A sample measurement apparatus comprising: a processing unit adapted to aspirate a sample inside a sample container and measure the sample; a transfer unit that includes a holder to hold the sample container, and that is adapted to pick up the sample container from a rack capable of storing the sample containers at storage positions on a row and transfer the sample container to the processing unit; a controller adapted to control an operation of the transfer unit; and a detection unit that is attached to the holder and is movable integrally with the holder, and that is adapted to detect whether or not there is the sample container at each of the storage positions, wherein the holder includes hands (301, 302) and an open-close mechanism adapted to open and close the hands, wherein the detection unit includes: an operating unit that is integrally attached to one of the hands and that is adapted to move together with an open-close operation of the hands; and a detector adapted to detect whether or not the operating unit is positioned at a detection position, wherein when the hands (301, 302) are closed to have a width smaller than a width of the sample container, the operating unit is positioned at the detection position of the detector, wherein the hands (301, 302) comprise a first claw and a second claw to grasp the sample container, wherein the open-close mechanism is adapted to move the first claw and the second claw, the operating unit is adapted to move together with an open-close operation of the first claw, and the detector is adapted to move together with an open-close operation of the second claw. a processing unit adapted to aspirate a sample inside a sample container and measure the sample; a transfer unit that includes a holder to hold the sample container, and that is adapted to pick up the sample container from a rack capable of storing the sample containers at storage positions on a row and transfer the sample container to the processing unit; a controller adapted to control an operation of the transfer unit; and a detection unit that is attached to the holder and is movable integrally with the holder, and that is adapted to detect whether or not there is the sample container at each of the storage positions, wherein the holder includes hands (301, 302) and an open-close mechanism adapted to open and close the hands, wherein the detection unit includes: an operating unit that is integrally attached to one of the hands and that is adapted to move together with an open-close operation of the hands; and a detector adapted to detect whether or not the operating unit is positioned at a detection position, wherein when the hands (301, 302) are closed to have a width smaller than a width of the sample container, the operating unit is positioned at the detection position of the detector, wherein the hands (301, 302) comprise a first claw and a second claw to grasp the sample container, wherein the open-close mechanism is adapted to move the first claw and the second claw, the operating unit is adapted to move together with an open-close operation of the first claw, and the detector is adapted to move together with an open-close operation of the second claw.