Specimen processing apparatus

A specimen processing apparatus extracting nucleic acids from each of a plurality of specimens, the specimen processing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of container holders configured to hold a plurality of first specimen containers and/or a plurality of first nucleic acid containers in one row along a first direction, the plurality of first specimen containers housing the plurality of specimens along the first direction, the plurality of first nucleic acid containers housing the nucleic acids extracted along the first direction;
• a pitch conversion mechanism configured to convert a pitch of the plurality of container holders along the first direction between a smaller pitch and a larger pitch;
• a plurality of processing lanes extending in a second direction in parallel in order to concurrently extract the nucleic acids from the plurality of specimens;
• a first nozzle unit including a plurality of first nozzles arranged in one row along the first direction at the larger pitch, the first nozzle unit being configured to move over the plurality of processing lanes along the second direction;
• a second container housing unit configured to house a plurality of second specimen containers and/or a plurality of second nucleic acid containers, the plurality of second specimen containers being arranged in one row along the first direction at the smaller pitch, the plurality of second nucleic acid containers being arranged in one row along the first direction at the smaller pitch;
• a second nozzle unit including a plurality of second nozzles arranged in one row along the first direction at the smaller pitch, the second nozzle unit being configured to move between a region above the plurality of container holders set to the smaller pitch and a region above the second container housing unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to control an operation of the pitch conversion mechanism, an operation of the first nozzle unit, and an operation of the second nozzle unit.