Patent ID: 7662631

Claim:
A sample analyzer for analyzing a sample, comprising: a sample preparation unit comprising a pipette, and configured for preparing a diluted sample for measurement by diluting the sample supplied by the pipette; a solution container holder for holding a solution container comprising an acidic solution used for the diluting of the sample by the sample preparation unit and for washing the pipette; a detection unit for obtaining a detection signal from the diluted sample prepared by the sample preparation unit; a controller in communication with the detection unit and the sample preparation unit and configured for obtaining an analysis result from the detection signal obtained by the detection unit; and a washing solution supplier for supplying a washing solution having a pH that is higher than a pH of the acidic solution; wherein the sample preparation unit prepares the diluted sample by diluting the sample supplied by the pipette with the acidic solution suctioned from the solution container, and washes inside of the pipette by suctioning the acidic solution into the pipette from the solution container when the analysis result is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; and wherein the washing solution supplier washes outside of the pipette by supplying the washing solution.