A sample dispensing apparatus is realized which can detect a dispensing abnormality
occurred during the sample dispensing operation regardless of the type and the
extent of the abnormality. A pressure sensor is connected to a dispensing flow
passage system, including a sample probe and a dispensing syringe, and a plurality
of output values of the pressure sensor during the sample dispensing operation
are taken in. A multi-item analysis (based on the Mahalanobis distance) is carried
out by using, as items, the plurality of taken-in output values of the pressure
sensor. Whether the dispensing is normally performed or not is determined by comparing
an analysis result with a threshold. A highly reliable determination result is
obtained in spite of variations of sensitivity of the pressure sensor.