Abstract: Provided are an automatic analysis device capable of suppressing the mixing in of a suspended matter in an upper layer sample to be dispensed from a specimen container to a reaction container; and a method for controlling the automatic analysis device. The automatic analysis device analyzes a specimen and comprises a specimen dispensing probe that dispenses the upper layer sample of a specimen which has been separated into the upper layer sample and a lower layer sample, from a specimen container containing the specimen to a reaction container; and a control unit that controls the operation of the specimen dispensing probe. The control unit causes the specimen dispensing probe to remove part of the surface layer of the upper layer sample and/or apply vibrations to the surface layer of the upper layer sample and then dispense the upper layer sample from the specimen container to the reaction container.