Abstract: Method and automatic, electronic apparatus for detecting carriers of thalassaemia, especially beta thalassaemia minor, which involve measuring the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) of a blood sample from the subject. A descriminant preferably defined as the product (MCV).sup.2 MCH, the thalassaemia index is obtained and compared with a predetermined thalassaemia index threshold value.

Abstract: A few large, fast rising gas bubbles are generated near the bottom of a sample container and the upward movement of the bubbles causes a mixing action of the sample. The bubbles result from the periodic injection of discrete quantums of gas into the bottom of the container. The volume of a discrete gas quantum determines the size of a resulting bubble. Both the volume and frequency of generation of the quantums of gas are controlled by a timing circuit which operates a solenoid valve that permits each discrete quantum of gas to pass into the sample container.