Patent ID: 8194235

Claim:
A sample analyzer, comprising: an imaging device for imaging a sample container which has translucency and contains a sample; a measuring device for aspirating the sample contained in the sample container and measuring the aspirated sample; a transporting device for transporting the sample container to a supply position for supplying the sample contained in the sample container to the measuring device, wherein the transporting device is capable of transporting the sample container in a transport path which includes the supply position; and a controller for performing operations comprising obtaining sample volume information relating to volume of the sample in the sample container, based on an image obtained by imaging the sample container by the imaging device, obtaining sample volume information relating to necessary volume of the sample for the measurement by the measuring device, and performing a first transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a first relationship, and performing a second transport control operation for controlling the transporting device so as to transport the sample container via the supply position such that the sample in the sample container is not supplied to the measuring device when the volume of the sample in the sample container and the necessary volume of the sample are in a second relationship different from the first relationship.