Method for controlling an analysis device and analysis system

Abstract

An analysis system and a method for testing a biological sample according to which, before the start of testing, the amount of energy remaining in an energy storage of the analysis device is compared with an energy requirement for the test, and the test is only started if the amount of energy meets the energy requirement, and/or a temperature-control apparatus designed for temperature-controlling the cartridge is controlled depending on an interior space temperature of the analysis device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling an analysis device for testing a biological sample received in a cartridge, comprising:
 before starting of testing, comparing an amount of energy remaining in an energy storage means of the analysis device with an energy requirement for said testing, and   starting said testing only if the comparison indicates that the energy storage means has a sufficient amount of energy remaining to meet the energy requirement for testing.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy requirement is defined in accordance with a particular test or test procedure to be carried out. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy requirement is defined accordance with a particular cartridge to be used. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the energy requirement is established, retrieved or determined using an identifier that corresponds to the particular cartridge to be used. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy requirement is established, retrieved or determined on the basis of the particular test to be carried out. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein control information for carrying out the test comprises the energy requirement. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the control information is retrieved or determined using an identifier that corresponds to the particular cartridge to be used. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy requirement is defined by selecting a specific test to be carried out of multiple tests having different energy requirements. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said different energy requirements correspond to different amounts of energy required for at least one of heating the sample, cooling the sample, conveying the sample, and electrochemically analyzing the sample. 
     
     
         10 . An analysis system for testing a biological sample, comprising:
 a cartridge for receiving a sample, and   an analysis device for receiving the cartridge and subsequently carrying out testing using the received cartridge,   wherein the analysis device has means for comparing an amount of energy remaining in an energy storage of the analysis device with an energy requirement for testing before the start of the test, and means to enable starting of the test if the amount of energy meets or exceeds the energy requirement and to block starting of testing if the amount of energy is below said energy requirement.   
     
     
         11 . A computer readable storage media wherein the media contains instructions for directing an analysis device to compare an amount of energy remaining in an energy storage of the analysis device with an energy requirement for testing a sample received in a cartridge before starting of the test, and to start the test only if the amount of energy meets or exceeds the energy requirement and to block starting of testing if the amount of energy is below said energy requirement.