Biochemical analysis apparatus

A biochemical analysis apparatus comprising:

• i) a sample accommodating means for accommodating a liquid sample,
• ii) an elongated test film capable of reacting with a liquid sample to give rise to a change, said elongated test film having an unused portion which is wound up in a film feed cassette;
• iii) a non-movable test film accommodating means for accommodating said unused portion of said elongated test film which is wound up in said film feed cassette, said non-moveable test film accommodating means comprising a refrigerator for maintaining said unused portion of said elongated test film at a predetermined low temperature;
• iv) a test film conveyance means for sequentially conveying said unused portion of said elongated test film accommodated in said non-moveable test film accommodating means out of said non-moveable test film accommodating means and to a predetermined position outside of said non-moveable test film accommodating means;
• v) a sample application means for taking up said liquid sample from said sample accommodating means and applying a predetermined amount of said liquid sample onto said unused portion of said elongated test film at said predetermined position;
• vi) an incubator for maintaining the sample-applied portion of said elongated test film at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time;
• vii) a measurement means for measuring a change at said sample-applied portion of said elongated test film during or after the passage of said predetermined time, and
• viii) a test film discarding region separate from said non-moveable test film accommodating means, such that said test film conveyance means conveys the sample-applied portion of said elongated test film from said predetermined position into said test film discarding region and takes out a predetermined length of said unused portion of said elongated test film so as to be positioned at said predetermined position,
• wherein both said incubator and said measurement means are provided at the position where the sample application onto said elongated test film is carried out by said sample application means,
• wherein said test film discarding region includes a film wind-up cassette for winding up the sample-applied portion of said elongated test film, and
• wherein said film feed cassette and wind-up cassette are separate and distinct from each other, such that said predetermined position is located between said film feed cassette and said film wind-up cassette;
• and
• further wherein said non-movable test film accommodating means accommodates a plurality of elongated test films wound up in a plurality of corresponding film feed cassettes disposed in parallel with one another, said plurality of elongated test films being arranged in side by side relationship in a lateral direction so that side edges of adjacent elongated test films face each other.