An analysis chip comprises a thin film layer, which is formed on a
dielectric material block and has two different regions. A flow path unit
comprising a supply path for supplying a sample onto the thin film layer
and a discharging path for discharging the sample is releasably loaded
into the analysis chip. A light beam is irradiated to a first interface
between one region of the thin film layer and the dielectric material
block, and a second interface between the other region of the thin film
layer and the dielectric material block, in a parallel manner. Refractive
index information with regard to a substance to be analyzed, which is
located on the thin film layer, is acquired from intensities of the light
beam totally reflected from the first interface and the light beam
totally reflected from the second interface.