Measuring apparatus, measuring apparatus adjustment method and computer program product

A method for adjusting measuring apparatus comprising:

• (i) setting a sensitivity value of a fluorescence detector, the sensitivity value being within a value range defined by a lower limit and an upper limit,
• (ii) flowing a positive control sample containing a fluorescent dye through a flow cell;
• (iii) irradiating the positive control sample flowing through the flow cell with light;
• (iv) measuring the fluorescence generated from the positive control sample irradiated with light by a fluorescence detector to obtain a measurement value, the fluorescence detector being set with the sensitivity value;
• (v) comparing the measurement value with a reference value;
• (vi) determining whether a difference between the measured value and the reference value is smaller than a threshold value,
• (vii) narrowing the value range and repeating steps (i) to (vi) until the difference becomes smaller than the threshold value, wherein narrowing the value range includes:
• replacing the upper limit with the sensitivity value when the measured value is equal to or greater than the reference value;
• and
• replacing the lower limit with the sensitivity value when the measured value is smaller than the reference value, and
• (viii) storing the sensitivity value in a storage unit when the difference is smaller than the threshold value.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer hardware storage device having stored therein computer usable program code for adjusting a measuring apparatus,
• the computer usable program code, which when executed by a computer hardware system in a measuring apparatus, causes the measuring apparatus to perform:
• (i) setting a sensitivity value of a fluorescence detector, the sensitivity value being within a value range defined by a lower limit and an upper limit,
• (ii) flowing a positive control sample containing a fluorescent dye through a flow cell;
• (iii) irradiating the positive control sample flowing through the flow cell with light;
• (iv) measuring the fluorescence generated from the positive control sample irradiated with light by a fluorescence detector to obtain a measurement value, the fluorescence detector being set with the sensitivity value;
• (v) comparing the measurement value with a reference value;
• (vi) determining whether a difference between the measured value and the reference value is smaller than a threshold value,
• (vii) narrowing the value range when the difference is not smaller then the threshold value, wherein narrowing the value range includes:
• replacing the upper limit with the sensitivity value when the measured value is equal to or greater than the reference value;
• and
• replacing the lower limit with the sensitivity value when the measured value is smaller than the reference value,
• (viii) repeating steps (i) to (vii) until the difference becomes smaller than the threshold value,
• (ix) storing the sensitivity value in a storage unit when the difference is smaller than the threshold value.

A method for adjusting measuring apparatus comprising:

• (i) setting a voltage value of a photomultiplier tube, the voltage value being within a value range defined by a lower limit and an upper limit,
• (ii) flowing a positive control sample containing a fluorescent dye through a flow cell;
• (iii) irradiating the positive control sample flowing through the flow cell with light;
• (iv) measuring the fluorescence generated from the positive control sample irradiated with light by a fluorescence detector to obtain a measurement value, the photomultiplier tube being set with the sensitivity value;
• (v) comparing the measurement value with a reference value;
• (vi) determining whether a difference between the measured value and the reference value is smaller than a threshold value,
• (vii) narrowing the value range and repeating steps (i) to (vi) until the difference becomes smaller than the threshold value, and
• (viii) storing the voltage value in a storage unit when the difference is smaller than the threshold value.