Method and apparatus for determining haemoglobin concentration

An apparatus for determining a mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in a whole blood sample, comprising:

• a sample holder including an elongate sample chamber having an open end and a closed end;
• a holding member adapted to receive and retain the sample holder, wherein the holding member is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and wherein, when the sample holder is received and retained by the holding member the sample chamber is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation;
• first and second light sources positioned on a first side of the sample holder, configured to emit light in respective different frequencies, which correspond to regions of the spectrum in which absorption of reduced haemoglobin (RHb) and oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2) vary significantly;
• at least one light sensor positioned on a second side of the sample holder, opposite from the first side, so that light from each of the first and second light sources passes through the sample chamber, in at least one rotational position of the sample holder, and impinges on the at least one light sensor, to allow determination of light absorption by both RHb and HbO2 species;
• and (a) a processor configured to receive output signals from the at least one light sensor, and to calculate the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the red blood cells of the blood sample from the output signals, wherein the output signals are representative of the light absorption by both the RHb and HbO2 species, and/or (b) a data output to transmit data gathered by the apparatus to a further computing device, wherein the further computing device is configured to calculate the MCHC from the output signals.