Liquid chromatographic analyzer, sample feeder and prelabeling reaction treating method

A liquid chromatographic analyzer which comprises:

• a mixing vessel for mixing a sample containing components for analysis in a pare-labeling reagent to obtain a mixed solution,
• a sample injection port through which the mixed solution is introduced,
• a pre-column for capturing the introduced mixed solution and a concentrating solution to obtain a concentrated mixed solution,
• a separating column for separating the concentrated mixed solution into sample components,
• a suction and discharge nozzle for transferring the mixed solution to the pre-column through the sample injection port, said suction and discharge nozzle being movable from said mixing vessel to said sample injection port,
• a flow channel disposed between the sample injection port and the pre-column, the temperature of the flow channel being controlled to have a prescribed temperature, and
• means for retaining a flow of the mixed solution in the flow channel for a prescribed period of time in order to cause a pre-labeling reaction between the sample and the pre-labeling reagent.

A catecholamine analyzer comprising a non-movable section including a sample injection port, a reaction vessel equipped with a heating means and a rack mounting portion arranged in close proximity to each other,

• a sample rack for carrying samples and a reagent for converting catecholamines to their derivatives the sample rack being positioned in the rack mounting portion, and a suction and discharge nozzle moveable from the sample rack to the reaction vessel for transferring the samples and the reagent into the reaction vessel to form a reaction mixture therein and then to the sample injection port,
• transfer means including said suction and discharge nozzle for transferring the reaction mixture, which is positioned in said reaction vessel in a prescribed period of time to initiate a labeling reaction of derivatives of catecholamines in said reaction vessel, to a pre-column for capturing the labeled derivatives of catecholamines introduced through the sample injection port,
• a separating column for separating the labeled derivatives of catecholamines fed from the pre-column into components, and
• a fluorescence detector positioned downstream of the separation column.

A liquid chromatographic analyzer for analyzing a sample containing components for analysis by effecting the following steps of analysis:

• reacting the sample with a pre-labeling reagent to obtain a reaction mixture containing labeled components, concentrating the reaction mixture, and separating the labeled components from each other and detecting the separated labeled components by detectors;
• the steps of analysis being controlled to concurrently proceed by a control unit, thereby shortening the time for analysis per sample, said analyzer comprises:
• (a) container means for storing samples containing components for analysis and a pre-labeling reagent for the components at a constant temperature,
• (b) vessel means for reacting the sample with the pre-labeling reagent at a constant temperature to obtain a reaction mixture containing labeled components, said container means and said vessel means being arranged with a sample feeding section,
• (c) nozzle means for transferring one of the samples and the pre-labeling regent form said container means to said vessel means, said nozzle means moving from said container means to said vessel means to transfer said sample or said pre-labeling reagent, and for transferring said reaction mixture from said vessel means to a sample injection port,
• (d) means for concentrating the reaction mixture which is fed form said sample injection port and separating the labeled components from each other to provide separated labeled components,
• (e) means for detecting the separated labeled components, and
• (f) control unit means for controlling the steps of reacting the sample with a pre-labeling reagent to obtain a reaction mixture containing labeled components, concentrating the reaction mixture, and separating the labeled components from each other and detecting the separated labeled components by detectors concurrently, thereby shortening the time for analysis per sample.