A dispensing apparatus performs dispensing by filling a duct to which a dispensing nozzle is connected with a liquid, making the liquid move in the duct to absorb a liquid sample including a specimen or a reagent through the dispensing nozzle, and discharging the absorbed liquid sample; and an in-duct bubble presence determining method in the dispensing apparatus. The presence determining method includes discharging the liquid in the duct from the dispensing nozzle and detecting a transition of a pressure in the duct; calculating the number of mountain pulses in a pressure transition waveform based on the detected pressure transition; and determining a presence of a bubble in the duct based on the calculated number of mountain pulses.