Disclosed is an automatic analyzer that offers highly reliable analytic data and a high level of
processing capacity while allowing a
reagent sampling operation suitable for a given
reagent container to be performed when a
reagent container suitable for a given reagent is used. When the operation begins, whether a
reagent bottle contains a liquid leakage prevention mechanism is checked (Steps 601, 602). If there is no liquid leakage prevention mechanism, the size of the opening of the
reagent bottle is determined (Step 604). Then, when one cycle has passed after the reagent disk is stopped, anozzle is inserted and lowered into the
reagent bottle and whether the
nozzle has reached the liquid surface is determined by using a capacitive method (Step 607) if the opening is large, or a
pressure detection method (Step 608) if the opening is small. If there is a liquid leakage prevention mechanism, the size of the opening of the reagent
bottle is determined (Step 604), and the
nozzle is inserted and lowered into the reagent
bottle immediately after the reagent disk is stopped, and whether the
nozzle has reached the liquid surface is determined by using a capacitive method (Step 605) if the opening is large, or a
pressure detection method (Step 606) if the opening is small.