Automatic analyzer

An automatic analyzer having an analyzing unit and a buffer unit, the automatic analyzer comprising:

• a reagent container containing a reagent, the reagent container being provided with an information recording medium which records reagent information;
• a reagent dispensing mechanism for dispensing the reagent received from the reagent container;
• a reaction container adapted to mix the reagent dispensed by the reagent dispensing mechanism with a sample;
• a reagent information read/write mechanism configured to write the reagent information on the information recording medium and read the reagent information on the information recording medium;
• a first reagent depository in the analyzing unit which stores a plurality of the reagent containers;
• a second replenishment reagent depository in the buffer unit which stores a replacement reagent container and which does not have a cold storage function therein;
• a reagent transfer mechanism which transfers the reagent container from the second replenishment reagent depository to the first reagent depository;
• and
• a reagent discharge mechanism having a storing portion which stores the reagent container discharged from the second replenishment reagent depository,
• wherein the second replenishment reagent depository and at least one of the first reagent depository and the reagent transfer mechanism includes the reagent information read/write mechanism,
• wherein the automatic analyzer includes a computer, coupled to the reagent information read/write mechanism and the reagent transfer mechanism, programmed to control the reagent information read/write mechanism to write the reagent information on the information recording medium immediately before the reagent container is transferred from the second replenishment reagent depository to the first reagent depository or immediately before the reagent container is discharged from the second reagent depository to the storing portion,
• wherein the reagent information read/write mechanism included in the second replenishment reagent depository reads the reagent information from the information recording medium of the reagent container and the computer is programmed to store the reagent information and store a first time of when the reagent information is stored,
• wherein the computer is programmed to control the reagent transfer mechanism to transfer the reagent container from the second replenishment reagent depository to the first reagent depository and store a second time of when the transfer begins,
• wherein the computer is programmed to measure an elapsed time from the first time to the second time and store the measured elapsed time, and
• wherein the elapsed time is reagent information written on the information recording medium by the reagent information read/write mechanism included in one of the second replenishment reagent depository, the first reagent depository, and the reagent transfer mechanism immediately before the reagent container is transferred from the second replenishment reagent depository to the first reagent depository.