Automatic analysis device and separation and washing method

An automatic analysis device that analyzes an intended substance contained in a sample using a reagent containing magnetic particles, the device comprising:

• a vessel transport portion in which vessels are disposed, the vessel transport portion transporting the vessels along a path, each of the vessels holding a liquid sample containing the sample and the reagent containing the magnetic particles;
• a first magnetic generation part disposed on the path and including at least one pair of preliminary-magnetic-collection magnets that magnetically collect the magnetic particles in the liquid sample inside each of the vessels that has been transported to a magnetic collection position of the first magnetic generation part, the pair of preliminary-magnetic-collection magnets being arranged opposite to each other with the vessels interposed therebetween;
• a second magnetic generation part disposed on the path downstream from the first magnetic generation part, the second magnetic generation part including at least one pair of main-magnetic-collection magnets that magnetically collect the magnetic particles in the liquid sample that have been magnetically collected by the first magnetic generation part, the liquid sample being held inside each vessel that has been transported to a magnetic collection position of the second magnetic generation part, and the pair of main-magnetic-collection magnets being arranged opposite to each other with the vessels interposed therebetween;
• a separation and washing portion that separates a component containing the magnetic particles and that washes an inside of each vessel while the magnetic particles are magnetically collected inside the vessel by the second magnetic generation part;
• and
• a luminescence measurement part that measures, using photon counting, light emission phenomena caused by an immune complex and a chemiluminescent substrate,
• wherein a surface of the preliminary-magnetic-collection magnet of the first magnetic generation part facing the vessels has a width in a vessel transport direction that is as long as to cover an area corresponding to a liquid sample volume in the vessels that have been transported to the magnetic collection position of the first magnetic generation part, and a surface of the main-magnetic-collection magnet of the second magnetic generation part facing the vessels has an end in the vessel transport direction that corresponds substantially to a center of the area corresponding to the liquid sample volume in the vessels that have been transported to the magnetic collection position of the second magnetic generation part,
• wherein the first magnetic generation part includes a first pair of a first magnet and a second magnet for use as the at least one preliminary-magnetic-collection magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged so as to face each other vertically and each have a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole arranged in a direction that is horizontal and that is perpendicular to the vessel transport direction, and the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnet and the first and second magnetic poles of the second magnet are arranged opposite to one another in the direction that is horizontal and that is perpendicular to the vessel transport direction, and
• wherein the second magnetic generation part includes a first pair of a third magnet and a fourth magnet for use as the at least one main-magnetic-collection magnet, the third magnet and the fourth magnet are arranged so as to face each other vertically and each have a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole arranged in a direction that is horizontal and that is perpendicular to the vessel transport direction, and the first and second magnetic poles of the third magnet and the first and second magnetic poles of the fourth magnet are arranged opposite to one another in the direction that is horizontal and that is perpendicular to the vessel transport direction.