Sample testing apparatus and sample testing method

A sample testing apparatus comprising:

• a transport unit for transporting a sample container containing a sample through a first position and a second position;
• a testing unit for aspirating the sample from the sample container transported to the first position by the transport unit and performing a test on the aspirated sample;
• a determination result obtainer for obtaining one of a first determination result indicating that a second test is required for the sample and a second determination result indicating that the second test is not required for the sample, based on a test result of a first test on the sample;
• and
• a transport controller for controlling the transport unit so as to keep the sample container waiting at the second position, the sample container containing the sample on which the first test has been performed, until the determination result obtainer has obtained any one of the first and the second determination result on the sample, if the determination result obtainer has not obtained any one of the first and the second determination result on the sample when the sample container has reached the second position, and for controlling the transport unit so as to transport the sample container back to the first position if the determination result obtainer has obtained the first determination result on the sample.

A sample testing method comprising steps of:

• (a) aspirating a sample from a sample container transported to a first position by a transport unit and performing a first test on the aspirated sample;
• (b) obtaining one of a first determination result indicating that a second test is required for the sample and a second determination result indicating that the second test is required for the sample, based on a test result of the first test on the sample;
• (c) transporting the sample container back to the first position by the transport unit if the first determination result on the sample has been obtained in the step (b);
• and
• (d) aspirating the sample from the sample container transported to the first position by the transport unit and performing the second test on the aspirated sample, if the first determination result on the sample has been obtained in the step (b),
• wherein the sample container is not transported beyond the second position from the first position side before any one of the first and the second determination result on the sample has been obtained in the step (b).