BLOOD COAGULATION ANALYZER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability of measurement by a blood coagulation analyzer. SOLUTION: A scattered light quantity value from a specimen to which a predetermined reagent has been added is acquired at predetermined time intervals, and a coagulation end point is detected based of a temporal change of the scattered light quantity value (S33). Assuming a point of having reached 1/N of a scattered light quantity at this coagulation end point to be a coagulation point, an elapsed time from an addition of the reagent to the coagulation point is calculated as a coagulation time. Based on a combination of the scattered light quantity at the coagulation point and the coagulation time, it is determined whether the coagulation time is normal (S37), and measurement is terminated if determined normal (S39). Otherwise, the scattered light quantity is continuously measured, the coagulation time is calculated and determined sequentially, assuming each of subsequent points to be the coagulation end point, thus continuing measurement until the coagulation time is determined normal (until determined Yes in S42). If the scattered light quantity increases abruptly (Yes in S41), a search for the coagulation end point (S33) starts again. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT