Patent ID: 7425303

Claim:
An automatic analyzer, including: a reagent vessel for containing a reagent; a pipette probe that has a liquid surface detection function and dispenses a reagent from said reagent vessel; a reaction vessel for containing a reagent that is dispensed from said pipette probe; an analysis mechanism for measuring a reaction between a reagent and a sample within said reaction vessel; a storage means for memorizing liquid surface position information that is acquired by said liquid surface detection function; a liquid surface estimation mechanism for estimating the current liquid surface height derived from an approximate formula curve based on liquid surface height changes that occur during a period of the first several tens of tests for analysis; and a controller for controlling a dispensing operation of said pipette probe in accordance with the result of liquid surface estimation by said liquid surface estimation mechanism, further comprising a mechanism for automatically adjusting the liquid surface estimation result estimated by said liquid surface estimation mechanism based on an amount of a carryover that remains on the outer circumferential surface of said pipette probe.