Electrophoresis assistance method

An electrophoresis assistance method, comprising, in an electrophoresis method:

• performing:
• a first electrophoresis such that a power supply generates a potential difference between two ends of a capillary, and thus an electrophoresis medium is electrophoresed into the capillary;
• and, after the first electrophoresis, a second electrophoresis such that the power supply generates the potential difference between the two ends of the capillary, and thus a sample added to the electrophoresis medium is electrophoresed into the capillary;
• and
• performing, in the second electrophoresis, component separation of the sample according to a difference in speed at which the sample moves within the capillary, due to the potential difference across the capillary generated by the power supply, wherein
• a processor performs:
• a first energization check step which:
• detects, after a previous second electrophoresis is ended and before the first electrophoresis is performed, in a state where the electrophoresis medium used in the previous second electrophoresis remains within the capillary, and when the amount of an electrophoresis buffer solution stored in each separate container is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, and the two ends of the capillary are located at predetermined positions where the two ends of the capillary are each in contact with the electrophoresis buffer solution, whether a measurement value satisfies a first predetermined criteria indicating a first error,
• the measurement value being based on either (a) a current flowing through the capillary, the current being based on the potential difference generated between the two ends of the capillary by applying a voltage to at least one of the electrophoresis buffer solutions by the power supply, or (b) the potential difference between the two ends of the capillary;
• and
• a first warning step in which, when the measurement value does satisfy the first predetermined criteria in the first energization check step, an output section performs an output to prompt check of a level of the electrophoresis buffer solution.