Patent ID: 7625760

Claim:
A method of analyzing a sample comprising the steps of: feeding a reagent dissolving liquid from a reagent dissolving liquid storing reservoir in an analyzing cartridge in which said reagent dissolving liquid for dissolving a reagent is stored to a reagent storing reservoir in said analyzing cartridge in which a reagent for use in the analysis is stored through capillaries connected for communication between these reservoirs, at least one of said reservoirs having an opening leading to the outside of the analyzing cartridge, at least one of the reservoirs having an opening being covered with a gas-permeable/non-liquid-permeable vent, the reagent being located in at least one of said reservoirs having an opening covered with a vent; dissolving a non-fluid reagent located in said reagent storing reservoir, in said reagent dissolving liquid in said reagent storing reservoir when a portion pack containing the reagent dissolving liquid and made of aluminum coated polyethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate or polymethylpentene sheet material is broken to introduce the reagent dissolving liquid into the reagent dissolving liquid storing reservoir which liquid is then fed to the reagent storing reservoir to prepare a reagent solution in the analyzing cartridge immediately before analysis is carried out; introducing a sample into said reagent solution in said reagent storing reservoir; and carrying out an analysis of said sample in said reagent solution in said reagent storing reservoir; wherein the portion pack is broken with a pin for breaking the portion pack that is provided with the portion pack or is broken with pressure caused by pressing over the vent to discharge reagent dissolving liquid contained in the portion pack when the portion pack is located in the analyzing cartridge with a part thereof covered by the vent.