Automated analyzer and automated analysis method

An automated analysis method in an automated analyzer, the automated analyzer including a photometer, including a light source configured to irradiate a target sample with a first light and a light receiving unit configured to detect a second light transmitted or scattered from the target sample, and configured to output a measurement signal based on the second light, and a control unit configured to control the light source and the light receiving unit of the photometer, and to control analysis of the target sample, based on a plurality of calibration curves for the photometer that represent a relationship between a concentration of the target sample and a light intensity of the second light, each of the calibration curves having a different quantitative range for the concentration of the target sample, the method being executed by the control unit and comprising:

• determining a plurality of measurement results of the concentration of the target sample based on the measurement signals from the photometer and the plurality of calibration curves for one test item that includes the target sample;
• determining, for each measurement result of the plurality of measurement results, whether an abnormality in the concentration of the target sample is detected during measurement based on whether the concentration is outside of the quantitative range for each of the plurality of calibration curves, and in a case in which the abnormality is detected, connecting a data alarm according to a type of the abnormality with the measurement result, in which the abnormality is detected;
• determining, for each of the plurality of measurement results, whether a plurality of data alarms is connected with the measurement result, and in a case in which the plurality of data alarms is connected with the measurement result, selecting one of the plurality of data alarms to be output with the measurement result based on a priority ranking of the plurality of data alarms;
• selecting automatic retesting information including a necessity of automatic retesting for the target sample, which of the plurality of calibration curves is to be used in the automatic retesting, and a remeasurement condition in the automatic retesting corresponding to a combination of the plurality of data alarms;
• and
• controlling the automated analyzer to perform the automatic retesting, including repeating operations of the photometer and the control unit, according to the automatic retesting information.