Automated analyzer

A method for detecting liquid overflowing from at least one of a plurality of containers comprised in an analyzer, each container containing liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

• for each one of N-number of containers among the plurality of containers,
• measuring an absorbance of the liquid contained in the one container at a plurality of points of the one container at a first time corresponding to the one container;
• calculating a standard deviation of the absorbance of the liquid measured at the plurality of points of the one container at the first time corresponding to the one container, as a first standard deviation;
• measuring an absorbance of the liquid contained in the one container at a second time corresponding to the one container;
• calculating a standard deviation of the absorbance of the liquid measured at the plurality of points of the one container at the second time corresponding to the one container, as a second standard deviation;
• and
• comparing a difference between the first standard deviation and the second standard deviation, with a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• judging that the liquid is overflowing from at least one of the plurality of containers if the difference between the first standard deviation and the second standard deviation is greater than the predetermined threshold value in the step of comparing for all of the N-number of containers.

A detection apparatus for detecting that liquid is overflowing from at least one of a plurality of containers comprised in an analyzer, each container containing the liquid, the detection apparatus comprising:

• for each one of N-number of containers among the plurality of containers,
• a section for measuring an absorbance of the liquid contained in the one container at a plurality of points of the one container at a first time corresponding to the one container;
• a section for calculating a standard deviation of the absorbance of the liquid measured at the plurality of points of the one container at the first time corresponding to the one container, as a first standard deviation;
• a section for measuring an absorbance of the liquid contained in the one container at a second time corresponding to the one container;
• a section for calculating a standard deviation of the absorbance of the liquid measured at the plurality of points of the one container at the second time corresponding to the one container, as a second standard deviation;
• and
• a section for comparing a difference between the first standard deviation and the second standard deviation, with a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• a section for judging that the liquid is overflowing from at least one of the plurality of containers if the difference between the first standard deviation and the second standard deviation is greater than the predetermined threshold value in the step of comparing for all of the N-number of containers.

An analyzer comprising:

• a plurality of containers, each containing liquid;
• a section for analyzing the liquid contained in at least one of the plurality of containers;
• and
• a detection apparatus for detecting that liquid is overflowing from at least one of the plurality of containers,
• wherein the detection apparatus comprises:
• for each one of N-number of containers among the plurality of containers,
• a section for measuring an absorbance of the liquid contained in the one container at a plurality of points of the one container at a first time corresponding to the one container;
• a section for calculating a standard deviation of the absorbance of the liquid measured at the plurality of points of the one container at the first time corresponding to the one container, as a first standard deviation;
• a section for measuring an absorbance of the liquid contained in the one container at a second time corresponding to the one container;
• a section for calculating a standard deviation of the absorbance of the liquid measured at the plurality of points of the one container at the second time corresponding to the one container, as a second standard deviation;
• and
• a section for comparing a difference between the first standard deviation and the second standard deviation, with a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• a section for judging that the liquid is overflowing from at least one of the plurality of containers if the difference between the first standard deviation and the second standard deviation is greater than the predetermined threshold value in the step of comparing for all of the N-number of containers.