Patent ID: 8911685

Claim:
An automated analyzer comprising: a plurality of reagent containers that accommodate a reagent; a plurality of reaction containers that accommodate an analysis item to be analyzed, which includes the reagent and a sample, both the reagent and the sample are dispensed into the plurality of reaction containers; a probe that pipettes the reagent from the reagent container; information transmission means that transmits information about the reagent which is provided on the reagent container; information reading means that reads the reagent information from the information transmission means; a reagent container transport mechanism that mounts the plurality of the reagent containers, and transports the reagent and containers; a control mechanism that operationally controls the reagent container transport mechanism in units of a predetermined constant cycle time; and a photometer configured to measure an absorbance value of the analysis item in the plurality of reaction containers; the automated analyzer further comprising: a liquid-level detection mechanism provided in at least one of reagent container stopping positions on the reagent container transport mechanism, and configured to detect a liquid level of the reagent accommodated in the reagent container; wherein, the control mechanism is configured to transport using at least two successive cycles, one of the plurality of reagent containers that is to be subjected to detection of the liquid level of the reagent to the at least one reagent container stopping positions at which the liquid-level detection mechanism is provided, and measure a liquid volume of the reagent in the reagent container by the liquid-level detection mechanism; wherein, the control mechanism is configured to, determine an insertion depth of the probe below a liquid level on the basis of the measured liquid volume and a suction quantity of the reagent; wherein, the control mechanism is configured to analyze the analysis item on the basis of the absorbance value measured by the photometer; and wherein, the moving distance of the reagent container in the last cycle of the at least two successive cycles is equivalent to a rotational moving distance corresponding to one reagent container in the reagent container transport mechanism.