Patent Publication Number: US-2022233175-A1

Title: Specimen processing method, specimen processing system, and sealing device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-012457, filed on Jan. 28, 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a specimen processing method, a specimen processing system, and a sealing device used for measuring a urine specimen. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2017-44631 discloses a urine analyzer for analyzing a urine specimen. When a urine specimen is analyzed, a urine specimen of a subject is collected in a urine collection cup, a fixed quantity of the urine specimen is taken into a specimen container from the urine collection cup, and the specimen container is set in a urine analyzer. The urine analyzer aspirates the urine specimen from an upper opening of the specimen container by using an aspiration tube, and analyzes the urine specimen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. 
     Odor of the urine specimen contained in the specimen container set in the urine analyzer is released from the container during measurement, or odor of the urine specimen preserved in the specimen container for a retest leaks through the container during preservation. Such odor makes a user feel unpleasant. 
     A specimen processing method according to a first aspect of the present invention is, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a method of processing, by using a specimen processing device, a urine specimen ( 90 ) contained in a specimen container ( 80 ) having an opening ( 81 ). The method includes: sealing, with a seal ( 75 ), the opening ( 81 ) of the specimen container ( 80 ) containing the urine specimen ( 90 ); aspirating the urine specimen ( 90 ) in the specimen container ( 80 ) by using an aspiration tube ( 32 ), of the specimen processing device, which has penetrated through the seal ( 75 ) sealing the specimen container ( 80 ); and processing the aspirated urine specimen ( 90 ). 
     A specimen processing system ( 100 ) according to a second aspect of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes: a sealing device ( 300 ) configured to seal, with a seal ( 75 ), an opening of a specimen container ( 80 ) containing a urine specimen; a transport device ( 111 ,  121 ,  131 ,  141 ,  151 ,  161 ,  171 ) configured to transport the sealed specimen container ( 80 ); and a specimen processing device ( 145 ,  155 ) including an aspiration tube ( 32 ) configured to penetrate through the seal ( 75 ) and aspirate the urine specimen from the specimen container ( 80 ), the specimen processing device being configured to process the aspirated urine specimen. 
     A specimen processing method according to a third aspect of the present invention is, as shown in  FIG. 28 , a method of processing, by using a specimen processing device ( 31 ), a urine specimen ( 90 ) contained in a specimen container ( 80 ) having an opening ( 81 ). The method includes: aspirating the urine specimen ( 90 ) from the specimen container ( 80 ) containing the urine specimen ( 90 ), by using an aspiration tube ( 32 ) of the specimen processing device ( 31 ); processing the aspirated urine specimen ( 90 ); and sealing, with a seal ( 71 ), the opening ( 81 ) of the specimen container ( 80 ) from which the urine specimen ( 90 ) has been aspirated. 
     A sealing device ( 300 ) according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a sealing device ( 300 ) configured to seal an opening ( 81 ) of a specimen container ( 80 ) having the opening ( 81 ). The sealing device ( 300 ) includes: a film holder ( 41 ) configured to hold a film ( 75 ); a container holder ( 42 ) configured to hold the specimen container ( 80 ) in which a urine specimen ( 90 ) is contained; an up-down drive part ( 43 ) configured to drive at least one of the film holder ( 41 ) and the container holder ( 42 ) in an up-down direction; a rotation drive part ( 44 ) configured to drive at least one of the film holder ( 41 ) and the container holder ( 42 ) so as to rotate around a center axis of the specimen container ( 80 ); and a controller ( 133 ,  163 ) configured to perform control of winding the film ( 75 ) around the specimen container ( 80 ) by operating the rotation drive part ( 44 ) in a state where the film ( 75 ) held by the film holder ( 41 ) is, by the up-down drive part ( 43 ), pressed against an opening edge of the specimen container ( 80 ) held by the container holder ( 42 ). 
     A specimen processing method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of processing, by a specimen processing device, a urine specimen contained in a specimen container ( 80 ) having an opening. The method includes: sealing, with a seal, an opening of the specimen container ( 80 ) containing the urine specimen; forming, by a puncture member of the specimen processing device, a through-hole in the seal with which the specimen container ( 80 ) is sealed; aspirating the urine specimen in the specimen container ( 80 ) through the through-hole by using an aspiration tube ( 32 ); and processing the aspirated urine specimen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a specimen processing system; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a major configuration of the specimen processing system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an uncapping device; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for describing a structure of the uncapping device shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5A  shows a cap gripped by a hand member; 
         FIG. 5B  shows a configuration example of a grip surface of the hand member; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a flow of an uncapping process by an uncapping unit; 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram for describing a sealing device; 
         FIG. 7B  is a diagram for describing a sealing process; 
         FIG. 7C  is a schematic diagram showing a sealed specimen container; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the sealing device; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view schematically showing a state where a film holder of the sealing device shown in  FIG. 8  is located at a film disposal position; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view schematically showing a state where the film holder of the sealing device shown in  FIG. 8  is located at a film holding position; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view schematically showing a state where the film holder of the sealing device shown in  FIG. 8  is located at a position above a sealing position; 
         FIG. 12A  is a diagram describing an operation of a film piece supply mechanism; 
         FIG. 12B  is a diagram describing another operation of the film piece supply mechanism of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 12C  is a diagram describing another operation of the film piece supply mechanism of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 12D  is a diagram describing another operation of the film piece supply mechanism of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 13A  shows a step of a sealing process by the sealing device; 
         FIG. 13B  shows another step of the sealing process by the sealing device illustrated in  FIG. 13A ; 
         FIG. 13C  shows another step of the sealing process by the sealing device illustrated in  FIG. 13A ; 
         FIG. 13D  shows another step of the sealing process by the sealing device illustrated in  FIG. 13A ; 
         FIG. 13E  shows another step of the sealing process by the sealing device illustrated in  FIG. 13A ; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram showing a sealing mechanism and a film piece disposal mechanism; 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged view showing a sealed portion of a specimen container; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing a flow of a sealing process by the sealing device; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram showing transport devices of a sealing unit and a specimen processing unit; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram showing a measurement part of a urine qualitative test device; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic diagram showing a measurement part of a urinary sediment test device; 
         FIG. 20  is a block diagram for describing a computer implementing a controller; 
         FIG. 21  is a flowchart showing a processing operation flow of the specimen processing system; 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram showing a configuration example in which a first loading unit and a second loading unit are disposed; 
         FIG. 23  is a diagram showing a first configuration example in which a third loading unit and a fourth loading unit are disposed; 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram showing a second configuration example in which a third loading unit and a fourth loading unit are disposed; 
         FIG. 25  is a diagram showing a configuration example in which each of a plurality of specimen processing units is provided with a second sealing unit; 
         FIG. 26  is a diagram showing a configuration example in which an uncapping unit and a second sealing unit are not disposed; 
         FIG. 27  is a diagram showing a configuration example in which a sealing unit is disposed not on an upstream side but on a downstream side of a specimen processing device; 
         FIG. 28  is a diagram for describing a third specimen processing method; 
         FIG. 29A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a step of a flow of a second sealing method; 
         FIG. 29B  is a schematic diagram illustrating another step of the flow of the second sealing method of  FIG. 29A ; 
         FIG. 29C  is a schematic diagram illustrating another step of the flow of the second sealing method of  FIG. 29A ; 
         FIG. 29D  is a schematic diagram illustrating another step of the flow of the second sealing method of  FIG. 29A ; 
         FIG. 29E  is a schematic diagram illustrating another step of the flow of the second sealing method of  FIG. 29A ; 
         FIG. 29F  is a schematic diagram illustrating another step of the flow of the second sealing method of  FIG. 29A ; 
         FIG. 29G  is a schematic diagram illustrating another step of the flow of the second sealing method of  FIG. 29A ; 
         FIG. 29H  is a schematic diagram illustrating another step of the flow of the second sealing method of  FIG. 29A ; 
         FIG. 30  is an enlarged view of a sealed portion of a specimen container by the second sealing method; 
         FIG. 31  is a diagram showing a sealing method in which a film and a specimen container are not relatively rotated; 
         FIG. 32  is a diagram showing a configuration example in which a film is held by means of pressure; 
         FIG. 33  is a diagram showing an example in which a film is pushed into an opening of a specimen container by means of pressure; 
         FIG. 34  is a diagram showing a configuration example in which a plurality of specimen containers are collectively sealed; 
         FIG. 35A  is a diagram showing control for upward movement of a specimen container in a first example in which a detector for a specimen container is disposed; 
         FIG. 35B  is a diagram showing a result of upward movement of the specimen container in  FIG. 35A  in the first example in which the detector for the specimen container is disposed; 
         FIG. 36A  is a diagram showing upward movement of a specimen container in a second example in which a detector for a specimen container is disposed; and 
         FIG. 36B  is a diagram showing control for upward movement of the specimen container of  FIG. 36A  in the second example in which a detector for a specimen container is disposed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an overall configuration of a specimen processing system  100  will be described. 
     The specimen processing system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a loading unit  110 , an uncapping unit  120 , a sealing unit  130 , a specimen processing unit  140 , a specimen processing unit  150 , a second sealing unit  160 , and a collection unit  170 . The loading unit  110 , the uncapping unit  120 , the sealing unit  130 , the specimen processing unit  140 , the specimen processing unit  150 , the sealing unit  160 , and the collection unit  170  include transport devices  111 ,  121 ,  131 ,  141 ,  151 ,  161 , and  171 , respectively. In the following description, a first seal attached to a specimen container  80  in advance is a cap  84 , and a film  75  is used as a seal and a second seal. In each figure, a transport direction in which specimen containers  80  are transported by the transport device is an X direction. A direction orthogonal to the X direction in a horizontal plane is a Y direction. An up-down direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction is a Z direction. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the loading unit  110 , the uncapping unit  120 , the sealing unit  130 , the specimen processing unit  140 , the specimen processing unit  150 , the sealing unit  160 , and the collection unit  170  are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction (X direction) of the specimen containers  80 . The respective units are mutually connected such that the specimen containers  80  can be transported between adjacent units by the plurality of transport devices. 
     Each unit will be described with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     The loading unit  110  has a function of providing a place for the specimen containers  80  to be loaded into the specimen processing system  100 , and sending each loaded specimen container  80  toward the downstream side. Each specimen container  80  contains a urine specimen  90  (see  FIG. 7 ). The specimen containers  80 , being set in a specimen rack  85 , are set in the loading unit  110  by a user. The specimen rack  85  is a rack capable of holding a plurality of specimen containers  80  such that the specimen containers  80  stand straight with openings  81  thereof facing upward. 
     The loading unit  110  (see  FIG. 2 ) includes a transport device  111 , a transport controller  112 , a controller  113 , and an information reader  114 . The transport device  111  is configured to transport a specimen rack  85  placed in the loading unit  110  to the uncapping unit  120 . The information reader  114  is configured to read identification information of each specimen container  80  held in the specimen rack  85  transported by the transport device  111 . The identification information includes a unique specimen ID identifying the urine specimen  90  contained in the specimen container  80 . For example, identification information is printed on an identification label  83  (see  FIG. 9 ) in a form such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code, and the identification label  83  is pasted to the side surface of each specimen container  80 . The information reader  114  is implemented by a code reader or a camera, and optically reads identification information. 
     The controller  113  described later in detail is configured to be communicable with a host computer  500 . The controller  113  can acquire specimen information registered in the host computer  500 , by using identification information acquired by the information reader  114 . The specimen information includes various kinds of information, related to specimen processing, such as items to be measured by the specimen processing unit  140  and the specimen processing unit  150 , presence/absence of a cap, necessity of sealing with a seal, and the like. The transport controller  112  includes a processor and a memory. The transport controller  112  controls the transport device  111  so as to transport the specimen rack  85  to the uncapping unit  120 . The transport controller  112  performs mutual communication with transport controllers of the other units in the specimen processing system  100 , and controls a transport start timing for the specimen rack  85  in accordance with the states of the transport device in the respective units. 
     The uncapping unit  120  is configured to receive the specimen rack  85  from the loading unit  110 , and perform an uncapping process on each specimen container  80  set in the specimen rack  85 . That is, the uncapping unit  120  is configured to remove a cap  84  from a specimen container  80  having an opening  81  to which the cap  84  is attached. The uncapping unit  120  is configured to send, to the sealing unit  130 , the specimen container  80  from which the cap  84  has been removed through the uncapping process. 
     The uncapping unit  120  (see  FIG. 2 ) includes a transport device  121 , a transport controller  122 , a controller  123 , and an uncapping device  124 . The transport device  121  is configured to transport the specimen rack  85  between the loading unit  110  and the sealing unit  130 . The transport device  121  transports the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  to an uncapping position P 2  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the uncapping device  124 . The uncapping position P 2  is present on a transport path between the loading unit  110  and the sealing unit  130 . The uncapping device  124  is configured to perform an uncapping process of removing a cap  84  from a specimen container  80  transported to the uncapping position P 2 . The uncapping device  124  will be described later in detail. The controller  123  controls the operation of the uncapping device  124  so as to uncap the specimen containers  80  transported to the uncapping position P 2  one by one. The transport controller  122  includes a processor and a memory. The transport controller  122  controls the transport device  121  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the loading unit  110  and transport the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  one by one to the uncapping position P 2  in the uncapping device  124 . The transport controller  122  controls the transport device  121  so as to transport, to the sealing unit  130 , the specimen rack  85  holding the specimen containers  80  having been uncapped. 
     The sealing unit  130  is configured to seal, with a film  75 , a specimen container  80  from which a cap  84  has been removed. Thus, the specimen processing method of the present embodiment further includes a step of removing a cap  84  from a specimen container  80  having an opening  81  to which the cap  84  is attached, and a step of sealing, with a film  75 , the specimen container  80  from which the cap  84  has been removed. Thus, even when the cap  84  has been attached to the specimen container  80  in advance, the cap  84  can be replaced with the film  75  through which an aspiration tube  32  can penetrate. Therefore, the user need not remove a cap  84  from each specimen container  80  before loading the specimen containers  80  into the specimen processing unit  140 . Moreover, a time period during which the opening  81  of each specimen container  80  is opened can be limited to a time period from when the cap  84  is removed to when the opening  81  is sealed with the film  75 . Therefore, it is possible to effectively reduce release of odor of the urine specimen  90  to the outside of the specimen container  80 . 
     The sealing unit  130  (see  FIG. 2 ) includes a transport device  131 , a transport controller  132 , a controller  133 , and a sealing device  300 . The transport device  131  is configured to transport the specimen rack  85  between the uncapping unit  120  and the specimen processing unit  140 . When the specimen rack  85  is received from the uncapping unit  120  into the sealing unit  130 , the transport device  131  transports the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  to a sealing position P 3  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the sealing device  300 . The sealing position P 3  is present on a transport path between the uncapping unit  120  and the specimen processing unit  140 . The sealing device  300  is configured to perform a sealing process of sealing, with the film  75 , the opening  81  of each specimen container  80  transported to the sealing position P 3 . The sealing device  300  will be described later in detail. The controller  133  controls the operation of the sealing device  300  so as to seal the specimen containers  80  transported to the sealing position P 3  one by one. The transport controller  132  includes a processor and a memory. The transport controller  132  controls the transport device  131  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the uncapping unit  120 , and transport the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  one by one to the sealing position P 3  in the sealing device  300 . The transport controller  132  controls the transport device  131  so as to transport, to the specimen processing unit  140 , the specimen rack  85  holding the specimen containers  80  having been subjected to the sealing process. 
     The specimen processing unit  140  aspirates, by using the aspiration tube  32 , the urine specimen  90  (see  FIG. 7 ) from the specimen container  80  to which the film  75  is attached by the sealing unit  130 , and performs measurement on the aspirated urine specimen  90 . 
     The specimen processing unit  140  (see  FIG. 2 ) includes a transport device  141 , a transport controller  142 , a controller  143 , an information reader  144 , and a specimen processing device  145 . The transport device  141  is configured to transport the specimen rack  85  between the sealing unit  130  and the specimen processing unit  150 . The transport device  141  transports the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  to a reading position P 4  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the information reader  144  and to an aspiration position P 5  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the specimen processing device  145 . The reading position P 4  and the aspiration position P 5  are present on a first transport path  141   a . The information reader  144  has the same configuration as the information reader  114 , and reads identification information of each specimen container  80  transported to the reading position P 4 . The specimen processing device  145  causes the aspiration tube  32  to penetrate through the film  75  of each specimen container  80  transported to the aspiration position P 5 , and aspirate the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80 . The specimen processing device  145  performs specimen processing on the urine specimen  90  aspirated by the aspiration tube  32 . After the film  75  has been punctured by the aspiration tube  32 , the specimen container  80  is transported with a through-hole TH formed in the film  75  until it is re-sealed by the second sealing unit  160 . 
     The transport device  141  includes a first transport path  141   a , a second transport path  141   b , a loading/storage part  141   c , and a sending/storage part  141   d , and is capable of receiving/transporting a specimen rack  85  from/to the second transport path  141   b . The first transport path  141   a , the second transport path  141   b , the loading/storage part  141   c , and the sending/storage part  141   d  form a loop path, so that the transport device  141  can circularly transport the specimen rack  85  for a retest. The second transport path  141   b  allows the transport device  141  to transport the specimen rack  85  from the sealing unit  130  to the specimen processing unit  150  not through the specimen processing device  145 . 
     The controller  143  acquires measurement order information from the host computer  500  on the basis of identification information read by the information reader  144 . On the basis of the measurement order information, the controller  143  controls the operation of the specimen processing device  145  so as to perform or so as not to perform specimen aspiration from each of individual urine specimens  90  (individual specimen containers  80 ). The controller  143  controls the operation of the specimen processing device  145  so as not to perform specimen aspiration from a specimen container  80  for which specimen processing by the specimen processing unit  140  is not required according to the measurement order information. 
     The transport controller  142  includes a processor and a memory. The transport controller  142  controls the transport device  141  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the sealing unit  130  and transport the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  one by one to the reading position P 4  and the aspiration position P 5 . The transport controller  142  controls the transport device  141  so as to transport, to the specimen processing unit  150 , the specimen rack  85  holding the specimen containers  80  having been subjected to specimen aspiration. 
     The specimen processing unit  150  aspirates, by using the aspiration tube  32 , the urine specimen  90  (see  FIG. 7 ) from the specimen container  80  received from the transport device  141  of the specimen processing unit  140 , and performs measurement on the aspirated urine specimen  90 . 
     The specimen processing unit  150  (see  FIG. 2 ) includes a transport device  151 , a transport controller  152 , a controller  153 , an information reader  154 , and a specimen processing device  155 . The hardware configurations of the transport device  151 , the information reader  154 , the controller  153 , and the transport controller  152  are similar to those of the specimen processing unit  140 . 
     The transport device  151  is configured to transport the specimen rack  85  between the specimen processing unit  140  and the second sealing unit  160 . The transport device  151  transports the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  to a reading position P 6  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the information reader  154  and to an aspiration position P 7  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the specimen processing device  155 . The reading position P 6  and the aspiration position P 7  are present on a first transport path  151   a . The specimen processing device  155  causes the aspiration tube  32  to penetrate through the film  75  of each specimen container  80  transported to the aspiration position P 7 , and aspirate the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80 . The specimen processing device  155  performs specimen processing on the urine specimen  90  aspirated by the aspiration tube  32 . 
     The transport device  151 , similar to the transport device  141 , includes the first transport path  151   a , a second transport path  151   b , a loading/storage part  151   c , and a sending/storage part  151   d . The second transport path  151   b  allows the transport device  151  to transport the specimen rack  85  from the specimen processing unit  140  to the collection unit  170  not through the specimen processing device  155 . The controller  153  acquires measurement order information from the host computer  500  on the basis of identification information read from the information reader  154 . On the basis of the measurement order information, the controller  153  controls the operation of the specimen processing device  155  so as to perform or so as not to perform specimen aspiration from each of the individual urine specimens  90  (individual specimen containers  80 ). As for a specimen container  80  having been subjected to specimen aspiration in the upstream-side specimen processing unit  140 , the film  75  thereof is again punctured by the aspiration tube  32  of the specimen processing device  155 . 
     The transport controller  152  controls the transport device  151  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the specimen processing unit  140  and transport the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  one by one to the reading position P 6  and the aspiration position P 7 . The transport controller  152  controls the transport device  151  so as to transport, to the second sealing unit  160 , the specimen rack  85  holding specimen containers  80  having been subjected to specimen aspiration or specimen containers  80  not to be subjected specimen processing. 
     The second sealing unit  160  is configured to re-seal, with a film  75 , the opening  81  of each specimen container  80  from which the urine specimen  90  has been aspirated. Thus, the specimen processing method of the present embodiment further includes a step of re-sealing, with a film  75 , an opening  81  of a specimen container  80  whose film  75  has been punctured by the aspiration tube  32  and from which a urine specimen  90  has been aspirated. The second sealing unit  160  performs the re-sealing process such that the previously attached film  75  is not removed from the specimen container  80  and is covered with the new film  75 . 
     Thus, even when the through-hole TH is formed by the aspiration tube  32  in the film  75  attached to the opening  81  before aspiration, the opening  81  can be re-sealed with the new film  75 , whereby release of odor of the urine specimen  90  to the outside of the specimen container  80  can be reduced more effectively. Moreover, since the opening  81  can be re-sealed with the film  75 , the specimen container  80  having been subjected to specimen aspiration can be preserved for a retest or the like. 
     The hardware configuration of the sealing unit  160  is similar to that of the upstream-side sealing unit  130 . The transport device  161  is configured to transport the specimen rack  85  between the specimen processing unit  150  and the collection unit  170 . Moreover, the transport device  161  transports the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  to a sealing position P 8  (see  FIG. 1 ) present on a transport path between the specimen processing unit  150  and the collection unit  170 . The controller  163  controls the operation of the sealing device  300  so as to seal the specimen containers  80  transported to the sealing position P 8  one by one. 
     The transport controller  162  controls the transport device  161  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the specimen processing unit  150  and transport the specimen containers  80  held in the specimen rack  85  one by one to the sealing position P 8  in the sealing device  300 . The transport controller  162  controls the transport device  161  so as to transport, to the collection unit  170 , the specimen rack  85  holding the specimen containers  80  having been subjected to the sealing process. 
     The collection unit  170  has a function of receiving the specimen containers  80  having been subjected to specimen processing by the specimen processing system  100 , and providing a storage place for the received specimen containers  80 . The collection unit  170  includes a transport device  171  and a transport controller  172 . The transport device  171  is configured to receive the specimen rack  85  from the sealing unit  160 , and transport the received specimen rack  85  to the storage position. The transport controller  172  includes a processor and a memory. The transport controller  172  controls a timing to receive the specimen rack  85  by the transport device  171 , and controls the transport device  171  so as to transport the received specimen rack  85  to the storage position. 
     (Configuration Example of Uncapping Unit) 
     With reference to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5B , the configuration example of the uncapping unit  120  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the uncapping device  124  of the uncapping unit  120  is roughly divided by function into a controller  123 , a container identification part  201 , a container holder  210 , and a cap holder  220 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the specimen rack  85  set in the loading unit  110  is placed at an outlet of the transport device  111 . When a state where the specimen rack  85  can be carried out from an outlet of the loading unit  110  and a state where the specimen rack  85  can be carried into an inlet of the uncapping unit  120  have been established, the specimen rack  85  is transversely carried out from the outlet of the loading unit  110  and is carried into the inlet of the uncapping unit  120 . 
     (Identification of Specimen Container) 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the uncapping device  124  includes a camera as the container identification part  201 . The container length, presence/absence of a cap  84 , the type of the cap  84  if any, and the like are identified by the container identification part  201  (see  FIG. 3 ) while the specimen rack  85  is intermittently transported in the transverse direction by the transport device  121  as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the controller  123  (see  FIG. 3 ) has determined that a specimen container  80  is a container to be uncapped, on the basis of the identification result of the container identification part  201 , this specimen container  80  is subjected to an uncapping process suitable for the type of the cap  84  thereof at the uncapping position P 2 . When the controller  123  has determined that a specimen container  80  is not a container to be uncapped, this specimen container  80  is not subjected to an uncapping process. 
     (Uncapping Process) 
     When the specimen container  80  to be uncapped is located at the uncapping position P 2  (see  FIG. 1 ), the transport controller  122  (see  FIG. 2 ) controls the transport device  121  so as to temporarily stop transport of the specimen rack  85 . The controller  123  (see  FIG. 3 ) controls the uncapping device  124  so as to perform the uncapping process on the specimen container  80 . 
     (Structure of Uncapping Device) 
     The container holder  210  includes hand members  211  for holding a specimen container  80 , an opening/closing drive part  212  for the hand members  211 , and an up-down drive part  213  for the hand members  211 . Specifically, a pair of hand members  211  are disposed opposing each other such that a specimen container  80  can be placed therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the opening/closing drive part  212  opens and closes the pair of hand members  211  with a pressure supplied from a pressure source  202 . The opening/closing drive part  212  causes the pair of hand members  211  to hold a specimen container  80  by moving them in a direction in which they approach each other. The opening/closing drive part  212  causes the pair of hand members  211  to release the specimen container  80  by moving them in a direction in which they move away from each other. The up-down drive part  213  is configured to move the pair of hand members  211  and the opening/closing drive part  212  along a rail  213   b  extending in the up-down direction (Z direction) in accordance with an operation of a motor  213   a.    
     The cap holder  220  (see  FIG. 3 ) includes hand members  221  for holding a cap  84 , an opening/closing drive part  222  for the hand members  221 , an up-down drive part  223  for the hand members  221 , a rotation drive part  224  for the hand members  221 , and a horizontal drive part  225  for the hand members  221 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a pair of hand members  221  are disposed opposing each other such that a cap  84  of a specimen container  80  can be placed therebetween. On the opposing side surfaces of the pair of hand members  221 , grip faces  221   a  for the cap  84  are formed. As shown in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , on each grip face  221   a , a plurality of acute projections  221   b  are formed upward (in a direction of pulling out the cap  84 ). As the cap  84 , a rubber cap, a resin cap, a rubber/resin composite cap (inside: rubber, outside: resin), or the like may be used. The projections  221   b  ensure high holding force of the cap  84  of any type. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the opening/closing drive part  222  opens and closes the pair of hand members  221  by means of pressure supplied from a pressure source  202 . The opening/closing drive part  222  causes the pair of hand members  221  to hold the cap  84  by moving them in a direction in which they approach each other. The opening/closing drive part  212  causes the pair of hand members  221  to release the cap  84  by moving them in a direction in which they move away from each other. The up-down drive part  223  holds the opening/closing drive part  222  via a spline shaft  224   e  extending in the up-down direction, and moves the pair of hand members  221  and the opening/closing drive part  222  in the up-down direction by changing the delivery amount of the spline shaft  224   e  in the up-down direction (Z direction) in accordance with an operation of the motor  223   a . The rotation drive part  224  causes a motor  224   a  to rotate a driving pulley  224   b  attached to an output shaft of the motor  224   a , thereby rotating, via a belt  224   c , a driven pulley  224   d  connected to the spline shaft  224   e . Thus, the rotation drive part  224  causes the opening/closing drive part  222  and the pair of hand members  221  which are held at a lower end of the spline shaft  224   e  to rotate around the center axis in the up-down direction. 
     The horizontal drive part  225  includes a holding member  225   a  which holds the hand members  221 , the opening/closing drive part  222 , the up-down drive part  223 , and the rotation drive part  224 , on a rail  225   b , movably in the horizontal direction. The rail  225   b  extends along the Y direction. The horizontal drive part  225  causes a motor  225   c  to rotate a driving pulley  225   d  attached to an output shaft of the motor  225   c , thereby rotating a belt  225   f  between the driving pulley  225   d  and a driven pulley  225   e . The holding member  225   a  is connected to the belt  225   f . Thus, the horizontal drive part  225  horizontally moves the pair of hand members  221  held by the holding member  225   a  to a position above the specimen container  80  held by the container holder  210  (i.e., a position immediately above the uncapping position P 2 ) and to a stand-by position P 2   a  off from the position above the specimen container  80 . A chute part  204  connected to a collection container  203  is disposed beneath the stand-by position P 2   a.    
     &lt;Uncapping Process&gt; 
     The controller  123  (see  FIG. 3 ) controls the uncapping device  124  configured as described above so as to operate as follows, thereby implementing an uncapping process. 
     In step S 11  shown in  FIG. 6 , the controller  123  controls the opening/closing drive part  212  (pressure source  202 ) so as to close the pair of hand members  211 . A specimen container  80  sent to the uncapping position P 2  is held by the pair of hand members  211 . 
     In step S 12 , the controller  123  controls the horizontal drive part  225  so as to move the pair of hand members  221  to the position above the uncapping position P 2 . 
     In step S 13 , the controller  123  controls the container holder  210  and the cap holder  220  so as to remove a cap  84  from the specimen container  80 . Firstly, the controller  123  controls the up-down drive part  213  so as to pull the specimen container  80  held by the hand members  211  upward from the specimen rack  85 . Moreover, the controller  123  controls the up-down drive part  223  so as to move the pair of hand members  221  downward such that the cap  84  is placed between the pair of hand members  221 . 
     Next, the controller  123  controls the opening/closing drive part  222  (pressure source  202 ) so as to close the pair of hand members  221 . The cap  84  of the specimen container  80  is held by the pair of hand members  221 . Next, the controller  123  controls the up-down drive part  223  and the rotation drive part  224  such that the pair of hand members  221  are moved upward while being rotated (see  FIG. 5A ). Thus, the cap  84  held by the pair of hand members  221  is removed upward from the specimen container  80 . 
     The controller  123  changes the rotation angle of the hand members  221  on the basis of the identification result of the container identification part  201 . According to the type of the cap  84  identified, the rotation angle is set to a predetermined angle, e.g., 450° for a screw-type cap  84 , 90° for a push-in type cap  84 , or the like. The pair of hand members  221  may be rotated while being closed, may be rotated in a reverse direction while being opened, and may be rotated again while being closed. This control is useful when the angle of rotation of the hand members  221  by the rotation drive part  224  is limited. The cap  84  can be rotated by an arbitrary angle by performing the rotation operation a plural number of times. 
     Thereafter, in step S 14 , the controller  123  controls the up-down drive part  213  so as to move the specimen container  80  held by the hand members  211  downward and return the specimen container  80  to the specimen rack  85 . Then, the controller  123  controls the opening/closing drive part  212  (pressure source  202 ) so as to open the pair of hand members  211 . Thus, holding of the uncapped specimen container  80  is released, and the specimen container  80  held by the pair of hand members  211  is returned to the specimen rack  85 . In this case, the controller  123  may control the amount of the downward movement of the pair of hand members  211  by the up-down drive part  213  so as to adjust the depth at which the specimen container  80  is inserted in the specimen rack  85 . This avoids peeling of the identification label  83  (see  FIG. 9 ) pasted to the specimen container  80 . 
     In step S 15 , the removed cap  84  is collected. The controller  123  controls the horizontal drive part  225  so as to move the pair of hand members  221  to the stand-by position P 2   a . The controller  123  controls the opening/closing drive part  222  (pressure source  202 ) so as to open the pair of hand members  221 . Then, the cap  84  held by the pair of hand members  221  falls downward from the stand-by position P 2   a  into the chute part  204 . The cap  84  is collected into the collection container  203  through the chute part  204 . When a predetermined number of caps  84  have been stored in the collection container  203 , the collection container  203  is removed by the user, and the caps  84  are discarded, or washed and reused. 
     (Configuration Example of Sealing Unit) 
     With reference to  FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 17 , a configuration example of the sealing unit  130  will be described. As described above, the configuration of the sealing unit  160  is similar to that of the sealing unit  130 . 
     (Seal) 
     A seal that the sealing unit  130  uses for sealing an opening  81  of a specimen container  80  is obtained by adhering a thin member made of a resin, a metal, or the like, to an edge of the opening  81  and a peripheral wall, near the edge, of the specimen container  80  through bonding, thermal welding, cohesion, or the like. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the seal (second seal) is the film  75 . In this specification, “film” means a thin film-like member, and represents a broad concept including “sheet”, “membrane”, and “foil”. As for the film  75  as the seal, a combination of a constituent material and a thicknesses thereof is limited within a range in which the aspiration tube  32  can puncture the film  75 . 
     Therefore, the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  can be easily sealed with the film  75  which can be easily punctured, and release of odor can be effectively reduced by the film  75 . Although a rubber cap is conceivable as a seal that can be punctured by the aspiration tube  32 , great force is required for puncturing through the rubber cap. The film  75 , which is sufficiently thinner than such a rubber cap, is preferable because it allows use of an aspiration mechanism having a simple structure. 
     Specifically, the film  75  is a stretchable resin film. The stretchable resin film has excellent sealability, and therefore can effectively reduce release of odor of a urine specimen from a specimen container. As the stretchable resin film, a film that is irreversibly stretchable and exhibits self-adhesiveness when being stretched is preferably used. 
     Thus, the film  75  can be stretched and adhered to the specimen container  80 . Therefore, it is possible to realize a sealing structure by which the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  can be easily sealed and the sealing is not easily released. 
     The stretchable resin film is a plastic paraffin film, for example. The thickness of the resin film is, for example, 1 mm or less, preferably 0.5 mm or less, and more preferably 0.2 mm or less. 
     (Sealing Device) 
     Each of the sealing unit  130  and the sealing unit  160  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the specimen processing system  100  of the present embodiment includes a sealing device  300  as shown in  FIGS. 7A to 7C . The sealing device  300  is a device for sealing an opening  81  of a specimen container  80  having the opening  81 . 
     A schematic configuration of the sealing device  300  of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in  FIG. 7A , the sealing device  300  includes a film holder  41 , a container holder  42 , an up-down drive part  43 , a rotation drive part  44 , and a controller ( 133 ,  163 ). 
     The film holder  41  is configured to hold a film  75  as a seal. The container holder  42  is configured to hold a specimen container  80  containing a urine specimen  90 . The up-down drive part  43  is configured to drive the film holder  41  in the up-down direction (Z direction). The rotation drive part  44  is configured to drive and rotate the film holder  41  around the center axis of the specimen container  80 . The up-down drive part  43  may drive the container holder  42  in the up-down direction, and the rotation drive part  44  may drive and rotate the container holder  42  around the center axis of the specimen container  80 . 
     The controller ( 133 ,  163 ) is configured to perform control of winding the film  75  held by the film holder  41  around the specimen container  80  by operating the rotation drive part  44  while the film  75  is pressed by the up-down drive part  43  against the opening edge of the specimen container  80  held by the container holder  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7B , the film  75  horizontally held by the film holder  41  is pressed from above against the opening edge at the upper end of the specimen container  80 . The opening edge of the specimen container  80  is located a little above the position where the film  75  is held, and a tension is applied to the film  75  by the specimen container  80 . The film  75  is stretched and protruded upward. Thus, the film  75  covering the opening  81  is pressed against and adhered to the opening edge. With the film  75  being stretched, the film holder  41  and the container holder  42  are relatively rotated around the center axis of the specimen container  80 . Thus, the film  75  adhered to the opening edge is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80 . As shown in  FIG. 7C , the film  75  is adhered to the opening edge of the specimen container  80  and to the outer peripheral surface, of the specimen container  80 , extending downward from the opening edge. As a result, the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is sealed with the film  75 . 
     (Effect of Sealing Device) 
     As described above, the sealing device  300  of the present embodiment is provided with the controller ( 133 ,  163 ) which performs control of winding the film  75  held by the film holder  41  around the specimen container  80  by operating the rotation drive part  44  while the film  75  is pressed against the opening edge of the specimen container  80  held by the container holder  42 . Thus, the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is sealed with the film  75 . Therefore, specimen aspiration can be performed by the aspiration tube  32  penetrating through the film  75  while the opening  81  is sealed with the film  75 . Therefore, release of odor can be reduced when the urine specimen is aspirated in the specimen processing. Although a hole is formed in a portion of the film  75  after the specimen aspiration, release of odor can be effectively reduced as compared to the case where the opening  81  is fully opened. 
     In the specimen processing method of the present embodiment, the step of sealing the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  with the seal includes: the step of stretching the film  75  by pressing the opening edge of the specimen container  80  against the film  75 ; and the step of winding the seal around the specimen container  80  by rotating the stretched film  75  around the center axis of the specimen container  80 . 
     Therefore, sealing can be performed such that the film  75  is wound around the opening edge and the side surface of the specimen container  80  after the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is sealed with the film  75 . As a result, the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  can be firmly sealed, thereby effectively preventing not only leakage of odor but also leakage of the urine specimen  90  when the specimen container  80  is tilted or the urine specimen  90  is agitated. 
     (Detailed Configuration of Sealing Device) 
       FIG. 8  to  FIG. 11  show the configuration of the sealing device  300  in detail. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the sealing device  300  is roughly divided by function into a controller  133 , a film piece supply mechanism  310 , a container holding mechanism  320 , a sealing mechanism  330 , and a film piece disposal mechanism  340 .  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  show an example of a configuration in which an up-down drive part  323  of the container holding mechanism  320  drives a container holder  321  in an up-down direction, and a rotation drive part  333  of the sealing mechanism  330  drives and rotates a film holder  331 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 11 , the sealing mechanism  330  is movable in the Y direction, and is moved to a film holding position P 11  (see  FIG. 10 ), a position P 12  above the sealing position P 3  (see  FIG. 11 ), and a film disposal position P 13  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     The film piece supply mechanism  310  is configured to hold a film roll FR (i.e., rolled film  75 ), and feed the film  75  to the film holder  331  disposed at the film holding position P 11  (see  FIG. 10 ). As shown in  FIG. 12A , the film piece supply mechanism  310  is disposed side by side, in the X direction, with the film holder  331  disposed at the film holding position P 11 . 
     The film piece supply mechanism  310  includes a film feeder  311  and a cutter mechanism  312 . As shown in  FIG. 12A , the film feeder  311  includes: a roll holder  311   a  which holds the film roll FR of the film  75  rotatably around a winding shaft thereof; a pair of feeding rollers  311   b ; and a roller drive part  311   c . The film  75  pulled out from the film roll FR is set to be sandwiched by the pair of feeding rollers  311   b . The pair of feeding rollers  311   b  has a function such that one roller, i.e., a driving roller, is driven and rotated by the roller drive part  311   c  while the other roller, i.e., a driven roller, presses the film  75  toward the driving roller side. As shown in  FIG. 12B , the roller drive part  311   c  rotates the driving roller by a predetermined amount, whereby the film  75  is fed out by the predetermined amount in the horizontal direction (X direction) from the pair of feeding rollers  311   b . The pair of feeding rollers  311   b  feeds out the film  75  to the film holder  331  disposed at the film holding position P 11 . 
     The cutter mechanism  312  cuts the film  75  fed out from the pair of feeding rollers  311   b  to separate the film  75  fed to the film holder  331  from the film roll FR. As shown in  FIGS. 12C to 12D , the cutter mechanism  312  includes: a cutter table  312   a  disposed beneath the film  75 ; a blade  312   b  disposed on the cutter table  312   a ; and a cutter drive part  312   c  which reciprocates the blade  312   b . For example, the cutter drive part  312   c , by means of pressure from the pressure source  301 , moves the blade  312   b  in the Y direction so as to cross the film  75  on the cutter table  312   a . Thus, the film  75  is cut. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the container holding mechanism  320  includes the container holder  321 , an opening/closing drive part  322 , and the up-down drive part  323 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the container holder  321  is disposed at the sealing position P 3  on the transport path of the transport device  131 . That is, when the film holder  331  is disposed at the position P 12  above the sealing position P 3 , the film holder  331  is located at a position immediately above the container holder  321 . The container holder  321  holds a specimen container  80  on the specimen rack  85  transported to the sealing position P 3 , and takes out the specimen container  80  from the specimen rack  85  or returns the specimen container  80  to the specimen rack  85 . 
     The container holder  321  is composed of a pair of hand members  321   a  for holding a specimen container  80 . The pair of hand members  321   a  are disposed opposing each other so that the specimen container  80  can be placed therebetween. The opening/closing drive part  322  (see  FIG. 8 ) opens and closes the pair of hand members  321   a . The opening/closing drive part  322  causes the pair of hand members  321   a  to hold the specimen container  80  by moving them in a direction in which they approach each other. The opening/closing drive part  322  causes the pair of hand members  321   a  to release the specimen container  80  by moving them in a direction in which they move away from each other. The up-down drive part  323  is configured to move the pair of hand members  321   a  in the up-down direction. 
     The sealing mechanism  330  (see  FIG. 8 ) includes a film holder  331 , an opening/closing drive part  332 , a rotation drive part  333 , and a horizontal drive part  334 . 
     The film holder  331  holds a film piece supplied from the film piece supply mechanism  310 . As shown in  FIG. 13A , the film holder  331  includes upper and lower members (first member  331   a , second member  331   b ) each having a space in a center portion thereof. The distance between these members is changeable. The distance between the lower first member  331   a  and the upper second member  331   b  is increased (see  FIG. 12B ), and the film  75  is supplied to the space between them. Then, the film  75  is sandwiched, at its periphery, by the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  by reducing the distance between the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  (see  FIG. 12C ), whereby the film  75  is held. The first member  331   a  has a through-hole  331   c  in a center portion thereof. The second member  331   b  has a recess  331   d  which is opened downward and is communicated with the through-hole  331   c  of the first member  331   a . The through-hole  331   c  and the recess  331   d  provide a center space in which an upper end portion of the specimen container  80  is to be inserted. 
     In the configuration example shown in  FIGS. 13A to 13E , the sealing device  300  includes a pressing part  335  which pushes the film  75  covering the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  into the opening  81 . Thus, the sealing process can be completed with the film  75  being pushed into the specimen container  80  by the pressing part  335  (see  FIG. 13C ). Depending on the urine specimen  90 , microorganisms in the specimen may generate a gas. Even in such a case, since the internal volume of the specimen container  80  sealed with the film  75  is reduced in advance, the portion of the film  75  pushed into the specimen container  80  is pushed and retreated, thereby preventing an increase in pressure inside the specimen container  80  due to the generated gas. As a result, sealing can be prevented from loosening due to an increase in pressure, and discharge of the gas when the film  75  is punctured can be reduced. 
     The pressing part  335  is disposed at the inner side of the recess  331   d  of the second member  331   b  so as to oppose the held film piece. The pressing part  335  has a shape protruding from the second member  331   b  toward the first member  331   a  (protruding downward). The pressing part  335  is formed of an elastic body, and is rotatably mounted to the second member  331   b . Examples of the elastic body include rubber, sponge, and elastomer. When the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is sealed (see  FIG. 13C ), the pressing part  335  is pressed against the opening edge. The pressing part  335 , against which the opening edge is pressed, elastically deforms and partially enters the opening  81  via the film  75 . As a result, the portion of the film  75  covering the opening  81  is pushed into the opening  81 , adheres to the inner surface of the opening  81 , and seals the opening  81 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the opening/closing drive part  332  of the sealing mechanism  330  (see  FIG. 8 ) opens and closes the film holder  331  by means of pressure from a pressure source  301 . The opening/closing drive part  332  causes the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  to hold the film piece by moving them in a direction in which they approach each other. The opening/closing drive part  332  causes the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  to release the film piece by moving them in a direction in which they move away from each other. In the configuration example shown in  FIG. 14 , the opening/closing drive part  332  moves the second member  331   b  in the up-down direction (Z direction) with respect to the first member  331   a.    
     The rotation drive part  333  causes a motor  333   a  to rotate a driving pulley  333   b  attached to an output shaft of the motor  333   a , thereby rotating, via a belt  333   c , a driven pulley  333   d  connected to the film holder  331 . Thus, the rotation drive part  333  causes the film holder  331  including the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  to rotate around a center axis of the specimen container  80  (i.e., a vertical axis along the Z direction). 
     The horizontal drive part  334  has a holding member  334   a  that holds the film holder  331  so as to be horizontally movable on a rail  334   b . The rail  334   b  extends along the Y direction. The horizontal drive part  334  causes a motor  334   c  to rotate a driving pulley  334   d  attached to an output shaft of the motor  334   c , thereby rotating a belt  334   e  between the driving pulley  334   d  and a driven pulley  334   f . The holding member  334   a  is connected to the belt  334   e . Thus, the horizontal drive part  334  horizontally moves the film holder  331  and the rotation drive part  333  held by the holding member  334   a  to the position P 12  above the specimen container  80  held by the container holder  321  (i.e., immediately above the sealing position P 3 ), the film holding position P 11 , and the film disposal position P 13 . 
     In the present embodiment, a portion, of the film  75  held by the film holder  331  (see  FIG. 13 ), which is wound around the specimen container  80  is separated from a residual portion of the film  75 . The residual portion of the film  75  is a portion sandwiched by the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b.    
     Specifically, the controller ( 133 ,  163 ) (see  FIG. 8 ) controls the rotation drive part  333  so as to operate until the film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  is separated from the portion held by the film holder  331 . 
     Thus, a tensile fracture of the film  75  is caused by rotation, and the film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  can be separated from the film holder  331 . As a result, both sealing of the opening  81  with the film  75  and removal of the residual portion of the sealed film  75  can be realized by rotation which is a simple operation. Since the excess film  75  is removed from the specimen container  80 , handling of the sealed specimen container  80  is facilitated. 
     Specifically, firstly, as shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B , the controller  133  (see  FIG. 8 ) controls the up-down drive part  323  so as to drive the container holding mechanism  320  (see  FIG. 11 ) such that an upper end portion of the specimen container  80  passes the through-hole  331   c  and moves above an upper surface of the first member  331   a . Thus, the film  75  is adhered to the opening edge of the specimen container  80  while the film  75  is pressed against the opening edge by its tension. The specimen container  80  is moved upward to a position where the opening edge presses and elastically deforms the pressing part  335 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13C , the controller  133  controls the rotation drive part  333  (see  FIG. 8 ) so as to rotate the film holder  331  such that the film  75  is wound around the specimen container  80  while the film  75  is in contact with the opening edge. Thus, the film  75  covering the opening  81  is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13D , the controller  133  further operates the rotation drive part  333  to rotate the film holder  331 . Due to the rotation, the film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  causes a tensile fracture between the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80  and the portion of the film  75  being held (the portion sandwiched by the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b ), and is separated from the portion thereof not wound around the specimen container  80 . As a result, only the portion, of the film piece held by the film holder  331 , which is wound around the specimen container  80  is attached to the specimen container  80  while the residual portion RP remains being held by the film holder  331 .  FIG. 15  shows a state where the opening  81  is sealed with the film  75  from which the residual portion RP has been separated. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 13E , the controller  133  controls the up-down drive part  323  (see  FIG. 8 ) such that the specimen container  80  is moved downward by the container holding mechanism  320  and returned to the specimen rack  85 . 
     As described above, in the configuration of separating the residual portion RP of the film  75  from the specimen container  80 , the residual portion RP (see  FIG. 13E ) is left on the film holder  331 . Therefore, the sealing device  300  shown in  FIG. 8  includes a film removal part  341  (see  FIG. 8 ) which removes, from the film holder  331 , the portion (residual portion RP), of the film  75 , which is held by the film holder  331 . 
     Thus, the residual portion RP, of the film  75 , which has been separated from the specimen container  80  and held on the film holder  331  side, can be removed by the film removal part  341 , whereby the subsequent sealing process can be readily performed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the film removal part  341  is included in the film piece disposal mechanism  340 . The film piece disposal mechanism  340  further includes a disposal part  345  in which the residual portion RP is discarded. The film piece disposal mechanism  340  removes the residual portion RP of the film  75  from the film holder  331  located at the film disposal position P 13 . 
     With the first member  331   a  of the film holder  331  being apart from the second member  331   b , the film removal part  341  catches a part of the residual portion RP of the film  75  and brings the residual portion RP to the disposal part  345 , thereby discarding the residual portion RP. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the film removal part  341  includes a pair of sandwiching members  342 , a sandwiching drive part  343 , and an up-down drive part  344 . The pair of sandwiching members  342  are arranged in the up-down direction, and the distance between them is changeable. In  FIG. 14 , of the pair of sandwiching members  342 , an upper member is fixed and a lower member is rotatable around a rotation shaft  343   a  disposed at an end thereof. The sandwiching drive part  343  is implemented by a motor which rotates the lower member of the pair of sandwiching members  342  around the rotation shaft  343   a  in the horizontal direction. The sandwiching drive part  343  reduces the distance between the upper member and the lower member such that the residual portion RP of the film  75  is sandwiched by the upper member and the lower member. The sandwiching drive part  343  increases the distance between the upper member and the lower member so as to release the residual portion RP from the pair of sandwiching members  342 . The up-down drive part  344  is implemented by an air cylinder, for example. The air cylinder includes a rod, and moves the pair of sandwiching members  342  and the sandwiching drive part  343  along a rail  344   a  extending in the up-down direction (Z direction) through advancement and retraction of the rod. The disposal part  345  is a disposal box having an open top, and is disposed beneath the pair of sandwiching members  342 . 
     In the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  of the film holder  331 , a cutout  336  is formed such that a part of the residual portion RP of the film  75  is exposed. When the film holder  331  is located at the film disposal position P 13  with the distance between the pair of sandwiching members  342  being increased, the residual portion RP of the film  75  exposed from the cutout  336  of the film holder  331  is placed between the pair of sandwiching members  342 . 
     At this time, the controller  133  controls the opening/closing drive part  332  so as to increase the distance between the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  such that holding by the film holder  331  is released, and controls the sandwiching drive part  343  so as to close the pair of sandwiching members  342  such that the film removal part  341  grasps the residual portion RP. Then, the controller  133  controls the up-down drive part  344  so as to move the pair of sandwiching members  342  downward to the disposal part  345 . When the pair of sandwiching members  342  sandwiching the residual portion RP moves downward, the residual portion RP is removed from the film holder  331 . Thereafter, the controller  133  controls the sandwiching drive part  343  so as to open the pair of sandwiching members  342  that has entered the disposal part  345 . Thus, the residual portion RP having been sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching members  342  is collected into the disposal part  345 . 
     &lt;Sealing Process&gt; 
     The operation flow of the above sealing process will be described with reference to  FIG. 16 . The controller  133  performs driving control for each driving source of each mechanism. 
     In step S 21 , the controller  133  performs control of causing the film piece supply mechanism  310  to supply the film  75  to the film holder  331 . The controller  133  controls the horizontal drive part  334  so as to locate the film holder  331  at the film holding position P 11 . The controller  133  controls the roller drive part  311   c  so as to feed the film  75  to a space between the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  of the film holder  331 . The controller  133  controls the cutter drive part  312   c  so as to cut the fed film  75  and separate the same from the film roll FR. 
     In step S 22 , the film  75  is held. The controller  133  controls the opening/closing drive part  322  such that the film  75  supplied from the film piece supply mechanism  310  is sandwiched by the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b.    
     In step S 23 , the specimen container  80  is held. The controller  133  controls the opening/closing drive part  322  such that the pair of hand members  321   a  holds a specimen container  80  in the specimen rack  85  transported to the sealing position P 3 . The controller  133  controls the horizontal drive part  334  so as to locate the film holder  331  to the position P 12  above the sealing position P 3 . The controller  133  controls the up-down drive part  323  such that the pair of hand members  321   a  holding the specimen container  80  is moved upward and placed in a space (corresponding to the through-hole  331   c  and the recess  331   d ) in the film holder  331 . Thus, the opening edge at the upper end of the specimen container  80  is adhered to the film  75 , and the film  75  is pushed into the opening  81  by the pressing part  335  (see  FIG. 13B ). 
     In step S 24 , the opening  81  is sealed. The controller  133  controls the rotation drive part  333  so as to rotate the film holder  331  such that the film  75  held by the film holder  331  is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80 . The controller  133  operates the rotation drive part  333  until the film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  is separated from the film  75  held by the film holder  331 . Thus, the specimen container  80  is sealed with the film  75 , and the film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  is separated from the residual portion RP of the film  75  held by the film holder  331  (see  FIG. 13D ). 
     In step S 25 , holding of the specimen container  80  is released. The controller  133  controls the up-down drive part  323  so as to move the pair of hand members  321   a  holding the specimen container  80  downward, and return the sealed specimen container  80  to the specimen rack  85 . The controller  133  controls the opening/closing drive part  322  so as to increase the distance between the pair of hand members  321   a , and release holding of the specimen container  80  by the pair of hand members  321   a . After the holding is released, the transport controller  132  controls the transport device  131  so as to transport the specimen rack  85  such that a specimen container  80  to be sealed next is located at the sealing position P 3 . 
     In step S 26 , the residual portion RP is discarded. The controller  133  controls the horizontal drive part  334  such that the film holder  331  holding the residual portion RP of the film  75  is located at the film disposal position P 13 . The controller  133  controls the opening/closing drive part  332  so as to increase the distance between the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b , and controls the sandwiching drive part  343  so as to close the pair of sandwiching members  342 . Thus, the residual portion RP of the film  75  is sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching members  342  of the film removal part  341 . The controller  133  controls the up-down drive part  344  so as to move the pair of sandwiching members  342  downward to the disposal part  345 . Thereafter, the controller  133  controls the sandwiching drive part  343  so as to open the pair of sandwiching members  342  which has entered the disposal part  345 . Thus, the residual portion RP of the film  75  having been sandwiched by the pair of sandwiching members  342  is collected into the disposal part  345 . 
     (Transport Control for Specimen Rack) 
     When all the specimen containers  80  to be sealed have been subjected to the sealing process, the specimen rack  85  is transported from the sealing unit  130  to the specimen processing unit  140  (see  FIG. 1 ). In the example shown in  FIG. 17 , the sealing unit  130  is configured such that a distance D 1  from an outlet of the sealing unit  130  to the sealing position P 3  is shorter than a length L 1  of the specimen rack  85 . In this case, the distance D 1  being reduced enables reduction in the width of the sealing unit  130  in the transport direction (X direction) of the specimen rack  85 . 
     For example, in  FIG. 17 , if the fourth specimen container  80 , from the head of the specimen rack  85  capable of holding ten specimen containers  80 , is located at the sealing position P 3 , the head of the specimen rack  85  enters the transport device  141  of the specimen processing unit  140 . 
     The transport device  141  of the specimen processing unit  140 , by using a movable member  401 , moves the received specimen rack  85  from the second transport path  141   b  having an inlet to the loading/storage part  141   c , and further moves the specimen rack  85  from the loading/storage part  141   c  to the first transport path  141   a . Since aspiration of the urine specimen  90  from each specimen container  80  (see  FIGS. 7A to 7C ) is performed at the aspiration position P 5  above the first transport path  141   a , one or more specimen racks  85  wait in the loading/storage part  141   c  when specimen processing is continuously performed. 
     Therefore, in the sealing process of the sealing unit  130 , if the specimen rack  85  enters the transport device  141  of the specimen processing unit  140 , the transport device  141  cannot transport the specimen rack  85  from the second transport path  141   b  to the loading/storage part  141   c  by using the movable member  401 . 
     In the present embodiment, the transport controller  132  of the sealing unit  130  is configured to perform control of transporting the specimen rack  85  such that the K-th and subsequent specimen holding positions from the head of the specimen rack  85  are transported to the sealing position P 3 , on the condition that the transport device  141  can receive the specimen rack  85 . The “K-th” indicates a specimen holding position that causes the head of the specimen rack  85  to enter the inlet of the transport device  141  if the K-th specimen holding position is located at the sealing position P 3 . The transport controller  132  is configured to perform control of suspending transport of the K-th and subsequent specimen holding positions from the head of the specimen rack  85  to the sealing position P 3  if the transport device  141  cannot receive the specimen rack  85 .  FIG. 17  shows a case where K=4, for example. 
     The state where the transport device  141  can receive the specimen rack  85  is the state where no specimen rack  85  is placed in the loading/storage part  141   c . The state where the transport device  141  cannot receive the specimen rack  85  is the state where a specimen rack  85  is placed in the loading/storage part  141   c . The transport controller  132  acquires the transport state of the specimen rack  85  in the transport device  141  from the transport controller  142  of the specimen processing unit  140 . The transport controller  132  inhibits transport of the K-th and subsequent specimen holding positions to the sealing position P 3  when a specimen rack  85  is placed in the loading/storage part  141   c  of the transport device  141 , and permits transport of the K-th and subsequent specimen holding positions to the sealing position P 3  when no specimen rack  85  is placed in the loading/storage part  141   c.    
     (Specimen Processing Device) 
     Next, the specimen processing devices included in the specimen processing unit  140  and the specimen processing unit  150  shown in  FIG. 2  will be described. 
     The specimen processing device  145  of the specimen processing unit  140  performs measurement related to a urine qualitative test. The urine qualitative test is a test for measuring chemical components in urine related to a laboratory test. As shown in  FIG. 18 , the specimen processing device  145  includes a measurement part  410  which performs measurement of a urine specimen by detecting a color of a test strip on which the urine specimen is applied. 
     The measurement part  410  applies the urine specimen to the test strip, and measures color reactions on the test strip, thereby measuring test item components contained in the urine specimen. The measurement part  410  feeds out a test strip from a test strip feeder  411  in which test strips are stored, to a predetermined test position inside the measurement part  410 . A specimen supply part  412  supplies a urine specimen  90  aspirated from a specimen container  80  by the aspiration tube  32 , to the test strip. The measurement part  410  irradiates the test strip with measurement light emitted from a light source  413 , and receives the measurement light by a color sensor  414  to measure color reactions on the test strip. Examples of measurement items include glucose, protein, bilirubin, and ph (hydrogen ion exponent). 
     The controller  143  of the specimen processing unit  140  controls the specimen processing device  145  such that, when the aspiration tube  32  aspirates the urine specimen  90 , agitation by aspiration is performed in the specimen container  80  by using the aspiration tube  32  which has penetrated through the film  75 . The agitation by aspiration is a process of agitating the urine specimen  90  through aspiration of the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80  and discharge of the aspirated urine specimen  90  into the specimen container  80 . The agitation by aspiration can reduce leakage of the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80  during agitation, as compared to, for example, agitation by inversion in which the urine specimen  90  is agitated by inverting the specimen container  80 . Therefore, the unpleasant feeling of the user due to odor of the urine specimen  90  can be effectively reduced. 
     The specimen processing device  155  of the specimen processing unit  150  performs measurement related to a urinary sediment test. The urinary sediment test is a test for measuring solid components (sediments) in urine, and classifying and counting the solid components. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the specimen processing device  155  includes a measurement part  420  which measures solid components in a urine specimen by a flow cytometry method. 
     The measurement part  420  includes a flow cytometer. In the measurement part  420 , a sample preparation part  421  prepares a measurement sample by using a reagent such as a staining liquid, from the urine specimen  90  aspirated from the specimen container  80  by the aspiration tube  32 . The controller  153  of the specimen processing unit  150  controls the specimen processing device  155  such that, when the urine specimen  90  is aspirated, agitation by aspiration is performed in the specimen container  80  by the aspiration tube  32  which has penetrated through the film  75 . Then, the sample preparation part  421  supplies the measurement sample to a flow cell  422 . The light source  423  irradiates the flow cell  422  with measurement light. A light receiver  424 , a light receiver  425 , and a light receiver  426  respectively measure forward scattered light, side scattered light, and fluorescence, of the measurement light, generated from solid components in the measurement sample that flows in the flow cell  422 . An optical system  427  including a lens, a spectrometer, etc., is disposed between the flow cell  422  and each of the light source  423 , the light receiver  424 , the light receiver  425 , and the light receiver  426 . The controller  153  counts and classifies the solid components by analyzing obtained light reception signals. Examples of the solid components include red blood cells, white blood cells, epithelial cells, casts, and bacteria contained in the urine specimen  90 . 
     (Controller) 
       FIG. 20  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a computer usable as a controller (controllers  113  to  163 ). The computer includes an arithmetic device  452 , a storage device  453 , an I/O interface  454 , and a communication interface  455  which are mutually connected via a bus  451 . The arithmetic device  452  is a processor. The storage device  453  includes a semiconductor storage element and/or a hard disk drive. The storage device  453  stores therein various kinds of programs for causing the computer to operate as the controller. The arithmetic device  452  performs commands included in the programs stored in the storage device  453  to cause the computer to function as the controller. The I/O interface  454  is an interface for connecting the computer with external equipment. The communication interface  455  is an interface through which the controller communicates with external devices including the host computer  500 . 
     The controller  143  of the specimen processing unit  140  and the controller  153  of the specimen processing unit  150  are configured to analyze data obtained from the corresponding specimen processing devices  145  and  155 , respectively. An input device  431  through which the user inputs various kinds of information to the computer and a display  432  on which the computer displays various kinds of information can be connected to the I/O interface  454  of each of the controller  143  and the controller  153 . The input device  431  and the display  432  may be built in the computer, or may be (externally) connected to the computer. For example, the input device  431  may be a keyboard, a mouse, a touch sensor, or the like. The display  432  is a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor. The display  432  may be a touch panel display integrated with a touch sensor as the input device  431 . 
     (Flow of Specimen Processing Method) 
     With reference to  FIG. 21 , a flow of a specimen processing method using the specimen processing system  100  will be described. As for the configuration of the specimen processing system  100 ,  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are referred to. 
     Firstly, a specimen rack  85  in which specimen containers  80  to be processed are set is placed in the loading unit  110  by the user. When the user has performed an input operation on a start button, specimen processing is started. 
     In step S 51 , a transport step for the specimen rack  85  is performed. The controller  113  of the loading unit  110  (see  FIG. 1 ) controls the information reader  114  so as to read identification information attached to each specimen container  80 . Moreover, the transport controller  112  controls the transport device  111  so as to sequentially transport a plurality of specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  to the reading position P 1 , and thereafter transport the specimen rack  85  to the uncapping unit  120 . 
     In step S 52 , an uncapping step is performed by the uncapping unit  120 . The transport controller  122  controls the transport device  121  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the loading unit  110  and sequentially transport the plurality specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  to the uncapping position P 2 . During the transport of the specimen containers  80  to the uncapping position P 2 , the controller  123  controls the container identification part  201  (see  FIG. 3 ) so as to identify a cap  84  of each specimen container  80 , and determines whether or not the specimen container  80  is a specimen container to be uncapped, on the basis of an identification result of the container identification part  201 . The controller  123  controls the uncapping device  124  so as to selectively perform an uncapping process at the uncapping position P 2  on the specimen container  80  to be uncapped. The transport controller  122  controls the transport device  121  so as to transport the specimen rack  85  to the sealing unit  130  after all the specimen containers  80  set in the specimen rack  85  have been subjected to the uncapping process. 
     In step S 53 , a sealing step is performed by the sealing unit  130  (see  FIG. 1 ). The transport controller  132  controls the transport device  131  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the uncapping unit  120  and sequentially transport the plurality of specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  to the sealing position P 3 . The control for transporting the specimen containers  80  to the sealing position P 3  is performed on the basis of a distance of each specimen container  80  to the sealing position P 3  and a feeding amount per pulse of a motor, when reception of the specimen rack  85  from the uncapping unit  120  to the sealing unit  130  has been detected. The controller  133  controls the sealing device  300  so as to perform the sealing process at the sealing position P 3 . The transport controller  132  controls the transport device  131  so as to transport the specimen rack  85  to the specimen processing device  145  when all the specimen containers  80  set in the specimen rack  85  have been subjected to the sealing process. 
     In step S 54 , a specimen processing step is performed by the specimen processing unit  140  and the specimen processing unit  150  (see  FIG. 1 ). Firstly, in the specimen processing unit  140 , the transport controller  142  controls the transport device  141  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the sealing unit  130  and transport the plurality of specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  from the second transport path  141   b  to the first transport path  141   a . The transport device  141  sequentially transports the plurality of specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  to the reading position P 4 , and thereafter sequentially transports the specimen containers  80  to the aspiration position P 5 . The controller  143  controls the information reader  144  so as to read identification information attached to each specimen container  80  at the reading position P 4 . On the basis of the read identification information, the controller  143  acquires, from the host computer  500 , a measurement order for the urine specimen  90  contained in each specimen container  80 . As for a specimen container  80  that is set as a test target according to the measurement order, the controller  143  causes the aspiration tube  32  to aspirate the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80  at the aspiration position P 5 . The controller  143  controls the specimen processing device  145  so as to perform a specimen measurement operation, and analyzes measurement data obtained from the specimen processing device  145 . The transport controller  142  controls the transport device  141  so as to transport the specimen rack  85  for which aspiration has been completed, from the first transport path  141   a  to the second transport path  141   b , and transport the specimen rack  85  from the second transport path  141   b  to the specimen processing unit  150 . 
     In the specimen processing unit  150 , the transport controller  152  controls the transport device  151  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the specimen processing unit  140  and transport the plurality of specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  from the second transport path  151   b  to the first transport path  151   a . The transport device  151  sequentially transports the plurality of specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  to the reading position P 6 , and thereafter sequentially transports the specimen containers  80  to the aspiration position P 7 . The controller  153  controls the information reader  154  so as to read the identification information attached to each specimen container  80  at the reading position P 6 . On the basis of the read identification information, the controller  153  acquires, from the host computer  500 , a measurement order for the urine specimen  90  contained in each specimen container  80 . As for a specimen container  80  that is set as a test target according to the measurement order, the controller  153  causes the aspiration tube  32  to sequentially aspirate the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80  at the aspiration position P 7 . The controller  153  controls the specimen processing device  155  so as to perform a specimen measurement operation, and analyzes measurement data obtained from the specimen processing device  155 . The transport controller  152  controls the transport device  151  so as to transport the specimen rack  85  for which aspiration has been completed, from the first transport path  151   a  to the second transport path  151   b , and transport the specimen rack  85  from the second transport path  151   b  to the second sealing unit  160 . 
     The specimen processing unit  150  performs specimen measurement not only when an order of a urinary sediment test has been registered in advance but also when an order of a urinary sediment test is registered on the basis of an analysis result of a urine qualitative test performed by the upstream-side specimen processing unit  140 . The controller  153  controls the operation of the specimen processing device  155  such that specimen aspiration is not performed on a specimen container  80  for which specimen processing (urinary sediment test) by the specimen processing unit  150  is not required according to measurement order information. 
     In step S 55 , a re-sealing step is performed by the second sealing unit  160 . The transport controller  162  controls the transport device  161  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the specimen processing unit  150 , and sequentially transport the plurality of specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85  to the sealing position P 8 . 
     In the present embodiment, the step of re-sealing a specimen container  80  is selectively performed on the basis of identification information. That is, the controller  163  acquires identification information having been read by at least one of the information reader  114 , the information reader  144 , and the information reader  154  through inter-device communication, and individually identifies the specimen containers  80  in the specimen rack  85 . The controller  163  is configured to control the second sealing unit  160  so as to selectively perform re-sealing on the specimen containers  80  on the basis of the read identification information. 
     Thus, sealing of the specimen containers  80  can be selectively performed in accordance with difference in processes to be performed on the urine specimens  90  having been subjected to specimen processing. For example, re-sealing is performed on a specimen container  80  whose urine specimen  90  is planned to be preserved or transferred to another department, while re-sealing is not performed on a specimen container  80  whose urine specimen  90  is to be discarded. 
     The controller  163  acquires, from the host computer  500 , information related to a process for a urine specimen  90  on the basis of identification information of the urine specimen  90 . For example, the controller  163  selects to perform re-sealing on a specimen container  80  that contains a urine specimen  90  to be preserved or transferred to another test department. For example, the controller  163  selects not to perform re-sealing on a specimen container  80  that contains a urine specimen  90  to be discarded. 
     The controller  163  controls the sealing mechanism (sealing device  300 ) so as to perform the sealing process at the sealing position P 8 . The transport controller  162  controls the transport device  161  so as to transport the specimen rack  85  to the collection unit  170  when the specimen containers  80  to be re-sealed, set in the specimen rack  85 , have been subjected to the sealing process. 
     In step S 56 , a collection step for the specimen rack  85  is performed. The transport controller  172  of the collection unit  170  controls the transport device  171  so as to receive the specimen rack  85  from the second sealing unit  160 , and transport the received specimen rack  85  to the storage position. 
     Thus, execution of the specimen processing method by the specimen processing system  100  is completed for one specimen rack  85 . When the user sets a plurality of specimen racks  85  in the loading unit  110 , the aforementioned steps are sequentially performed for each of the specimen racks  85 . 
     The specimen rack  85  transported to the storage position is collected by the user. The urine specimens  90  having been analyzed and collected are subjected to post-processing such as disposal or preservation, according to the test results or circumstances. For example, the user judges whether or not a specimen container  80  having been subjected to specimen analysis needs to be preserved for a retest or an additional test. A specimen container  80  whose urine specimen need not be preserved is transported to a disposal place and discarded by a predetermined method. A specimen container  80  whose urine specimen needs to be preserved for a predetermined period or transported to another department is preserved for the predetermined period at a predetermined place under a predetermined environment (refrigerating storage, or room-temperature storage in some cases). The user re-loads the preserved specimen container  80  to the specimen processing system  100  at a desired timing to perform a retest. Alternatively, the preserved specimen container  80  is subjected to another test in another test system. If abnormality is detected in a urine specimen  90  as a result of the analysis, this urine specimen  90  may be subjected to a bacteriological test for diagnosis of urinary tract infection. 
     (Modifications) 
     It should be noted that the embodiment disclosed herein is merely illustrative in all aspects and should not be considered as being restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is not defined by the description of the above embodiment but by the scope of the claims, and further includes meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims and all changes (modifications) within the scope of the claims. 
     For example, in the embodiment described above, one loading unit  110  is disposed. However, a plurality of loading units  110  may be disposed. In the loading unit  110 , all the specimen containers  80  have the caps  84  attached thereto. However, specimen containers  80  having caps  84  and specimen containers  80  having no caps  84  may coexist. 
     For example, in an example shown in  FIG. 22 , a specimen processing system  100  includes a first loading unit  601  and a second loading unit  603  each for receiving a specimen container  80 . A transport device  20  transports the specimen container  80  in the first loading unit  601  toward a specimen processing unit  604  through a sealing unit  602 , and transports the specimen container  80  in the second loading unit  603  to the specimen processing unit  604  not through the sealing unit  602 . In this example, the first loading unit  601 , the sealing unit  602 , the second loading unit  603 , and the specimen processing unit  604  are arranged in this order along the transport path of the transport device  20 . The sealing unit  602  seals the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  received from the first loading unit  601  with a seal  71 . 
     In the above configuration, when a specimen container  80  to be sealed and a specimen container  80  not to be sealed are present, the specimen container  80  to be sealed can be set in the first loading unit  601  while the specimen container  80  not to be sealed can be set in the second loading unit  603 . The specimen container  80  set in the first loading unit  601  can be sealed by the sealing unit  602  while the specimen container  80  set in the second loading unit  603  can be transported not through the sealing unit  602 , whereby specimen processing can be efficiently performed. 
     In examples shown in  FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24 , a specimen processing system  100  includes a third loading unit  611  and a fourth loading unit  612  each for receiving a specimen container  80 . A transport device  20  transports the specimen container  80  in the third loading unit  611  toward a specimen processing unit  615  through an uncapping unit  613 , and transports the specimen container  80  in the fourth loading unit  612  toward the sealing unit  614  or the specimen processing unit  615  not through the uncapping unit  613 . 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 23 , the specimen container  80 , in the third loading unit  611 , having the cap  84  attached thereto is transported to the uncapping unit  613 , the sealing unit  614 , and the specimen processing unit  615  in this order. The specimen container  80 , in the fourth loading unit  612 , whose opening  81  is opened is transported to the sealing unit  614  and the specimen processing unit  615  not through the uncapping unit  613 . Meanwhile, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 24 , a specimen container  80  sealed with a seal  71  in advance is placed in the fourth loading unit  612 . The specimen container  80  in the fourth loading unit  612  is transported to the specimen processing unit  615  not through the uncapping unit  613  and the sealing unit  614 . The specimen container  80 , in the third loading unit  611 , having the cap  84  attached thereto is transported to the uncapping unit  613 , the sealing unit  614 , and the specimen processing unit  615  in this order. 
     In the configuration examples shown in  FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24 , the specimen container  80  having the cap  84  attached thereto in advance can be set in the third loading unit  611  while the specimen container  80  that does not need removal of a cap  84  can be set in the fourth loading unit  612 . The cap  84  can be removed from the specimen container  80  set in the third loading unit  611  by the uncapping unit  613 , and the specimen container  80  set in the fourth loading unit  612  can be transported not through the uncapping unit  613 , whereby specimen processing can be efficiently performed. A fifth loading unit may be disposed between the uncapping unit  613  and the sealing unit  614 , in addition to the third loading unit  611  and the fourth loading unit  612 . 
     In an example shown in  FIG. 25 , a specimen processing system  100  includes a plurality of specimen processing units  622  and a plurality of second sealing units  623 . The plurality of second sealing units  623  perform re-sealing on specimen containers  80  having been subjected to aspiration in different specimen processing units  622 . In the example of  FIG. 25 , after a sealing unit  621 , one second sealing unit  623  is disposed immediately after each of two specimen processing units  622 . 
     Thus, specimen processing using one or a plurality of specimen processing units  622  can be performed for one specimen container  80 . Since the plurality of second sealing units  623  are disposed, a specimen container  80  having been subjected to specimen processing in any of the specimen processing units  622  can be re-sealed by any of the second sealing units  623 , whereby odor of the urine specimen  90  released from the specimen container  80  can be reduced. 
     Although the configuration example of the above embodiment includes the uncapping unit  120 , the uncapping unit  120  may be dispensed with as shown in  FIG. 26 . In this case, as for a specimen container  80  having a cap  84  attached thereto, the user may remove the cap  84  before loading the specimen container  80  into the specimen processing system  100 . In  FIG. 26 , the specimen processing system  100  is not provided with an uncapping unit  120  and a second sealing unit  160 , and a loading unit  110 , a sealing unit  130 , a specimen processing unit  140 , a specimen processing unit  150 , and a collection unit  170  are arranged in this order. In this case, after specimen processing performed by the specimen processing units  140  and  150 , the specimen rack  85  may be again transported to the sealing unit  130 , and an opening  81  of a specimen container  80  may be re-sealed with a film  75  through which the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate. The specimen processing system  100  may further include a film removal unit for removing the film  75  with which the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is sealed by the sealing unit  130 . A second sealing unit  160  may be disposed between the specimen processing unit  150  and the collection unit  170 . 
     In the above embodiment, an opening  81  of a specimen container  80  is sealed with a film  75  through which the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate, before the specimen is aspirated by the aspiration tube  32  in the specimen processing device  145 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In  FIG. 27 , no sealing unit  130  is disposed on the upstream side of a specimen processing unit  30 , and a loading unit  110 , an uncapping unit  120 , the specimen processing unit  30 , a sealing unit  10 , and a collection unit  170  are arranged in this order. Thus, the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  may be sealed, after specimen aspiration, with the seal  71  through which the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate, instead of sealing the opening  81  of the specimen container  80 , before specimen aspiration, with the film  75  through which the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate. 
     (Third Specimen Processing Method) 
     A third specimen processing method of the present embodiment is a method of processing a urine specimen  90  contained in a specimen container  80  having an opening  81  by using a specimen processing device  31  as shown in  FIG. 28 . The method includes (1) a step of aspirating the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80  containing the specimen by using an aspiration tube  32 , (2) a step of performing specimen processing on the aspirated urine specimen  90 , and (3) a step of sealing the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  from which the urine specimen  90  has been aspirated, with a seal  71  through which the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate. 
     In  FIG. 28 , in the step (1) of aspirating the urine specimen  90  from the specimen container  80  containing the specimen by using the aspiration tube  32 , the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is not sealed. The urine specimen  90  is aspirated from the specimen container  80 , whose opening  81  is not covered but is opened, by using the aspiration tube  32  of the specimen processing device  31 . 
     The step (2) of performing the specimen processing on the aspirated urine specimen  90  is performed by the specimen processing device  31 . The processing performed by the specimen processing device  31  is not particularly limited but can be specimen measurement similar to that of the above embodiment. 
     In the step (3) of sealing the opening  81  of the specimen container  80 , from which the urine specimen  90  has been aspirated, with the seal  71  through which the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate, the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is sealed with the seal  71  for the first time. The sealing process can be performed by the sealing unit  10 . The specimen container  80  having been subjected to specimen processing and sealed is subjected to post-processing such as disposal or preservation according to the test results, circumstances, or the like as described above. 
     According to the third specimen processing method, since the opening  81  is sealed with the seal  71  after aspiration of the urine specimen  90 , release of odor from the specimen container  80  can be reduced while the urine specimen  90  is preserved for a retest or the like. When the specimen container  80  sealed with the seal  71  is again subjected to specimen processing for a retest or the like, the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate through the seal  71  and aspirate the urine specimen  90 , which makes an uncapping operation unnecessary. Therefore, complication of uncapping and capping operations can be reduced. Moreover, even when an uncapping operation is performed on a specimen container  80  sealed with a cap, the removed cap need not be stored for recapping, thereby reducing complication of uncapping and capping operations. 
     (Selection of Sealing Method) 
     In the above embodiment, only one example has been described for the sealing method by the sealing device  300 . However, the specimen processing method of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a sealing method to be performed may be selected from among a plurality of sealing methods in the step of sealing a specimen container with a seal. 
     Thus, sealing of each specimen container  80  can be performed by a more appropriate sealing method. For example, different sealing methods can be selected according to the specimen type, whether it is a first test or a retest, the content of specimen processing, whether or not preservation is required, the transport destinations, or the like. For example, as for a specimen container  80  to be subjected to agitation by inversion, a sealing method capable of more reliable sealing can be selected. Moreover, different sealing patterns make it possible to discriminate specimen containers  80  by the appearances of the seals  71 . 
     In the above embodiment, the sealing method shown in  FIGS. 13A to 13E  is regarded as a first sealing method. A film  75  attached to a specimen container  80  by the first sealing method is obtained by winding the film  75  around a portion, of the specimen container  80 , from an opening edge to an upper part of an outer peripheral surface as shown in  FIG. 15 , and removing a residual portion RP of the film  75 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 29A to 29H , a flow of a second sealing method different from the first sealing method will be described. 
     (A) With a film  75  being held by the film holder  331 , an upper end portion of a specimen container  80  is pressed against the film  75  from below via the through-hole  331   c  of the first member  331   a . The film  75  is adhered to the opening edge and the opening  81  is covered with the film  75 . 
     (B) The film holder  331  is rotated at a rotation angle of about 240°. The film  75  is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80 . 
     (C) With the distance between the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  of the film holder  331  being increased, the film holder  331  is rotated at a rotation angle of about 120°. The film  75 , which has been sandwiched and adhered to the lower first member  331   a , is removed from the first member  331   a.    
     (D) The specimen container  80  held by the container holder  321  is moved downward. The specimen container  80  is moved downward until an outer peripheral portion of the film  75  is left on the first member  331   a  and a portion, of the film  75 , inside the outer peripheral portion is placed in the through-hole  331   c  of the first member  331   a.    
     (E) The distance between the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  is reduced, and the outer peripheral portion of the film  75  present on the first member  331   a  is sandwiched by the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b . Thus, in the second sealing method, the portion, of the film  75 , held by the film holder  331  is changed during sealing. 
     (F) The film holder  331  is rotated at a rotation angle of about 240°. The film  75  is wound upward such that it is folded back upward from a lower end of the portion already wound around the specimen container  80  through the first rotation, and is superposed on the already wound portion. On the upper side of the upper end portion of the specimen container  80 , a residual portion, of the film  75 , which is not wound around the specimen container  80  is twisted and bundled immediately above the opening  81 . 
     (G) With the distance between the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b  of the film holder  331  being increased, the film holder  331  is rotated at a rotation angle of about 120°. The outer peripheral portion, of the film  75 , which has been adhered to the lower first member  331   a  is removed from the first member  331   a.    
     (H) The specimen container  80  held by the container holder  321  is moved downward, and the specimen container  80  is returned to the specimen rack  85 . At this time, a bundle BD, of the residual portion of the film  75 , which is formed by the rotation passes through the through-hole  331   c  of the first member  331   a , whereby the bundle BD of the residual portion is shaped such that it does not spread in the horizontal direction but rises upward from the specimen container  80 . Thereafter, holding of the specimen container  80  by the container holder  321  is released. 
       FIG. 30  is a schematic diagram showing the film  75  attached to the specimen container  80  by the second sealing method. The film  75  is folded back and doubly closes the opening  81 , and the bundle BD of the residual portion of the film  75  is formed above the specimen container  80 . According to the second sealing method, since the residual portion of the film  75  is not separated, the film removal part  341  described in the above embodiment is not required. Since the bundle BD of the residual portion is compactly formed above the specimen container  80 , the residual portion of the film  75  does not hinder handling of the specimen container  80 . Since the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is doubly covered with the film  75 , sealing performance is enhanced and suitable for preservation. Even when the specimen container  80  is subjected to agitation by inversion, leakage of the urine specimen  90  can be effectively reduced. 
     For example, in the re-sealing process shown in step S 55  in  FIG. 21 , the controller  163  of the second sealing unit  160  selects a sealing method for a specimen container  80  on the basis of identification information having been read. On the basis of the identification information, the controller  163  controls the sealing device  300  so as to acquire, from the host computer  500 , information related to processing for a urine specimen  90  in the specimen container  80 , and perform re-sealing according to the first sealing method if the specimen container  80  needs to be subjected to a retest. The controller  163  controls the sealing device  300  so as to perform re-sealing on a specimen container  80  to be preserved in a predetermined place for a predetermined period, and a specimen container  80  to be transported to another test department. The controller  163  may be configured not to perform re-sealing on a specimen container  80  containing a urine specimen  90  to be discarded. 
     In the above embodiment, in the sealing device  300 , the rotation drive part  333  rotates the film holder  331 . However, the rotation drive part  333  may rotate the container holder  321 , or the rotation drive part  333  may rotate both the film holder  331  and the container holder  321 . 
     In the above embodiment, in the sealing device  300 , the rotation drive part  333  is operated until the film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  is separated from the portion of the film  75  held by the film holder  331 , whereby the portion of the film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  is separated from the residual portion RP of the film  75 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The film  75  wound around the specimen container  80  may be left as it is. That is, after the film  75  has been wound around the specimen container  80  as shown in  FIG. 13C , holding of the film  75  may be released without performing the operations in  FIG. 13D  and  FIG. 13E . In this case, the film  75  covering the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  has a peripheral edge portion (corresponding to the residual portion RP). In this case, since the residual portion RP is not left on the film holder  331 , the film removal part  341  can be dispensed with. 
     In the above embodiment, the up-down drive part  323  drives the container holder  321  in the up-down direction. However, the up-down drive part  323  may drive the film holder  331  in the up-down direction, or may drive both the container holder  321  and the film holder  331  in the up-down direction. 
     In the above embodiment, the cutter mechanism  312  separates the film  75  from the film roll FR. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Instead of the cutter mechanism  312 , the following configuration may be adopted. That is, lines of perforations (continuous small holes which transverse the film  75 ) are formed in the film  75  at regular intervals. After the film  75  is sandwiched by the film holder  331 , the film holder  331  is rotated to apply horizontal force to the film  75 , thereby cutting the film  75  along the perforations. 
     In the above embodiment, a specimen container  80  is held by the container holder  321 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, when the sealing device  300  is configured as a single device, the user may manually hold a specimen container  80  to be sealed, instead of the container holder  321 . 
     In the above embodiment, the film  75  is wound around a specimen container  80  by relatively rotating the film  75  and the specimen container  80  with the film  75  being in contact with the opening edge of the specimen container  80 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As shown in  FIG. 31 , the film  75  may be adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80  without relatively rotating the film  75  and the specimen container  80 . In the example of  FIG. 31 , the sealing device  300  is provided with an adhesion processing part  631  having a recess  632  into which the upper end portion of the specimen container  80  can be fitted. With the film  75  being in contact with the opening edge of the specimen container  80 , the upper end portion of the specimen container  80  is fitted in the recess  632  of the adhesion processing part  631  together with the film  75  covering the opening  81 . The film  75  is sandwiched between the opening edge (upper end surface) of the specimen container  80  and a bottom surface of the recess  632 , and is adhered to the opening edge. A portion, of the film  75 , on the outer peripheral side of the opening edge is sandwiched between the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80  and an inner peripheral surface of the recess  632 , and is adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the specimen container  80 . In this state, holding of the film  75  by the film holder  331  is released. The film  75  around the adhesion processing part  631  may be cut off. Thereafter, the specimen container  80  is moved to the outside of the recess  632  of the adhesion processing part  631 , whereby sealing of the opening  81  is completed. 
     In the above embodiment, the film holder  331  sandwiches the film  75  by using the first member  331   a  and the second member  331   b . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As shown in  FIG. 32 , the film holder  331  may hold the film  75  by sucking the film  75 . In the example of  FIG. 32 , the film holder  331  holds the film  75  by using the adhesion processing part  631 . A negative pressure is supplied from a pressure source  634  through a pressure passage  633  formed at the bottom surface of the recess  632  of the adhesion processing part  631 , whereby the film  75  is sucked and held on a lower surface of the adhesion processing part  631  (a lower opening of the recess  632 ). The method for sealing the opening  81  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 31 . 
     In the above embodiment, the protruding pressing part  335  disposed in the film holder  331  pushes the film  75  into an opening  81  of a specimen container  80 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As shown in  FIG. 33 , the pressing part  335  may be configured to push the film  75  into the opening  81  by means of pressure. In the example of  FIG. 33 , the film holder  331  holds the film  75  by using the adhesion processing part  631 . While the film  75  is held by means of negative pressure supplied into the recess  632  of the adhesion processing part  631 , the upper end portion of the specimen container  80  is fitted into the recess  632  of the adhesion processing part  631  together with the film  75  covering the opening  81 . While the upper end portion (opening edge) of the specimen container  80  is in contact with the bottom surface of the recess  632 , the pressure source  634  supplies positive pressure through the pressure passage  633 . A portion, of the film  75 , covering the opening  81  is pushed into the opening  81  by the pressure supplied from the pressure source  634  to the bottom surface of the recess  632 . 
     In the above embodiment, the specimen containers  80  are subjected to the sealing process one by one. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The openings  81  of a plurality of specimen containers  80  may be collectively sealed through one sealing process. In the example of  FIG. 34 , while the opening edges of a plurality of (five in  FIG. 34 ) specimen containers  80  are in contact with the lower surface of the film  75  held by the film holder  331 , the upper surface of the film  75  is pressed against the opening edges of the specimen containers  80  by using a roller-like pressing member  640 . The pressing member  640  is moved in an array direction of the plurality of specimen containers  80 , whereby the film  75  is adhered to each of the opening edges of the respective specimen containers  80 . In this state, holding of the film  75  by the film holder  331  is released. Thus, the openings  81  of the plurality of specimen containers  80  are collectively sealed with the film  75 . Alternatively, the adhesion processing part  631  shown in any of  FIGS. 31 to 33  may be provided with a plurality of recesses  632  so that a plurality of specimen containers  80  can be collectively sealed. Instead of the plurality of recesses  632 , a groove-like recess  632  may be formed. In this case, a plurality of specimen containers  80  arrayed in a line may be fitted in the groove-like recess  632 , and the plurality of specimen containers  80  may be collectively sealed. 
     In the above embodiment, the seal (second seal) is the film  75 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The seal may have a cap-like structure in which, for example, an upper end surface of an annular peripheral wall member formed of a hard resin or the like is covered with a film or a thin member through which the aspiration tube  32  can penetrate. 
     The specimen containers  80  shown in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , etc., have the same shape. However, the specimen containers  80  may have different lengths (heights). The sealing device  300  may be provided with a detector for detecting specimen containers  80  in order to accurately perform a sealing process on each of the specimen containers  80  having different lengths. For example, in the example of  FIG. 35A , the sealing device  300  includes a detector  460 . The detector  460  is a transmission type optical sensor, and includes a light emitter  461  and a light receiver  462 . The light emitter  461  and the light receiver  462  are located at a height position between a specimen container  80  held in the specimen rack  85  and the film holder  331 . The controller  133  causes the up-down drive part  323  of the container holding mechanism  320  to move the specimen container  80  upward, and receives a detection signal from the detector  460  when the upper end of the specimen container  80  is located at a detection position (on an optical path between the light emitter  461  and the light receiver  462 , indicated by a broken line). Upon receiving the detection signal, the controller  133  controls the up-down drive part  323  so as to move the specimen container  80  upward from the detection position by a predetermined distance D 2 , as shown in  FIG. 35B . When the specimen container  80  has been moved upward by the distance D 2 , the upper end of the specimen container  80  elastically deforms the pressing part  335  while stretching the film  75 . With this configuration, the specimen container  80  can be moved upward with respect to the position of the upper end thereof, whereby the upper end of the specimen container  80  can be reliably located at an appropriate sealing position, regardless of the length of the specimen container  80 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 36A , a moving member  471  and a detector  472  are disposed inside the film holder  331 . The moving member  471  is movable in the up-down direction when being pushed upward by the upper end of a specimen container  80 . The detector  472  detects that the moving member  471  has reached a predetermined position. When the specimen container  80  held by the container holder  321  moves upward, the upper end of the specimen container  80  comes into contact with the film  75  and thereafter comes into contact with the moving member  471  via the film  75 . As the specimen container  80  continues moving upward, the moving member  471  is moved upward while stretching the film  75 . As shown in  FIG. 36B , when the specimen container  80  reaches an appropriate position for the sealing process, the moving member  471  is detected by the detector  472 . In  FIGS. 36A and 36B , the detector  472  is a photo-interrupter, and detects a detection piece disposed on the moving member  471 . Upon receiving the detection signal from the detector  472 , the controller  133  controls the up-down drive part  323  so as to stop the upward movement of the specimen container  80 . When the specimen container  80  is moved downward after the sealing process, the moving member  471  is returned to the initial position (see  FIG. 36A ) by an urging force of an urging member  473 . This configuration also allows the upper end of the specimen container  80  to be reliably located at the sealing position, regardless of the length of the specimen container  80 . 
     (Configuration of Specimen Processing System) 
     In the above embodiment, the specimen processing system  100  including two specimen processing units, i.e., the specimen processing unit  140  and the specimen processing unit  150 , has been described. However, the specimen processing system  100  may include one specimen processing unit as shown in  FIGS. 22 to 24, 27  and the like, or may include three or more specimen processing units. For example, a specimen processing system may be provided with three specimen processing units including: a specimen processing unit for performing a urine qualitative test; a specimen processing unit for performing a urinary sediment test; and a specimen processing unit for capturing an image of cells in urine. A plurality of specimen processing devices may be included in one specimen processing unit. For example, one specimen processing unit may include: a specimen processing device  145  for performing a urine qualitative test; and a specimen processing device  155  for performing a urinary sediment test. 
     In the above embodiment, the transport device  20  (transport devices  111  to  171 ) transports the specimen rack  85  holding the specimen containers  80 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The transport device  20  may directly transport the specimen containers  80  one by one without using the specimen rack  85 . 
     In the above embodiment, the transport device  20  (transport devices  111  to  171 ) is configured to be able to transport the specimen rack  85  holding the specimen containers  80  from the loading unit  110  to the collection unit  170 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present disclosure, the transport device  20  may be configured to be able to transport the specimen rack  85  between some of the units. 
     In the above embodiment, the specimen containers  80  are transported by the transport device  20 . However, an operator may manually transport a specimen container  80  to the position of the sealing device  300  (sealing unit  10 ) or the position of the aspiration tube  32  of the specimen processing device. For example, in a case where a specimen processing unit and a sealing unit are not connected to each other but are installed as separate and independent devices, the operator may transport a specimen container  80  to a sealing device for a sealing process, and may transport the sealed specimen container  80  to the specimen processing unit for specimen aspiration and specimen processing. 
     In the above embodiment, the aspiration tube  32  of the specimen processing device penetrates through the seal (film  75 ). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present disclosure, a puncture member for forming a through-hole TH may be provided separately from the aspiration tube  32 , and this puncture member may penetrate through the seal (film). 
     (Fourth Specimen Processing Method) 
     That is, a fourth specimen processing method of the present embodiment is a method of processing a urine specimen  90  contained in a specimen container  80  having an opening  81 , by using a specimen processing device. The method includes (1) a step of sealing, with a seal, the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  containing the urine specimen  90 , (2) a step of forming, by using a puncture member of the specimen processing device, a through-hole TH in the seal with which the specimen container is sealed, (3) a step of aspirating, by using an aspiration tube  32 , the urine specimen  90  in the specimen container  80  via the through-hole TH, and (4) a step of performing specimen processing on the aspirated urine specimen  90 . 
     As the puncture member, a known needle member may be used. The puncture member forms the through-hole TH in a part of the seal, and the aspiration tube  32  is inserted into the specimen container  80  through the through-hole TH, whereby the urine specimen  90  is aspirated. The outer diameter (diameter) of the puncture member may be sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of the opening  81  because the through-hole TH is only required to let the aspiration tube  32  pass through it. 
     Thus, the urine specimen  90  can be aspirated through the through-hole TH while the opening  81  of the specimen container  80  is sealed with the seal. Therefore, release of odor can be reduced when the urine specimen  90  is aspirated during the specimen processing. After aspiration of the urine specimen  90 , the through-hole TH is left in a part of the seal. However, since the through-hole TH formed in the seal is sufficiently smaller than the opening  81  of the specimen container  80 , release of odor can be effectively reduced as compared to the case where the opening  81  is fully opened.