Analyzer having humidity control apparatus

In an analyzer for analyzing body liquids to determine concentration levels of analytes, said analyzer including a plurality of separate, side-by-side conveying means for conveying and supporting a plurality of cartridges containing and supplying test elements for a variety of different assays, means for incubating a test element after a body liquid is deposited onto a test element taken from a cartridge of said conveying means, transfer means for transferring a test element from said conveying means to said incubating means, and means for controlling the relative humidity of said conveying means, said transfer means including means for independently contacting and moving at any one time a test element out of a cartridge in only one of said conveying means;

• the improvement wherein said humidity-controlling means comprise separate water-adding means and water-subtracting means for each of said conveying means and control means for each conveying means for controlling the relative humidity of one of said conveying means to be substantially different from the adjacent conveying means,
• and further including means for preventing substantial intermixing of the atmospheres of said conveying means when said transfer means moves a test element out of said conveying means.