Preprocessing kit, preprocessing apparatus using said preprocessing kit to preprocess sample, and analysis system provided with said preprocessing apparatus

A preprocessing apparatus comprising:

• a preprocessing kit comprising:
• a cylindrical separation device having an internal space which is upwardly open, the cylindrical separation device including a separation layer which allows a sample to penetrate and separates a specific component in the sample from the sample, in the internal space, and including an extraction outlet for extracting the sample penetrating the separation layer, in a lower end;
• a collecting container having an opening which is upwardly open, and is attachable to and detachable from the separation device by insertion of a lower portion of the separation device into the opening, the collecting container having an internal space in which the sample extracted to be provided from the extraction outlet of the separation device is collected, and the collecting container being fitted into a recess part forming a filtration port for performing extraction processing on a sample with the lower end of the separation device being contained in the internal space;
• and
• a skirt part which is integrated with the separation device and is provided so as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the separation device with a clearance being left from the outer circumferential surface so that a space having a closed upper side and an open lower side is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the separation device and the skirt part, the skirt part being provided in such a way that a lower end of the skirt part comes into intimate contact with a peripheral surface of an opening of the recess part when the collecting container containing the lower end of the separation device is fitted into the recess part;
• a carrying mechanism which includes a holding part holding the separation device and/or collecting container of the preprocessing kit, and moves the holding part, to carry the separation device and/or the collecting container;
• a filtration part having an inner diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the collecting container, the filtration part including at least one filtration port which includes a recess part in which the collecting container containing a lower end of the separation device is contained with a clearance being left from an outer circumferential surface of the collecting container, in a position along a track of the holding part, and including a pressure applying part which causes a negative pressure to be maintained in the at least one filtration port where the preprocessing kit is set;
• a dispensation port for setting the separation device to which a sample or a reagent is to be dispensed;
• a stirring port which holds the separation device containing the sample or the reagent, and causes the separation device to periodically move in a horizontal plane so that stirring occurs in the separation device, wherein
• the dispensation port and the stirring port are provided in positions along a circumferential track which is made by the holding part along with the rotations of the carrying arm;
• and
• a controller which controls operations of the carrying mechanism and the pressure applying part, the controller including a preprocessing means which is configured to set the separation device containing a sample to be subjected to filtration processing and the collecting container for collecting an extracted sample provided from the separation device in the filtration port, and to perform extraction processing on a sample in the filtration port while causing a negative pressure to be maintained in the filtration port.