Electrophoresis apparatus

An electrophoresis apparatus for adding a sample into channels, making the sample migrate electrophoretically by voltage application, and optically detecting the sample, said apparatus comprising:

• a plate on which the channels are formed;
• a tray on which the plate is set;
• a voltage application means having voltage application electrodes for applying voltage to the sample in the channels on the plate;
• a tray driving means for rotary driving the tray on which the plate is set;
• an optical detection part having a light irradiation means for irradiating the sample in the channels with light, and an optical detection means for detecting light which is emitted from the sample when the sample is irradiated with the light from the light irradiation means;
• a plate holding member for pressing only the channel formation areas of the plate against the plate setting surface of the tray, thereby fixing and holding the plate on the plate setting surface of the tray;
• and
• a voltage application contact/separation means for making the voltage application electrodes of the voltage application means contact with or apart from predetermined positions of the plate;
• wherein the voltage application electrodes of the voltage application means are brought into contact with the predetermined positions of the plate by the voltage application contact/separation means to make the sample migrate electrophoretically by voltage application, and thereafter, the voltage application electrodes of the voltage application means are separated from the predetermined positions of the plate by the voltage application contact/separation means, and the light emitted from the sample in the channels on the plate is detected by the optical detection part.