute information regarding attributes of a sample, for determining parameter identification information for identifying a smear control parameter on the basis of the first sample attribute information, for generating first and second instruction to make a smear preparing apparatus prepare a smear of a sample, the first instruction including the parameter identification information, and the second instruction including the second sample attribute information, for transmitting the first and second instruction to the smear preparing apparatus is disclosed.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-260432 filed Sep. 8, 2004, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of sampled blood, bone-marrow fluid and the like.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Conventionally, in order to observe blood or the like by a microscope or the like, a smear preparing apparatus in which blood or the like is dropped on a slide glass and smeared by a spreader glass (smearing member) to generate a smear is used.  
         [0004]     Since each sample has different characteristics such as particle density, viscosity and the like, if the smear is always generated under the same condition, the smear becomes unsuitable for observation in some samples.  
         [0005]     Therefore, there is known a smear preparing apparatus in which the smearing parameter is set every sample based on a measurement result from a blood analyzer (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,903).  
         [0006]     According to such conventional apparatus, the smearing parameter is determined based on a hematocrit value, for example. In addition, since it is known that blood viscosity is increased as a hemoglobin amount is increased in general, it is considered that the smearing parameter is set based on the measurement result of the hemoglobin amount.  
         [0007]     In addition, although the method of setting the smearing parameter by the above conventional apparatus is very effective when the smear is automatically generated, it does not respond to a case of the special sample or various kinds of user&#39;s needs.  
         [0008]     For example, although the hematocrit value of a leukemia patient is normal or slightly small, it has been found that the WBC (White Blood Cell) of the leukemia patient is weak and liable to be destroyed.  
         [0009]     When a blood smear of such patient is made, it is necessary to make it thicker than the smear made under the smearing parameter based on the normal hematocrit value when the blood on the slide glass is smeared by the spreader glass, so as not to destroy the WBC.  
         [0010]     In addition, observers who observe the smear by a microscope have different demands for the smear. That is, some observers want to observe thin and spread smear and some observers want to observe the smear thickly collected in a small region.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0011]     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.  
         [0012]     The present invention provides a computer used for preparing a smear of a sample, which is easy to observe.  
         [0013]     A first aspect of the present invention is a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of a sample on a slide glass based on a smear control parameter, the computer comprising: a receiver for receiving first and second sample attribute information regarding attributes of a sample; an identification information determining means for determining parameter identification information for identifying the smear control parameter on the basis of the first sample attribute information; an instruction generating means for generating first and second instruction to make the smear preparing apparatus prepare the smear of a sample, the first instruction including the parameter identification information determined by the identification information determining means, and the second instruction including the second sample attribute information; and a transmitter for transmitting the first and second instruction generated by the instruction generating means to the smear preparing apparatus, wherein when the parameter identification information is determined by the identification information determining means, the instruction generating means generates the first instruction and the transmitter transmits the first instruction and, when the parameter identification information is not determined by the identification information determining means, the instruction generating means generates the second instruction and the transmitter transmits the second instruction.  
         [0014]     A second aspect of the present invention is a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of a sample on a slide glass based on a smear control parameter, the computer comprising: a receiver for receiving sample attribute information regarding an attribute of a sample; a setting means for setting parameter identification information for identifying the smear control parameter and a condition used for determining the parameter identification information so as to be associated with each other; an identification information determining means for determining the parameter identification information on the basis of the sample attribute information received by the receiver and the condition set by the setting means; and a transmitter for transmitting the parameter identification information determined by the identification information determining means to the smear preparing apparatus.  
         [0015]     A third aspect of the present invention is a computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus for preparing a smear of a sample on a slide glass based on smear control parameter and an analyzer for analyzing a sample and outputting analysis results of a plurality of measurement items, the computer comprising: a receiver for receiving the analysis results output from the analyzer; a memory for storing a condition regarding analysis results of a plurality of measurement items; a determining means for determining parameter identification information for identifying the smear control parameter on the basis of the analysis results received by the receiver and the condition stored in the memory; and a transmitter for transmitting the parameter identification information determined by the determining means to the smear preparing apparatus. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a smear preparing system embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing sample rack embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the smear preparing apparatus embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a view showing a relation between smearing levels and smear control parameters embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a constitution view showing a driving mechanism for a spreader glass embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are explanatory views for operations of the driving mechanism for the spreader glass in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing a host computer embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are view of screens showing conditions related to smearing level embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 11 and 12  are flowcharts showing operations of a smear preparing system embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is an explanatory view showing a setting example of the smearing level and conditions related to the smearing level embodying features of the present invention; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing processes executed by a controller  80  of a host computer  107  according embodying features of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a smearing preparing system is described with reference to the drawings.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a system  100  comprises a loader  102 , a conveyer  103 , and an unloader  111 , and a blood analyzer  106 , and a smear preparing apparatus  108  are arranged along the conveyer  103 .  
         [0029]     A conveyance controller  109  for controlling the loader  102 , the conveyer  103  and the unloader  111  is provided and a host computer  107  which exchanges information or instructs among the blood analyzer  106 , the smear preparing apparatus  108  and the conveyance controller  109  or gives instructions to them is provided.  
         [0030]     A plurality of sample racks  101  is put on the loader  102 . The sample racks  101  are conveyed to a carry-in end of the conveyer  103  adjacent to the loader  102  in the direction shown by an arrow A and then get off the loader  102 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , each sample rack  101  has a plurality of sample containers  104  which contain blood samples.  
         [0031]     The sample racks  101  are conveyed by the conveyer  103  in the direction of an arrow B and reach a discharge end  110  of the conveyer  103  through in front of the blood analyzer  106  and the smear preparing apparatus  108 . Then, the sample racks  101  are conveyed in the direction of an arrow C by the unloader  111  adjacent to the discharge end  110  of the conveyer  103 .  
         [0032]     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a barcode label  200  including identification information showing sample number (Sample ID) of the sample is attached on each sample container  104 . Windows  112  are provided on the longitudinal side of the sample rack  101  through which the barcode on the sample container  104  is read.  
         [0033]     When the sample rack  101  containing the sample containers  104  is put on the loader  102 , the system  100  is started. Then, the first sample rack  101  is moved in the direction of the arrow B by the conveyer  103  and stops at the blood analyzer  106 .  
         [0034]     Here, the barcode of the first sample container  104  is read by a barcode reader  113 . The blood analyzer  106  analyzes the sample in the sample container  104  and reports the analyzed result to the host computer  107  together with the barcode information. The blood analyzer  106  repeats the above operations until samples of all sample containers  104  are analyzed. The host computer  107  determines whether it is necessary to prepare the smear for that sample or not based on the analyzed result.  
         [0035]     Then, the sample rack  101  having only the samples whose smear no longer needs to be prepared passes through the smear preparing apparatus  108  on the conveyer  103  which is controlled by the conveyance controller  109  based on a command of the host computer and reaches the unloader  111 . The sample rack  101  containing the sample whose smear needs to be prepared is moved to reach the smear preparing apparatus  108  by the conveyer  103  which is controlled by the conveyance controller  109  based on the command of the host computer  107 . The barcode of each sample container  104  is read by the barcode reader  113  of the smear preparing apparatus  108  and transmitted to the host computer  107 . When the host computer  107  determines that the smear needs to be prepared, the smear preparing apparatus  108  takes a sample whose smear needs to be prepared from the sample container  104  and prepares a smear of blood for it. Meanwhile, the sample container  104  whose smear no longer needs to be prepared is moved further in the direction of the arrow B and the next sample container  104  reaches the smear preparing apparatus  108 .  
         [0036]     Then, the sample rack  101  which passed through the smear preparing apparatus  108  on the conveyer  103  reaches the unloader  111 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the smear preparing apparatus  108 . The smear preparing apparatus  108  comprises a memory  20 , an input unit  30 , a CPU  40 , a sample dispenser  70 , a spreader glass driving mechanism  50  and the barcode reader  113 .  
         [0038]     The memory  20  comprises a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk. The input unit  30  comprises a keyboard.  
         [0039]     Smear control parameters are set so as to correspond to smearing levels through the input unit  30  and stored in the memory  20 . The smear control parameters are previously stored before the smearing is actually performed.  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a table showing relations between the smearing levels and smear control parameters stored in the memory  20 .  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the smearing levels  1  to  10  corresponds to the smear control parameters such as a speed (movement speed of a spreader glass), an angle (which is formed between the spreader glass and a slide glass), a fitting time (after the spreader glass comes in contact with sample dispensed on the slide glass until the spreader glass starts to move) and amount of dispensed sample (amount of sample dispensed on the slide glass). In addition, the smear control parameter may comprise smearing starting position on the slide glass and the like. Alternately, conditions such as speed and angle can be eliminated from the smear control parameters.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , default values of smear control parameters are preliminarily set with respect to all of smearing levels  1  to  10 . An HCT (hematocrit value) range is made correspond to each of the smearing levels and the smearing control parameters with respect to all of the smearing levels  1  to  5 . Default values are also preliminarily set for the HCT ranges. The HCT range is used, as will be described later, when the host computer  107  does not instruct a smearing level to the smear preparing apparatus  108 . The smear preparing apparatus  108  is constructed so that the user can arbitrarily set the smear control parameters at the smearing levels  1  to  10  and the HCT range at the smearing levels  1  to  5 .  
         [0043]     When a replay to an inquiry for preparing a smear is received from the host computer  107 , the CPU  40  reads corresponding smear control parameters from the memory  20 , controls operations of the spreader glass driving mechanism  50  and the sample dispenser  70  on the basis of the read smear control parameters (speed, angle, fitting time, and amount of dispensed sample) to prepare a smear of blood.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a schematic constitution of the spreader glass driving mechanism  50  in the smear preparing apparatus  108 . The spreader glass driving mechanism  50  comprises a back-and-forth driving mechanism  52  which moves the spreader glass  62  parallel to the surface of a slide glass  60 , a vertical driving mechanism  56  which elevates the spreader glass to and from the slide glass  60 , and an angle retaining mechanism  54  which retains the angle formed between the spreader glass  62  and the slide glass  60 . The back-and-forth driving mechanism  52  and the vertical driving mechanism  56  are provided for moving the spreader glass  62  back and forth, and up and down, and each comprises a belt-motor mechanism provided with a motor M and a belt.  
         [0045]     According to the back-and-forth driving mechanism  52 , a moving speed of the spreader glass  62  can be adjusted by a rotation speed of the belt motor.  
         [0046]     In addition, the angle retaining mechanism  54  comprises an elastic member  66  which pulls the spreader glass  62  so as to be rotated around a spindle  64 , and a stopper  68  which fixes a limit of rotation, in which after an end of the spreader glass comes in contact with the slide glass  60 , it is further lowered so that the angle formed with the slide glass  60  is changed.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a view showing a state in which the angle between the spreader glass  62  and the slide glass  60  is retained large by the angle retaining mechanism  54  and  FIG. 7  is a view showing a state in which the angle is retained small. The angle formed between the spreader glass  62  and the slide glass  60  is adjusted by an expansion state of the elastic member  66 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing a host computer  107 . The host computer  107  has a controller  80 , an input unit  81 , an external information receiver  82 , a display  86  and a transmitter  94 . The controller  80  has a CPU  87  and a memory  88 . The memory  88  has a smearing level condition storage  83 , an analysis result storage  84 , a patient medical record storage  85 , and a transmitted smearing level storage  93 . The external information receiver  82  and the transmitter  94  take the form of input/output interfaces.  
         [0049]     The host computer  107  stores a smearing level input from the input unit  81  and smearing level conditions which are set so as to be associated with the smearing level into the smearing level condition storage  83 . The host computer  107  also stores an analysis result (including a measurement value of each of measurement items and an abnormality message) from the blood analyzer  106  received by the external information receiver  82  together with a sample number (sample ID) to identify the sample into the analysis result storage  84 . The host computer  107  also transmits information such as necessity to prepare a smear, a smearing level, and the like to the smear preparing apparatus  108  by the transmitter  94 .  
         [0050]     The host computer  107  also stores a medical record of a sample provider (patient) and identification information (patient ID) for specifying the sample provider (patient), received by the external information receiver  82  from a hospital host computer  89  (external terminal) into the patient medical record storage  85 . The identification information for specifying the sample provider is associated with the sample number. From the sample number, the sample provider and the medical record of the provider can be specified. The display  86  displays a setting item and the details of a setting, which are input from the input unit  81  by the user. A hospital host computer  89  is a host computer for controlling the hospital in a centralized manner, and is connected to the host computer  107 .  
         [0051]     The input unit  81  comprises a keyboard and a mouse, the display  86  comprises an LCD, the external information receiver  82  and transmitter  94  comprise an I/O port, and memory  88  comprises a ROM, RAM, and a hard disk.  
         [0052]      FIG. 9  shows an example of a screen displayed on the display  86  when the user sets conditions (smearing level conditions) related to the smearing level by using the input unit  81 .  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 9 , any of  6  to  10  is input as a number indicative of the smearing level ( FIG. 4 ) in box (a). As the smearing level conditions corresponding to the smearing level input in the box (a), the upper and lower limit values of a WBC (White Blood Cell count) are input in boxes (b) and (c), respectively. The upper and lower limit values of an RBC (Red Blood Cell count) are input in boxes (d) and (e), respectively. An abnormality message is input in box (f), and patient medical record information is input in box (g). Furthermore, the WBC and RBC can be changed to other measurement items by operating combo boxes  91  and  92  by the user.  
         [0054]     By setting the smearing level conditions in accordance with the measurement value of a predetermined measurement item such as the RBC, WBC, or the like, a smear of blood can be prepared with special smear control parameters according to the measurement value of the predetermined measurement item. Thus, an easy-to-observe smear of blood can be prepared. By setting the smearing level conditions in accordance with measurement values of a plurality of measurement items, as compared with the case of using the measurement value of one measurement item for the smearing level conditions, various smearing level conditions can be set. This facilitates preparation of a smear of blood with a predetermined smear control parameter only from a sample matching the special condition.  
         [0055]     An abnormality message is a message indicative of an abnormality of the sample, such as “white blood cell abnormality”, “neutropenia”, “neutrophilia”, “lymphopenia”, “lymphocytosis”, “red blood cell abnormality”, “anemia”, “hemagglutination”, “hemoglobin abnormality”, “platelet abnormality” reported from the blood analyzer  106  to the host computer  107  together with numerical values (measurement values) of analysis items. One or a plurality of the messages is/are selected and set in the box (f). The abnormal messages are output from the blood analyzer  106  in the case where an analysis result of a sample matches the conditions preliminarily determined by the blood analyzer  106 , and are messages indicating that occurrence of something abnormal in the sample is expected.  
         [0056]     By using the smearing level conditions for an abnormal message, a smear of blood can be prepared with the special smear control parameters from a sample expected to have some abnormality. Thus, an easy-to-observe smear of blood can be prepared.  
         [0057]     The patient medical record information is information described in a patient chart, such as personal information of a sample provider (age, sex, medical history, ward name, medical department, and the like), information of clinical records (information such as the name of a disease, patient&#39;s condition, and medicine being taken), and the like. In box (g), one or a plurality of pieces of the information is/are selected and set.  
         [0058]     By using the patient medical record information as one of the smearing level conditions, the smearing level conditions can be set respectively by ward name or by disease. Consequently, a smear of blood according to the characteristics of the sample can be prepared, and an easy-to-observe smear of blood can be prepared.  
         [0059]     The smearing level conditions may include, in addition to the above conditions, information indicating that a sample provider is in postoperative state, information indicating that the sample provider underwent or is going to undergo dialysis, a comment on to the inspection of last time (for example, a comment indicating that the quality of the smear of blood of last time was not good), or the like. The smearing level conditions do not always have to include all of the above information.  
         [0060]      FIG. 10  shows an example of a screen displayed after the setting of the smearing level conditions is finished. The smearing level and the smearing level conditions, which are set, are stored into the smearing level condition storage  83 . In the case where there are smearing levels and smearing level conditions which are preliminarily stored in the smearing level condition storage  83 , the pre-stored information is replaced with the smearing level and the smearing level conditions which are input by using the screen of  FIG. 9  ( FIG. 10 ).  
         [0061]     In the case of the smearing level conditions which are set in the screen shown in  FIG. 10 , the blood analyzer  106  outputs the information that the WBC is larger than 70 and smaller than 120, the RBC is larger than 10 and smaller than 20, and “lymphopenia” as an abnormality message. In the case where the patient medical record information of the sample provider includes “leukemia”, the smearing level is determined as “8”. A box in which a condition is not set is made blank. For example, if the boxes of the abnormality message and the patient medical record information are made blank, in the case where the WBC is larger than 70 and smaller than 120 and the RBC is larger than 10 and smaller than 20, the smearing level is determined as “8” regardless of the presence or absence of the abnormality message and the patient medical record information.  
         [0062]     When the host computer  107  is delivered to a facility such as a hospital, default values of the smearing level and the smearing level condition are preferably pre-stored in the smearing level condition storage  83 . Consequently, the user can prepare a smear of blood by a predetermined smear control parameter without newly setting the smearing level conditions.  
         [0063]      FIG. 13  shows an example of a table created as a result of setting of a smearing level and a smearing level condition by the user in  FIG. 9 . The table is stored in the smearing level condition storage  83 . In the table, for example, a sample having a WBC measurement value which is larger than 40 and smaller than 70, having an RBC measurement value which is larger than 300 and smaller than 500, and having no abnormality message, and to which no patient medical record information is input satisfies the smearing level conditions corresponding to the smearing level  6 . In this embodiment, when a sample satisfies all of conditions such as the WBC measurement value and the RBC measurement value, it is determined that the sample satisfies the smearing level conditions. It is also possible to determine that a sample satisfying at least one of the conditions such as the WBC measurement value and the RBC measurement value corresponds to the smearing level conditions. For instance, in the example of  FIG. 13 , the sample whose WBC measurement value is larger than 40 and smaller than 70, whose RBC measurement value is larger than 300 and smaller than 500, having no abnormality message, or to which no medical record information is input, may be determined as a sample corresponding to smearing level conditions corresponding to the smearing level  6 .  
         [0064]     When the sample number (sample ID) is received from the smear preparing apparatus  108 , the host computer  107  extracts the analysis result and the medical record information corresponding to the sample ID from the storages  84  and  85 , and determines whether a corresponding smearing level condition exists in the table shown in  FIG. 13  or not on the basis of the extracted information. If there is a smearing level condition to which the extracted information corresponds, the host computer  107  transmits the smearing level corresponding to the smearing level condition and the HCT value included in the analysis result corresponding to the sample ID to the smear preparing apparatus  108 . In the case where there is no smearing level condition to which the extracted information corresponds, the host computer  107  does not transmit the smearing level, but transmits the HCT value included in the analysis result corresponding to the sample ID to the smear preparing apparatus  108 . The smear preparing apparatus  108 , which receives the smearing level determines a smear control parameter on the basis of the received smearing level or the HCT value. As described above, the smearing level is information for identifying the smearing level condition and the smear control parameter. The smearing level condition is a condition used to determine the smear control parameter.  
         [0065]     A series of operations of the smear preparing system  100  is described with reference to flowcharts in  FIGS. 11 and 12 .  
         [0066]     First, in  FIG. 11 , the host computer  107  receives medical record information of the provider of the sample (patient) and order information from the hospital host computer  89  and stores it (step S 1   a ). The order information is information in which the sample number (the sample ID) for identifying the sample, information of whether analysis in the blood analyzer  106  is necessary or not (presence or absence of a measurement instruction), and information of whether preparation of a smear of blood in the smear preparing apparatus  108  is necessary or not are associated with each other.  
         [0067]     The host computer  107  transmits the order information to the conveyance controller  109  (step S 1   b ).  
         [0068]     Next, in the host computer  107 , the smearing level and the smearing level condition are set by using the screens shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  (step S 2 ). It is not necessary to perform the process of the step S 2  every day, but it is sufficient to execute the process when preparation of a smear of blood becomes necessary in the special smear control parameter.  
         [0069]     When a plurality of sample containers  104  ( FIG. 2 ) containing samples and being mounted on the sample rack  101  are loaded in the loader  102  by the user, the system  100  starts and the loader  102  and the conveyer  103  are driven by the conveyance controller  109 . By this driving, the sample rack  101  is conveyed to the front of the blood analyzer  106  and is stopped (step S 3 ). The barcode (the sample number) of each of the sample containers  104  is read by the blood analyzer  106  (step S 4 ), and the sample is sucked from the sample container  104  and is analyzed (step S 5 ). An analysis result (a measurement value of each of analysis items and an abnormality message) is transmitted from the blood analyzer  106  to the host computer  107  together with the sample number (step S 6 ).  
         [0070]     The sample container  104  in which the analysis is finished is moved only by a prescribed distance (arrangement pitch of the containers  104 ) (step S 7 ). In the case where there is an unanalyzed sample container  104  in the sample rack  101  (step S 8 ), the program returns to step S 4  where the barcode of the unanalyzed sample container  104  is read by the blood analyzer  106 . After all of the samples in the sample rack  101  are analyzed (step S 8 ), the program proceeds to step S 9 .  
         [0071]     In step S 9 , the sample rack  101  to which the analysis is finished is conveyed to the front of the smear preparing apparatus  108  and is stopped.  
         [0072]     Next, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the barcode of the sample container  104  is read by the smear preparing apparatus  108  (step S 10 ). The smear preparing apparatus  108  determines whether it is necessary to inquire the host computer  107  of the sample of the sample number or not. If the order information transmitted to the conveyance controller  19  in step S 1   b  indicates that it is necessary to prepare a smear of blood, the smear preparing apparatus  108  determines that the inquiry is necessary. If the order information indicates that it is not necessary to prepare a smear of blood, the smear preparing apparatus  108  determines that the inquiry is not necessary. Even if the order information transmitted to the conveyance controller  109  indicates that preparation of a smear of blood is not necessary, in the case where an additional order which will be described later is transmitted to the conveyance controller  109 , it is determined that the inquiry is necessary. When it is determined in step S 11  that an inquiry to the host computer  107  is necessary, the process of step S 12  is performed. When it is determined that an inquiry is unnecessary, the sample rack  110  is conveyed to the unloader  111  (step S 18 ).  
         [0073]     In step  12 , the smear preparing apparatus  108  sends an inquiry to the host computer  107 . To be more specific, the smear preparing apparatus  108  transmits the sample number read in step S 10  to the host computer  107 . When a reply indicating that preparation of a smear of blood is necessary is received from the host computer  107 , the CPU  40  of the smear preparing apparatus  108  reads the smear control parameter corresponding to the smearing level or the HCT value received from the host computer  107  from the memory  20  (steps S 13  and S 14 ).  
         [0074]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a table in which the relations among the smearing level, the HCT value, and the smear control parameters are pre-set is stored in the memory  20 . The CPU  40  reads the smear control parameters from the memory  20  on the basis of the table. Concretely, if a smearing level is transmitted from the host computer  107 , the smear control parameter corresponding to the smearing level is read. If a smearing level is not transmitted from the host computer  107 , the smear control parameter corresponding to the HCT value is read. In such a manner, with respect to a sample whose smear of blood has to be prepared with special smear control parameters, a smear of blood is prepared with smear control parameters set by the user. With respect to a sample whose smear of blood does not have to be prepared with special smear control parameters, a smear of blood is prepared with the smear control parameters according to the HCT value. Therefore, easy-to-observe smears of blood can be prepared for samples having various characteristics.  
         [0075]     With the read smear control parameters, a smear of blood is prepared (step S 15 ).  
         [0076]     On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 13  that preparation of a smear of blood is not necessary, a smear of blood is not prepared but the process of step S 16  is performed. An example of cases where it is determined that preparation of a smear of blood is not necessary is a case where measurement values output from the blood analyzer  106  are in a normal range and no abnormality message is output.  
         [0077]     In step S 16 , the sample container  104  in which the preparation of a smear of blood is finished is moved only by a predetermined distance (an arrangement pitch of the sample containers  104 ). When there is an unfinished sample container  104  in the sample rack (step S 17 ), the program returns to step S 10  and the barcode of the unfinished sample  104  is read by the smear preparing apparatus  108 . After all of the samples in the sample rack  101  are processed (step S 17 ), the program proceeds to step S 18 . In step S 18 , the sample rack  101  to which the processing is finished is moved to the unloader  111 .  
         [0078]     In step S 19 , whether processing on all of samples included in the order information has been finished or not is determined. If the processing on all of samples has not been finished, the program returns to step S 3 . If the processing on all of the samples has been finished, the program returns to the process of step S 1   a , and the medical record information and the order information is transmitted to the host computer  107  again.  
         [0079]     The processes executed by the controller  80  of the host computer  107  will be described by using  FIG. 14 .  
         [0080]     In step S 101   a , the controller  80  receives the medical record information of the provider of the sample (patient) and the order information from the hospital host computer  89 . This process corresponds to step S 1   a  in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0081]     In step S 11   b , the order information received in step S 101   a  is transmitted to the conveyance controller  109 . As described above, the order information is information in which the sample number (sample ID) for identifying the sample, the information of whether analysis in the blood analyzer  106  is necessary or not, and the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood in the smear preparing apparatus  108  is necessary or not (the presence or absence of an instruction for preparing a smear of blood) are associated. The process corresponds to S 1   b  in  FIG. 11 . Based on the order information, the conveyance controller  109 , which has received the order information controls the loader  102 , the conveyer  103 , and the unloader  111 .  
         [0082]     In step S 102 , the controller  80  receives the sample ID and the analysis result of the sample from the blood analyzer  106 . In step S 103 , the sample ID and the analysis result are stored in the analysis result storage  84 . The process of step S 102  corresponds to step S 6  in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0083]     In step S 104 , the controller  80  determines whether the analysis result of the sample having the sample ID received in step S 102  lies within a predetermined range or not and determines whether a predetermined abnormality message is output or not. In the case where the analysis result is out of the predetermined range and the case where the predetermined abnormality message is output, it is determined that preparation of a smear of blood of the sample is necessary.  
         [0084]     Next, based on the result of step S 104 , the controller  80  determines whether preparation of a smear of blood of the sample of the sample ID received in step S 102  is necessary or not (step S 105 ). If preparation of a smear of blood is necessary, the smearing level is determined (step S 106 ). A smearing level is determined by determining the smearing level conditions in the table shown in  FIG. 13  to which the medical record information received in step S 101   a  and the analysis result received in step S 102  correspond. If there is a smearing level condition to which the medical record information and the analysis result correspond, the smearing level corresponding to the smearing level condition is extracted.  
         [0085]     If there is no corresponding smearing level condition, it is determined that there is no corresponding smearing level. When there is a plurality of corresponding smearing level conditions, the smearing level whose value is the smallest is determined as a corresponding smearing level. In the case where there are a plurality of corresponding smearing level conditions, in addition to the method of determining the smearing level whose value is the smallest as the corresponding smearing level, a method of preliminarily placing priorities on the smearing levels and determining the smearing level having the highest priority as a corresponding smearing level may be also employed.  
         [0086]     When it is determined in step S 104  that preparation of a smear of blood of the sample having the sample ID received in step S 102  is necessary and the order information shows that preparation of a smear of blood is unnecessary (step S 107 ), the controller  80  transmits an instruction (addition order) to prepare a smear of blood of the sample of the sample ID to the conveyance controller  109  (step S 108 ). The process of the step S 108  is performed before the process of step S 10  in  FIG. 12  is executed.  
         [0087]     In step S 109 , the controller  80  receives the sample ID of the sample from the smear preparing apparatus  108 . The process corresponds to the process in step S 12  in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0088]     In step S 110 , the controller  80  generates an instruction to the smear preparing apparatus  108  regarding to the sample of the sample ID received in step S 109  on the basis of the results in steps S 104  and S 106  and transmits the instruction by the transmitter  94 . The instruction includes the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood is necessary or not, the HCT value corresponding to the sample ID from the analysis result stored in the analysis result storage  84 , and the extracted smearing level. When it is determined that there is no corresponding smearing level, the instruction does not include the smearing level, but includes the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood is necessary or not, and the HCT value corresponding to the sample ID. The processes of steps S 109  and S 110  correspond to the processes of step S 12  in  FIG. 12 . When the instruction includes the smearing level, the HCT value may not be included.  
         [0089]     In step S 111 , the sample ID transmitted in step S 110 , the information of whether preparation of a smear of blood is necessary or not, the smearing level, and the HCT value are stored in the transmitted smearing level storage  93 . By storing the transmitted smearing level, in the case where the smear of blood is hard to observe, the smearing level can be reviewed. Consequently, the quality of the smear of blood can be further improved.  
         [0090]     In step S 112 , the controller  80  determines whether the process on all of the samples included in the order information received in step S 101   a  has been finished or not. If the process on all of the samples has not been finished, the program returns to the process in step  102 . If the process on all of the samples has been finished, the program returns to the process of the step S 101   a , and medical record information and order information is received again.  
         [0091]     In the flowchart shown in  FIG. 14 , the processes from step S 102  through step S 112  indicate the process on one sample. In the case that a plurality of the sample containers  104  are transmitted by the conveyer  103 , the processes from step S 102  through step S 112  are performed on each of the sample containers  104 . The processes on the sample containers  104  are executed in parallel.  
         [0092]     Although the host computer  107  of the embodiment transmits the smearing level in step S 110 , the present invention is not limited to this embodiment but a smearing level condition may be transmitted. In this case, the smear preparing apparatus  108  stores a table in which the smearing level condition and the smear control parameters are associated with each other in the memory  20  and, when the smearing level condition is received, prepares a smear of blood with the smear control parameters corresponding to the smearing level condition.  
         [0093]     Although the host computer  107  of the embodiment stores the smearing level condition and the smearing level so as to be associated with each other, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. The smearing level condition and the smear control parameters may be stored so as to be associated with each other. In this case, the host computer  107  may transmit the smear control parameters corresponding to the smearing level condition to the smear preparing apparatus  108  in step S 110 . The smear preparing apparatus  108  prepares a smear of blood in accordance with the received smear control parameters.  
         [0094]     Although the host computer  107  of the embodiment uses numeric values as the smearing levels, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment but character strings such as “for pediatrics” and “for leukemia patient” may be also used as the smearing level. As a result of this, the user can understand a usage of the smearing level easily.  
         [0095]     Although the host computer  107  of the embodiment receives sample attribute information such as an analysis result and medical record information from the blood analyzer  106  via the external information receiver  82 , the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It is also possible to receive the sample attribute information via the input unit  81  and extract the smearing level of the smearing level condition corresponding to the received sample attribute information. In this case as well, in a manner similar to the above, the extracted smearing level condition may be transmitted to the smear preparing apparatus  108 , or the smear control parameters corresponding to the smearing level condition may be transmitted to the smear preparing apparatus  108 .  
         [0096]     Although the smearing level is extracted on the basis of the sample attribute information such as the analysis result and the medical record information in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. The sample ID and the smearing level may be received via the input unit  81 , or the smearing level may be received together with the order information from the hospital host computer. When the sample ID is received from the smear preparing apparatus  108 , the smearing level corresponding to the received sample ID may be transmitted to the smear preparing apparatus  108 . In a manner similar to the above, the sample ID and the smearing level condition or the smear control parameters may be received via the input unit  81  or the smearing level condition or the smear control parameters may be received together with the order information from the hospital host computer  89 .