A syringe pump usable with a syringe having a barrel and a plunger, the plunger having a plunger flange, comprises a barrel retaining mechanism for holding the barrel, and a drive mechanism having a drive head assembly for driving the plunger along its axis. The drive head assembly comprises a flange retaining mechanism for retaining the plunger flange to the drive head assembly, and a load measuring device for measuring compressive force on the plunger flange, the load measuring device being movable within the drive head assembly transverse to the axis. The syringe pump comprises a self-centering mechanism having a pushing component which is arranged to move the load measuring device within the drive head assembly until the pushing component abuts against the plunger flange, such that a center of the load measuring device is aligned with the axis.