Voltage is applied across a counter
electrode and a
working electrode, with which a blood sample is in contact, in such a state that an oxidant in a
redox substance is in contact with the counter
electrode but is substantially not in contact with the
working electrode, whereby an easily electrolytically oxidizable
metal constituting at least a part of the surface of the
working electrode is oxidized, and the oxidant in contact with the working
electrode is reduced to measure current produced upon the oxidation and reduction. According to the above constitution, while lowering the
voltage applied across the working electrode and the counter electrode, the
hematocrit value of the blood sample can be measured stably with a satisfactory detection sensitivity. This measurement can be carried out, for example, with a sensor
chip comprising a working electrode (11), a counter electrode (12), and a blood sample holding part (14) in communication with a blood sample introduction port (16). Theposition of the working electrode (11) in its part (31) is nearer to the blood sample introduction port (16) than the counter electrode in its part (32). The surface of the part (31) contains an easily electrolytically oxidizable
metal. A
reagent (13) containing an oxidant is disposed in contact with the part (32).