Smearing apparatus, specimen analysis system, and smear specimen processing method

A smearing apparatus for use in an analysis system including an imaging apparatus configured to capture an image of a smear specimen, the smearing apparatus comprising:

• a supply unit configured to store a plurality of slide glasses, each assigned with slide identification information, and to supply the slide glasses one by one;
• an aspirator configured to aspirate a specimen contained in a specimen container;
• a smearer configured to smear the aspirated specimen onto the slide glass supplied from the supply unit;
• a stainer configured to stain the specimen smeared on the slide glass with a staining solution;
• a first reader configured to read specimen identification information assigned to the specimen container;
• a second reader configured to read the slide identification information;
• and
• a controller configured to digitally associate (A) the slide identification information of the slide glass on which the specimen is smeared and (B) the specimen identification information of the smeared specimen, thereby enabling the analysis system to identify the specimen based on the slide identification information.