Patent ID: 8409507

Claim:
An automatic analyzer comprising: reagent amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of a reagent; and control means configured to perform control such that when said reagent amount detecting means has detected that the remaining amount of any one of a plurality of reagents has fallen to a predetermined threshold value or less, an analysis device using that reagent stops specimen sampling and assumes a standby state after finishing an analysis of its current specimen sample, wherein, when the reagent amount detecting means has detected that the remaining amount of any one of the reagents has fallen to a predetermined threshold value or less, the control means is configured to perform a first step of control where an analysis device using that reagent stops specimen sampling and assumes a standby state from an operation state after finishing an analysis of a current specimen sample, and to perform second step of control where a part of processing including one of probe washing and reaction cup abandonment performed before the analysis device has changed to the standby state from the operation state is omitted, and wherein, when the reagent for which said reagent amount detecting means has detected that the remaining amount has fallen to a predetermined threshold value or less has been replenished such that the amount of the reagent exceeds the predetermined threshold value, said control means is configured to perform a third step of control where, when said analysis device changes to the operation state from the standby state, a part of processing including one of probe washing and reaction cup abandonment performed before the analysis device changes to the operation state from the standby state is omitted.