Patent Publication Number: US-2022236263-A1

Title: Test device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2020/038808 filed on Oct. 14, 2020, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-208890 filed on Nov. 19, 2019. Each of the above application(s) is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a test device that tests a sample using light. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Endotoxin present on a cell wall of a Gram-negative bacteria causes various biological reactions such as fever in a case where endotoxin is mixed in blood even in a trace amount of approximately nanogram to picogram. In addition, endotoxin has high heat resistance, and even in a case where Gram-negative bacteria are killed by an autoclaving treatment, it is difficult to inactivate endotoxin. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a test to confirm that endotoxin is not contaminated with a drug such as an injection and a medical device in Which endotoxin may be mixed in the blood. In addition, in a case where humans or animals are infected with. Gram-negative bacteria, endotoxin is produced in the body and endotoxin stays in the blood. There is also a use for selecting a treatment method by collecting blood or body fluid from such a person or animal and testing for the presence or absence of endotoxin. 
     An endotoxin test is performed using a lysate reagent (so-called Limulus reagent) prepared from a horseshoe crab blood cell extract by utilizing the property of aggregating horseshoe crab blood cell extract. In addition, a test device for testing endotoxin is known (JP1997-159671A (JP-H9-159671A), JP2014-215298A, and JP2011-002379A). The lysate reagent prepared from horseshoe crab blood cell extract can also be used for measuring (1→3)-β-D-glucan present on the cell wall of fungi, depending on the adjustment of the reagent components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A test device for performing an endotoxin test (in addition to a test for measuring endotoxin, a test for measuring (1→3)-β-D-glucan is also included. The same is applied hereinafter) disposes a plurality of specimens and performs these specimens sequentially or simultaneously. In addition to a gelation method, endotoxin test methods include a colorimetric method and a turbidimetric method. Therefore, the endotoxin test is performed by selecting from each of these test methods or combining these methods according to the characteristics of a sample held by each specimen. In addition, regarding the colorimetric method, in order to appropriately select a wavelength of light used for the test, the test device for performing the endotoxin test may be provided with a plurality of light emitting elements in advance. 
     As described above, in order to enable endotoxin test by a plurality of test methods for a plurality of specimens, it is necessary to provide the plurality of light emitting elements having different luminescence wavelengths for one specimen. Therefore, there is a problem that a size of the test device increases. In addition, an optical component for guiding the light emitted by the light emitting element to the specimen is a factor in increasing the size of the test device, but in a case where such an optical component is simplified, another problem may arise that test accuracy is reduced. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a test device that holds a plurality of specimens, is compact in size, and can accurately perform an endotoxin or (1→3)-β-D-glucan test by a plurality of test methods. 
     A test device according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a specimen having a circular cross section that accommodates a test target, a specimen holding part that holds a plurality of the specimens in a row, a light emitting element in which light is incident on two adjacent specimens among the plurality of specimens held in the specimen holding part, a first light guide path that guides light emitted by the light emitting element, and a second light guide path that is formed thinner than the first light guide path and that guides the light emitted by the light emitting element from the first light guide path to the specimen. 
     It is preferable that the first light guide path is provided in common to a plurality of the light emitting elements. 
     It is preferable that the second light guide path includes a through-hole parallel to a direction connecting the light emitting element and the specimen. 
     It is preferable that in the second light guide path, a plurality of plates having through-holes are disposed so as to transmit light parallel to a direction connecting the light emitting element and the specimen and orthogonal in an arrangement direction of specimen in the specimen holding part. 
     It is preferable that the device further comprises a light-receiving element that receives light transmitted or scattered by the specimen for each specimen. 
     It is preferable that in the light emitting element, light is incident from an oblique direction with respect to a direction connecting the light-receiving element and the specimen. 
     It is preferable that the light-receiving element includes a shielding member that limits incidence of light, and receives light transmitted or scattered by the specimen through an opening of the shielding member. 
     It is preferable that the opening has a shape long in an arrangement direction of the light emitting elements. 
     It is preferable that the opening includes a color filter that selectively transmits light emitted by the light emitting element. 
     It is preferable that the opening is divided into a plurality of regions, and includes the color filter in which a color of the transmitted light is different for each region. 
     It is preferable that the light emitting elements includes a first color light emitting element that emits light of a first color, and a second color light emitting element that emits light of a second color different from the first color, and the first color light emitting element and the second color light emitting element are alternately arranged in an arrangement of the plurality of light emitting elements. 
     It is preferable that the device further comprises a third color light emitting element that emits light of a third color different from the first color and the second color, and in which light is incident from a direction connecting the light-receiving element and the specimen and orthogonal in an arrangement direction of specimen in the specimen holding part, between the first color light emitting element and the second color light emitting element, in addition to the light emitting element. 
     A test device according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of measuring units that includes a specimen having a circular cross section which accommodates a test target, a specimen holding part which holds a plurality of the specimens in a row, a light emitting element in which light is incident on two adjacent specimens among the plurality of specimens, a first light guide path which guides light emitted by the light emitting element, and a second light guide path formed to have a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first light guide path and which guides the light emitted by the light emitting element from the first light guide path to the specimen. 
     The test device of the embodiment of the present invention holds the plurality of specimens, is compact in size, and can accurately perform the endotoxin or (1→3)-β-D-glucan test by the plurality of test methods. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a test device. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a measuring unit and a specimen. 
         FIG. 3  is an XZ cross-sectional view of the measuring unit. 
         FIG. 4  is an XY cross-sectional view of the measuring unit. 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a shielding member provided on a light-receiving surface of a light-receiving element. 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of another shielding member. 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which color filters are provided on the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element. 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which color filters are provided on the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element. 
         FIG. 9  is an XY cross-sectional view of a measuring unit according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a test device  10  is provided with a device main body  11  and a computer  12 . The test device  10  tests a test target  13  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) for the presence or absence of contamination by endotoxin by performing optical measurement, and measures the content or concentration of endotoxin if necessary. The test target  13  is a solution in which a lysate reagent and a tested object are mixed. For example; the tested object is an injection such as a vaccine or a blood preparation, water obtained by recovering endotoxin from the tested object such as a syringe or an injection needle, polyethylene glycol, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (so-called recovery liquid), or blood or body fluid collected from a patient who may be infected with Gram-negative bacteria or fungi, or the like. The lysate reagent is Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) or Tachypleus Amebocyte Lysate (TAL). 
     The lysate reagent prepared from horseshoe crab blood cell extract can also be used for measuring (1→3)-β-D-glucan present on the cell wall of fungi, depending on the adjustment of the reagent components. The lysate reagent is used in a test to determine the presence or absence of fungal infection by measuring the concentration of (1→3)-β-D-glucan in the patient&#39;s blood or body fluid. In the present specification, in a case of being described as endotoxin, endotoxin may be read as (1→3)-β-D-glucan, and the test device  10  for endotoxin test also functions as a (1→3) -β-D-glucan test device. In addition, one test device  10  can test both endotoxin and (1→3) -β-D-glucan. 
     The device main body  11  is a portion of the test device  10  including a measuring unit  15  for performing optical measurement of a sample. Specifically, the device main body  11  is provided with a specimen  21 , a specimen holding part  22 , a light emitting part  23 , a light guide part  24 , a light detection unit  26 , a display unit  27 , an operating part  28 , and the like. Of these, the specimen holding part  22 , the light emitting part  23 , the light guide part  24 , and the light detection unit  26  constitute the measuring unit  15 . 
     The specimen  21  is a container having a circular cross section for accommodating the test target  13 . In the present embodiment, a state where the test target is accommodated is also simply referred to as the specimen  21 . The circular cross section means that the outer shape of the cross section is a circle, an ellipse, or a substantially smooth closed curve similar thereto in a case where at least a portion accommodating the test target  13  (especially a portion irradiated with light for test) is cut horizontally, in the state of being disposed in the device main body  11 . In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the specimen  21  is substantially cylindrical. In addition, the specimen  21  is made of heat-resistant glass. This is to prevent the specimen  21  before accommodating the test target from containing endotoxin and (1→3) -β-D-glucan, for example, by the dry heat sterilization treatment at 250° C. or higher and 30 minutes or longer. 
     The specimen holding part  22  holds a plurality of specimens  21  side by side. The specimen holding part  22  has a plurality of openings  31  arranged in a row (refer to  FIG. 2 ). Therefore, by inserting the specimen  21  into each opening  31 , the specimen holding part  22  holds the plurality of specimens  21  side by side in a row. In the present embodiment, the specimen holding part  22  has ten openings  31 , and by inserting the specimen  21  into all of these openings, ten specimen  21  can be held at the same time. The specimen holding part  22  may hold 11 or more or 9 or less specimens  21 . In addition, the specimen holding part  22  has a heater  32  on the bottom surface (surface on the negative side in the Z direction). By controlling the on and off of the heater  32 , the temperature of the specimen holding part  22  and the specimen  21  held by the specimen holding part  22  can be maintained within a predetermined temperature or a predetermined temperature range. Therefore, the specimen holding part  22  also functions as a so-called constant-temperature tank. 
     The light emitting part  23  irradiates the specimen  21  held by the specimen holding part  22  with light used for test. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the light emitting part  23  is provided with a light emitting element  41 . The light emitting element  41  is, for example, a light emitting diode (LED), and by emitting light, light  42  used for test is incident on the specimen  21 . In addition, the light emitting element  41  emits light in a wide range such that at least two or more specimens  21  can be irradiated with the light  42 . Since the light emitting element  41  sends light  42  to a plurality of measurement sites (the plurality of specimens  21 ), it is desirable that the light emitting element  41  is a diffusion light source in which each measurement site (each specimen  21 ) can obtain substantially the same amount of light in a certain direction. 
     The light guide part  24  guides the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41  to the specimen  21  held by the specimen holding part  22 . Specifically, the light guide part  24  includes a first light guide path  46  and a second light guide path  47  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
     The first light guide path  46  is a portion of the light guide part  24  that is relatively located on the light emitting element  41  side, and includes an opening  48  at a connection portion with the light emitting part  23 . In a case where the light emitting part  23  is connected to the light guide part  24 , the light emitting element  41  is exposed to the first light guide path  46  through the opening  48 . Therefore, the first light guide path  46  is a space that directly receives the light  42  generated by the light emitting element  41  and propagates the light  42  to the second light guide path  47 . In the present embodiment, the first light guide path  46  is a space  49  filled with air and capable of being ventilated to the outside. However, a part or all of the space  49  may be filled with a dielectric material or the like, if necessary. The first light guide path  46  is for guiding the light  42  generated by the light emitting element  41  that emits light in a wide range toward at least two or more specimens  21  adjacent to each other. 
     The second light guide path  47  is formed to have a relatively smaller diameter than that of the first light guide path  46 , and guides the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41  from the first light guide path  46  to the specimen  21 . Specifically, the second light guide path  47  is a portion of the light guide part  24  that is relatively located on the specimen holding part  22  side, and includes a through-hole  51  at a connection portion with the specimen holding part  22 . The through-hole  51  is a through-hole parallel to the direction connecting the light emitting element  41  and the specimen  21 . In addition, the specimen holding part  22  is provided with an opening  52  at a position where at least the through-hole  51  of the second light guide path  47  is exposed to the specimen  21 . Therefore, of the light  42  propagating in the space  49  of the first light guide path  46 , the light  42  incident on the through-hole  51  of the second light guide path  47  is incident on the specimen  21  through the opening  52 . 
     The fact that “the diameter is relatively small with respect to the first light guide path  46 ” means that the diameter (cross-sectional area in the YZ direction) of the through-hole  51  of the second light guide path  47  is smaller than the diameter (cross-sectional area in the YZ direction) of the space  49  of the first light guide path  46  at a connection portion between the through-hole  51  and the space  49 . In addition, the through-hole  51  of the second light guide path  47  is longer than the effective diameter of the opening (incident port of the light  42 ) on the space  49  side in the X direction. That is, the through-hole  51  has a substantial thickness in the XY in-plane direction, not just a surface. As a result, the second light guide path  47  limits an incidence angle of the light  42  from the space  49  side to the through-hole  51  and an emission angle of the light  42  from the through-hole  51  on the specimen  21  side. As a result, the second light guide path  47  prevent the light  42  reflected or the like in the space  49  from being incident on the through-hole  51  at a wide angle, and prevents such light  42  from being emitted from the through-hole  51  at a wide angle and incident on the specimen  21 . In addition, the second light guide path  47  suppresses incident light from a light emitting element different from the light emitting element  41  that emits light in a wide range facing the second light guide path  47  from passing through the second light guide path  47 , and suppresses the generation of a false signal due to the reflected light that may occur in a case of passing through incident on the specimen  21 . That is, in the second light guide path  47 , the light  42  incident on the specimen  21  is the light from only the facing light emitting element  41 , and the light  42  is limited to substantially parallel light, in addition, the fact that the through-hole  51  is provided at a position away from the light emitting element  41  via the space  49  also contributes to making the light  42  incident on the specimen  21  substantially parallel light. Substantially parallel light means light that maintains parallelism to the extent that the light passes directly through the through-hole from the light emitting element. 
     The light detection unit  26  is provided with a light-receiving element  53  that receives the light transmitted or scattered by the specimen  21 . The light-receiving element  53  is, for example, an optical sensor such as a photo diode (PD), and is provided for each specimen  21 , In the present embodiment, since the specimen holding part  22  holds ten specimens  21 , the light detection unit  26  is provided with the light-receiving element  53  at a position where the light  42  transmitted through each of these specimens  21  can be received. In addition, the specimen holding part  22  is provided with an opening  54  between the specimen  21  and the light-receiving element  53  having a range in which at least the light-receiving element  53  is exposed to the specimen  21  side. Therefore, the light  42  transmitted through the specimen  21  reaches the light-receiving element  53  through the opening  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the light emitting part  23  is provided with a light emitting element  62  and a light emitting element  63  that emit light in a wavelength band different from that of the light emitting element  41 , in addition to the light emitting element  41 . The light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  emit light in a wide range to the extent that light can be irradiated toward at least two or more specimens  21 , As described above, since the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  send light to a plurality of measurement sites (the plurality of specimens  21 ), it is desirable that the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  are diffusion light sources in which each measurement site (each specimen  21 ) can obtain substantially the same amount of light in a certain direction. In addition, a plurality of each of the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63  are provided, and the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63  are periodically disposed in this order along the X direction. 
     The light emitting element  41  is disposed substantially in front of each of the light-receiving element  53  and the specimen  21 , and in the endotoxin test, the light emitting element  41  irradiates the specimen  21  in front of the light emitting element  41  with light  42  through the space  49  of the first light guide path  46  and the through-hole  51  of the second light guide path  47 . The light emitting element  41  is used, for example, in a case of testing by a turbidimetric method, and the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41  is, for example, red. The front surface refers to a position on an extension of the normal of the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element  53  passing through the center of the specimen  21 . 
     The light emitted by the light emitting element  62  is, for example, purple. In addition, the light emitted by the light emitting element  63  is, for example, blue. The light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  are selected and used, for example, in a case of testing by a colorimetric method. In addition, focusing on the arrangement of the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  in the arrangement of the plurality of light emitting elements, these elements are arranged alternately in the X direction. That is, the measuring unit  15  is provided with the light emitting element  62 , which is a first color light emitting element that emits light of a first color (for example, purple), and the light emitting element  63 , which is a second color light emitting element that emits light of a second color (for example, blue) different from that of the first color, as the light emitting element. In the arrangement of the plurality of light emitting elements, the light emitting element  62  which is the first color light emitting element and the light emitting element  63  which is the second color light emitting element are arranged alternately. As a result, light can be incident on any of the plurality of specimens  21  held by the specimen holding part  22  from each of the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63 . 
     In a case where the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  are the first color light emitting element and the second color light emitting element as described above, the light emitting element  41  is a third color light emitting element. That is, the measuring unit  15  is provided with a light emitting element  41  which is the third color light emitting element that emits light of a third color (for example, red) different from the first color and the second color (for example, purple and blue) and on which light is incident from the direction connecting the light-receiving element  53  and the specimen  21  (in  FIG. 4 , the direction of the broken line passing through the center of the specimen  21  and connecting the light-receiving element  53  and the light emitting element  41 ), between the light emitting element  62  which is the first color light emitting element and the light emitting element  63  which is the second color light emitting element. 
     The light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  are disposed at positions other than the front surface of the light-receiving element  53  and the specimen  21  (between the two light emitting elements  41  (particularly, intermediate point)). In addition, in a case where the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  each emit light, the light is simultaneously incident on two adjacent specimens  21  among the plurality of specimens  21  held by the specimen holding part  22 . Therefore, light is incident on the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  from an oblique direction with respect to the direction connecting the light-receiving element  53  and the specimen  21 . 
     For the above-described usage aspect, the first light guide path  46  is provided in common to a plurality of light emitting elements (the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63 , each of which includes a plurality of light emitting elements). That is, the space  49  forming the first light guide path  46  is not divided for each specimen  21  or the like, and is a continuous region in the X direction. Therefore, the first light guide path  46  does not hinder the propagation of the light emitted by any light emitting element of the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63 , each of which includes a plurality of light emitting elements. 
     In addition, in the second light guide path  47  includes a through-hole  72 L, a through-hole  72 R, a through-hole  73 L, and a through-hole  73 R that guide the light emitted by the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63 , in addition to the through-hole  51  that guides the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41 . 
     The through-hole  72 L and the through-hole  72 R are through-holes parallel to the direction connecting the light emitting element  62  and the specimen  21 . Therefore, the through-hole  72 L guides the light emitted by the light emitting element  62  to the specimen  21  on the left side (negative side in the X direction) in a case of viewed from the light emitting element  62 . The through-hole  72 R guides the light emitted by the light emitting element  62  to the specimen  21  on the right side (positive side in the X direction) in a case of viewed from the light emitting element  62 . 
     Similarly, the through-hole  73 L and the through-hole  73 R are through-holes substantially parallel to the direction connecting the light emitting element  63  and the specimen  21 . Therefore, the through-hole  73 L guides the light emitted by the light emitting element  63  to the specimen  21  on the left side (negative side in the X direction) in a case of viewed from the light emitting element  63 . The through-hole  73 R guides the light emitted by the light emitting element  63  to the specimen  21  on the right side (positive side in the X direction) in a case of viewed from the light emitting element  63 . 
     In the through-hole  72 L, the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R, the diameter of each of the through-hole  72 L, the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R. (cross-sectional area in the YZ direction) is smaller than the diameter of the first light guide path  46  (cross-sectional area in the YZ direction), at the connection portion with the space  49 . Therefore, regarding the through-hole  72 L, the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R, the second light guide path  47  is formed to have a relatively smaller diameter than that of the first light guide path  46 , and guides the light emitted by the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  from the first light guide path  46  to the specimen  21 . The opening  52  of the specimen holding part  22  exposes the through-hole  72 L, the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  731 L, and the through-hole  73 R to the specimen  21 . In addition, the opening  54  of the specimen holding part  22  does not prevent the light incident on the specimen  21  from reaching the light-receiving element  53  through the through-hole  72 L, the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R. 
     In addition, the through-hole  721 , the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R are longer in the extending direction than the effective diameter of the opening (light incident port) on the space  49  side, and these through-holes are not merely surfaces, but have substantial thickness. Therefore, the second light guide path  47  prevents light reflected or the like in the space  49  from entering the through-hole  721 , the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R at a wide angle, and prevents such light from being emitted from the through-hole  72 L, the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R at a wide angle and incident on the specimen  21 . That is, even in a case where the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  are used, the second light guide path  47  limits the light incident on the specimen  21  to substantially parallel light. In addition, the fact that the through-hole  72 L, the through-hole  72 R, the through-hole  73 L, and the through-hole  73 R are provided at positions away from the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  via the space  49  also contributes to making the light  42  incident on the specimen substantially parallel light. 
     The display unit  27  is, for example, an indicator indicating whether or not the test can be executed and/or the progress of the test. In addition, the display unit  27  can be a display screen such as a liquid crystal panel, or a touch panel, and the like. 
     The operating part  28  is a switch or the like for directly giving an operation instruction to the device main body  11 . In a case where the display unit  27  is a touch panel, at least a part of the operating part  28  can be formed by using a graphical user interface displayed on the touch panel. 
     The computer  12  is a part of the test device  10  that controls each part of the device main body  11  and performs analysis or determination using measurement data (signals and the like acquired from the light-receiving element  53 ) acquired from the device main body  11 . Specifically, the computer  12  acquires the measurement data from the measuring unit  15  and analyzes or the like using the measurement data to determine the presence or absence of endotoxin or to generate data that can determine the presence or absence of endotoxin. In the present embodiment, the computer  12  is provided separately from the device main body  11 , but a part or all of the functions of the computer  12  can be incorporated into the device main body  11 . 
     In the test device  10 , endotoxin test by a colorimetric method and a turbidimetric method can be performed. The colorimetric method is a test method of identifying the presence or absence of endotoxin by measuring the activation of the lysate reagent by endotoxin by the absorbance at a specific wavelength. Since the measuring unit  15  is provided with two types of light emitting elements of the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  for test by the colorimetric method, the measuring unit  15  performs an endotoxin test using either the light emitting element  62  or the light emitting element  63  according to the characteristics of the test target  13 . The turbidimetric method is a test method of identifying the presence or absence of endotoxin by measuring the change in turbidity of a sample gelled by activation of a lysate reagent  1   w  endotoxin in the test by the turbidimetric method, the light emitting element  41  for each specimen  21  is used. 
     As described above, the test device  10  is provided with three types of light emitting elements of the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63 , for endotoxin test by the turbidimetric method and the colorimetric method. The light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  for the colorimetric method are disposed between two adjacent specimens  21 , and light is incident on both of the two adjacent specimens  21  from one of the light emitting element  62  or the light emitting element  63 . Therefore, the length in the X direction can be shortened for one specimen  21  as compared with the case where the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63  are provided one by one, and the size of the test device  10  as a whole can be reduced. In addition, as in the first embodiment, the compact size can be maintained even in a case where the light emitting element  41  for the turbidimetric method is added to each specimen  21 . 
     In addition, since the specimen  21  is made of glass to withstand the city heat sterilization treatment and has a circular cross section, in a case where light is incident on the specimen  21  from an oblique direction, the light may be reflected on the surface of the specimen  21  to cause the light to be unlikely to be incident on the test target  13 , and as a result, the teat accuracy may decrease. For example, in a case where the light used for test is guided by an optical fiber or the like, or in a case where the light is focused on the specimen  21  through a stop having substantially no thickness, the amount of light expected to be incident on the specimen  21  and the test target  13  is different from the amount of light actually incident on the specimen  21  and the test target  13  due to a slight displacement of the position of the specimen  21  or the like, and as a result, the test accuracy may decrease. However, in the test device  10 , by guiding light to the specimen  21  by the first light guide path  46  and the second light guide path  47 , the light emitted by the light emitting element  62  or the light emitting element  63  can be incident on both of the two adjacent specimens  21 . On the other hand, the light incident on the specimen  21  is narrowed down by the through-hole (through-hole  72 L or the like) and is arranged to be substantially parallel light. Therefore, as compared with the case of using the above-described optical fiber, stop, or the like, it is easier to cause the planned amount of light to be incident on the specimen  21  and the test target  13 . As a result, the test device  10  can hold the plurality of specimens  21  and can accurately perform the endotoxin test by the plurality of test methods while being formed into a compact size. 
     Furthermore, as described above, in the test device  10 , since the light incident on the specimen  21  is narrowed down by the through-hole (through-hole  72 L or the like) and is arranged to be substantially parallel light, depending on the characteristics of the test target  13 , such as containing a fat component, even in a case where the test target  13  is turbid from the beginning (before the reaction between endotoxin and lysate reagent), the light with the planned amount of light is likely to be incident on the test target  13 . Therefore, the test device  10  can perform the endotoxin test with high accuracy. 
     In the first embodiment, it is desirable that the first light guide path  46  (that is, the inner surface forming the space  49  and the portion of the light emitting part  23  other than the light emitting element  41 ) and the second light guide path  47  (at least the surface (inner surface portion) forming the second light guide path  47 ) has as low reflection as possible. Therefore, it is preferable to form the first light guide path  46  and the second light guide path  47  by using a light-absorbing material, a surface coating, or the like. Therefore, the first light guide path  46  and the second light guide path  47  can be, for example, subjected to a matte black alumite treatment or coated with a black paint. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , it is preferable that the light-receiving element  53  mounted on the test device  10  of the first embodiment is provided with a shielding member  81  for limiting the incident light on the light-receiving surface thereof, and the specimen  21  receives light transmitted or scattered through an opening  82  of the shielding member  81 . This is to limit the light-receiving of unintended stray light and scattered light and improve the test accuracy. In addition, it is preferable that the opening  82  provided in the shielding member  81  is formed to the minimum according to the position, size, and shape of the spot of light incident on the specimen  21  by the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63 , For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , it is preferable that the opening  82  is a so-called stadium type, and the shape is long in the arrangement direction (X direction) of the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63  so as to include a spot  86  reached by the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41 , a spot  87  reached by the light emitted by the light emitting element  62 , and a spot  88  reached by the light emitted by the light emitting element  63  to substantially the minimum. In this case, the light-receiving of unnecessary light can be limited to higher accuracy, and the test accuracy can be further improved. In addition to the stadium type, the shape long in the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements includes an ellipse or a rectangle having a major axis in the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements. 
     As described above, in a case where the shielding member  81  having the opening  82  is used for the light-receiving element  53 , it is preferable that the opening  82  is provided with a color filter that selectively transmits the light emitted by the light emitting element. In particular, it is preferable that the opening  82  is divided into a plurality of regions according to the positions, sizes, and shapes of the spots of light incident on the specimen  21  by the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63 , and each region is provided with a color filter in which the color of the transmitted light is different. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 7 , it is preferable to include color filters  91  to  93  that selectively transmit the light emitted by the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63 . The color filter  91  selectively transmits the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41 . The color filter  92  selectively transmits the light emitted by the light emitting element  62  (for example, purple light). The color filter  93  selectively transmits the light emitted by the light emitting element  63  (for example, blue light). By providing the color filters  91  to  93  in the opening  82  in this manner, test can be performed with higher accuracy. For example, in a case where the light emitting element  41  is used, this is because the size of the opening  82  is substantially limited to a certain portion of the color filter  91 , which makes it difficult to receive the scattered light reaching the positions of the color filter  92  and the color filter  93 . The same applies in a case where the light emitting element  62  or the light emitting element  63  is used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , even in a case where the opening  82  has a shape long in the arrangement direction of the light emitting element having other than the stadium type, the openings  82  can be provided with the color filters  91  to  93 . In this case, the outer size of the opening  82  is originally narrowed down to a small size, and the effective opening size is optimized by the color filters  91  to  93 , so that the test can be performed with particularly high accuracy. 
     In the above modification example, the color filters  91  to  93  are used in the opening  82  of the shielding member  81 , but the color filters  91  to  93  are extended to the end portion of the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element  53 , so that the shielding member  81  can be omitted. In addition, the above modification example is an example in a case where one light-receiving element  53  is provided for each specimen  21 , but the number of light-receiving elements  53  may be increased and two or three light-receiving elements may be provided for each specimen  21  according to the number of incidence wavelengths (type of light emitting element). In this case, the shielding member  81  may be appropriately provided for each of the light-receiving elements, and the color filters  91  to  93  may be provided to further improve the measurement accuracy. 
     Second Embodiment 
     In the first embodiment and the modification example, the second light guide path  47  having a substantial thickness in the XY in-plane direction is formed by providing the through-hole  51  or the like in one plate-shaped member, but the second light guide path  47  can be formed in another form. For example, the second light guide path  47  may have a configuration in which a plurality of plates having through-holes (hereinafter referred to as a through-hole plate) are disposed so that light penetrates in parallel to the direction connecting the light emitting element  41  or the like and the specimen  21 . 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a partition member  201  for partitioning the first light guide path  46  and the specimen holding part  22  is provided, and the partition member  201  is provided with an opening  202  in front of each specimen  21  for passing the light emitted by the light emitting element  41 , the light emitting element  62 , and the light emitting element  63  on the specimen  21  side. The opening  202  is provided with a first through-hole plate  203  and a second through-hole plate  204 , respectively, in front of and behind the opening  202  (for example, opening ends on the light emitting element  41  side and the like and on the specimen  21  side). 
     The first through-hole plate  203  is provided on the front end side (the side of the light emitting element  41  or the like) of the opening  202 , and includes a first through-hole  211 , a second through-hole  212 , and a third through-hole  213 . The first through-hole  211  is on a straight line connecting the light emitting element  41  and the specimen  21 , the second through-hole  212  is on the straight line connecting the light emitting element  62  and the specimen  21 , and the third through-hole  213  is on the straight line connecting the light emitting element  63  and the specimen  21 . 
     In addition, the second through-hole plate  204  is provided on the rear end side (side of the specimen  21 ) of the opening  202 , and includes a first through-hole  221 , a second through-hole  222 , and a third through-hole  223 . The first through-hole  221  is on a straight line connecting the light emitting element  41  and the specimen  21 , the second through-hole  222  is on the straight line connecting the light emitting element  62  and the specimen  21 , and the third through-hole  223  is on the straight line connecting the light emitting element  63  and the specimen  21 . 
     In a case where the second light guide path  47  is formed by using the first through-hole plate  203  and the second through-hole plate  204  as described above, the first through-hole  211  of the first through-hole plate  203  and the first through-hole  221  of the second through-hole plate  204  function substantially in the same manner as the through-hole  51  of the first embodiment. That is, the first through-hole  211  of the first through-hole plate  203  and the first through-hole  221  of the second through-hole plate  204  limit the incidence angle of the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41  and the emission angle of the light  42  on the specimen  21  side. On the other hand, unlike the through-hole  51  of the first embodiment, since the space between the first through-hole  211  of the first through-bole plate  203  and the first through-hole  221  of the second through-hole plate  204  is hollow, only the light  42  that travels accurately and substantially straight and passes through between these through-holes reaches the specimen  21 . In the case of the through-hole  51  of the first embodiment, although significantly minute amount of light reflected by the inner wall of the through-hole  51  may generate a false signal, as described above, the through-hole  51  of the first embodiment is formed by the first through-hole  211  of the first through-hole plate  203  and the first through-hole  221  of the second through-hole plate  204 . Therefore, the incidence angle of the light  42  emitted by the light emitting element  41  and the emission angle of the light  42  on the specimen  21  side can be more accurately limited, and the generation of a false signal can be suppressed more reliably. 
     In addition, in a case where the second light guide path  47  is formed by using the first through-hole plate  203  and the second through-hole plate  204 , the second through-hole  212  of the first through-hole plate  203  and the second through-hole  222  of the second through-hole plate  204  function substantially in the same manner as the through-hole  72 L, (or through-hole  72 R) of the first embodiment, and the incidence angle of the light emitted by the light emitting element  62  and the emission angle of the light on the specimen  21  side are limited. The limitation of the incidence angle and the emission angle is more accurate than that of the through-hole  72 L, (or through-hole  72 R) of the first embodiment, and the generation of a false signal can be suppressed more reliably. 
     Similarly, in a case where the second light guide path  47  is formed by using the first through-hole plate  203  and the second through-hole plate  204 , the third through-hole  213  of the first through-hole plate  203  and the third through-hole  223  of the second through-hole plate  204  function substantially in the same manner as the through-hole  73 L (or through-hole  73 R) of the first embodiment, and the incidence angle of the light emitted by the light emitting element  63  and the emission angle of the light on the specimen  21  side are limited. The limitation of the incidence angle and the emission angle is more accurate than that of the through-hole  73 L (or through-hole  73 R) of the first embodiment, and the generation of a false signal can be suppressed more reliably. 
     In the second embodiment, the second light guide path  47  is formed by using two through-hole plates of the first through-hole plate  203  and the second through-hole plate  204 , but the second light guide path  47  may be formed by using three or more through-hole plates by disposing through-hole plates similar to these through-hole plates between the first through-hole plate  203  and the second through-hole plate  204 . 
     In addition, as in a third through-hole plate  261  (refer to  FIG. 9 ), a through-hole plate similar to the first through-hole plate  203  and the second through-hole plate  204  described above can be provided in or at the end portion of the opening  54  having a range in which the light-receiving element  53  is exposed to the specimen  21  side. The third through-hole plate  261  includes a first through-hole  271 , a second through-hole  272 , and a third through-hole  273 , The first through-hole  271  is on a straight line connecting the light emitting element  41  and the specimen  21 , the second through-hole  272  is on the straight line connecting the light emitting element  62  and the specimen  21 , and the third through-hole  273  is on the straight line connecting the light emitting element  63  and the specimen  21 , in this manner, in a case where the third through-hole plate  261  is provided in the opening  54  provided on the front surface of the light-receiving element  53 , the light scattered by the specimen  21  and/or the test target  13  or the like can be prevented from reaching the light-receiving element  53 , and the generation of a false signal can be suppressed more reliably. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the first through-hole plate  203  includes the first through-hole  211 , the second through-hole  212 , and the third through-hole  213  opened along the traveling direction of light, and the second through-hole  212  and the third through-hole  213  are obliquely opened with respect to the first through-hole plate  203 . However, the first through-hole  211 , the second through-hole  212 , and the third through-hole  213  (particularly the second through-hole  212  and the third through-hole  213 ) of the first through-hole plate  203  can be vertically opened with respect to the first through-hole plate  203 . In this case, the first through-hole plate  203  is preferably a thin plate within a range that does not interfere with measurement, strength, or the like. The same applies to the second through-hole plate  204  and the first through-hole  221 , the second through-hole  222 , and the third through-hole  223  thereof, and to the third through-hole plate  261  and the first through-hole  271 , the second through-hole  272 , and the third through-hole  273  thereof. 
     In addition, in  FIG. 9 , each of the first through-hole plate  203 , the second through-hole plate  204 , and the third through-hole plate  261  is provided independently for each specimen  21 , but these through-hole plates may be provided in common to the plurality of specimens  21 . That is, the plurality of first through-hole plates  203  can be integrally formed. The same applies to the second through-hole plate  204  and the third through-hole plate  261 . 
     The second embodiment can be randomly combined with the first embodiment and the modification examples of the first embodiment for the configurations other than the second light guide path  47 . 
     In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and modification examples thereof, the test device  10  performs an endotoxin test by the turbidimetric method and the colorimetric method, but only in a case where only the test by the turbidimetric method is performed, the configuration (light emitting element  62 , light emitting element  63 , and the like) related to the test by the colorimetric method can be omitted. Similarly, in a case where the test device  10  only performs the test by the colorimetric method, the configuration (light emitting element  41 , through-hole  51 , and the like) related to the test by the turbidimetric method can be omitted. In addition, in a case where the test by the colorimetric method is performed with only one specific wavelength (for example, purple light or blue light), in the test device  10 , either the light emitting element  62  and the configuration related thereto (through-hole  72 L, through-hole  72 R, and the like), or the light emitting element  63  and the configuration related thereto (through-hole  73 L, through-hole  73 R, and the like) can be omitted. 
     In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and modification examples thereof, it is preferable that the light emitting element  62  and the light emitting element  63  are arranged at an intermediate point between the two light emitting elements  41 . This is to allow light to be optically symmetrically incident on two adjacent specimens  21 . In a case where light is optically symmetrically incident on two adjacent specimens  21 , the test accuracy can be improved. It is particularly effective in a case where an operation is performed to determine the presence or absence of endotoxin. 
     In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and modification examples thereof, the test device  10  performs an endotoxin test, but the present invention can be used for a device that performs a test other than the endotoxin test for detecting transmitted light, scattered light, or the like. 
     In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and modification examples thereof, the test device  10  is provided with one measuring unit  15 , but the test device  10  may be provided with a plurality of measuring units  15  in the device main body  11 . That is, the test device  10  can be configured to include a plurality of measuring units  15  that include the specimen  21  having a circular cross section which accommodates the test target  13 , the specimen holding part  22  which holds the plurality of specimens  21  in a row, the light emitting elements  62  and  63  in which light is incident on two adjacent specimens  21  among the plurality of specimens  21 , the first light guide path  46  which guides light emitted by the light emitting element, and the second light guide path  47  formed to have a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first light guide path  46  and which guides the light emitted by the light emitting elements  62  and  63  from the first light guide path  46  to the specimen  21 . 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES 
     
         
         
           
               10 : test device 
               11 : device main body 
               12 : computer 
               13 : test target 
               15 : measuring unit 
               21 : specimen 
               22 : specimen holding part 
               23 : light emitting part 
               24 : light guide part 
               26 : light detection unit 
               27 : display unit 
               28 : operating part 
               31 : opening 
               32 : heater 
               41 : light emitting element 
               42 : light 
               46 : first light guide path 
               47 : second light guide path 
               48 : opening 
               49 : space 
               51 : through-hole 
               52 : opening 
               53 : light-receiving element 
               54 : opening 
               62 : light emitting element 
               63 : light emitting element 
               72 L: through-hole 
               72 R: through-hole 
               73 L: through-hole 
               73 R: through-hole 
               81 : shielding member 
               82 : opening 
               86 : spot 
               87 : spot 
               88 : spot 
               91 : color filter 
               92 : color filter 
               93 : color filter 
               201 : partition member 
               202 : opening 
               203 : first through-hole plate 
               204 : second through-hole plate 
               211 : first through-hole 
               212 : second through-hole 
               213 : third through-hole 
               221 : first through-hole 
               222 : second through-hole 
               223 : third through-hole 
               261 : third through-hole plate 
               271 : first through-hole 
               272 : second through-hole 
               273 : third through-hole