Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the hematocrit of blood samples from the electrical conductance of whole blood by means of a portable, simple to use instrument with a digital readout. A dip-electrode-probe and/or a "fingerstick"-probe, requiring one drop of blood, have been developed to provide an easy to use and clean electrode system. Electronic improvements further provide for uniformity of readings between observers, automatic operator alert when poor sample contact or insufficient battery power, an exponential solution to the Fricke, Curtis and Maxwell equations and further eliminates electrode polarization by providing a separate DC path to conduct any DC component in the sine-wave signal. A provision is also made to estimate the hemoglobin value from the measured hematocrit.