Electrochemical biosensor test strip

Abstract

An electrochemical biosensor test strip with four new features. The test strip includes an indentation for tactile feel as to the location of the strips sample application port. The sample application port leads to a capillary test chamber, which includes a test reagent. The wet reagent includes from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons mean molecular weight, which makes the dried reagent more hydrophilic and sturdier to strip processing steps, such as mechanical punching, and to mechanical manipulation by the test strip user. The roof of the capillary test chamber includes a transparent or translucent window which operates as a “fill to here” line, thereby identifying when enough test sample (a liquid sample, such as blood) has been added to the test chamber to accurately perform a test. The test strip may further include a notch located at the sample application port. The notch reduces a phenomenon called “dose hesitation”.

Description

wherein [Analyte] represents the concentration of the analyte in the sample (see FIG. 6), i_7.5 is the current (in microamps) measured at 7.5 seconds after application of the potential difference applied between the electrodes, C is the slope of line 30 (FIG. 6), and d is the axis intercept (FIG. 6).

By making measurements with known concentrations of analyte, calibration curve 30 (FIG. 6) may be constructed. This calibration will be stored in the Read Only Memory (ROM) key of the meter and will be applicable to a particular lot of test strips. Lines 31 and 32 in FIG. 6 represent other hypothetical calibration curves for two other different lots of test strips. Calibration for these biosensor lots would generate slightly different values for C and d in the above algorithm.

In a preferred method for analysis of glucose from a sample of human whole blood, current measurements are made at 0.5 second intervals from 3 seconds to 9 seconds after the potential difference is applied between the electrodes. These current measurements are correlated to the concentration of glucose in the blood sample.

In this example of measuring glucose from a blood sample, current measurements are made at different times (from 3 seconds to 9 seconds after application of the potential difference), rather than at a single fixed time (as described above), and the resulting algorithm is more complex and may be represented by the following equation:
[Glucose]=C₁i₁+C₂i₂+C₃i₃+ . . . C_ni_n+d,
wherein i₁ is the current measured at the first measurement time (3 seconds after application of the 300 millivolt potential difference), i₂ is the current measured at the second measurement time (3.5 seconds after application of the 300 millivolt potential difference), i₃ is the current measured at the third measurement time (4 seconds after application of the 300 millivolt potential difference), i_n is the current measured at the n^th measurement time (in this example, at the 13^th measurement time or 9 seconds after application of the 300 millivolt potential difference), C₁, C₂, C₃, and C_n are coefficients derived from a muiltivariate regression analysis technique, such as Principle Components Analysis or Partial Least Squares, and d is the regression intercept (in glucose concentration units).

Alternatively, the concentration of glucose in the sample being measured may be determined by integrating the curve generated by plotting current, i, versus measurement time over some time interval (for example, from 3 seconds to 9 seconds after application of the 300 millivolt potential difference), thereby obtaining the total charge transferred during the measurement period. The total charge transferred is directly proportional to the concentration of glucose in the sample being measured.

Further, the glucose concentration measurement may be corrected for differences between environmental temperature at the time of actual measurement and the environmental temperature at the time calibration was performed. For example, if the calibration curve for glucose measurement was constructed at an environmental temperature of 23° C., the glucose measurement is corrected by using the following equation:
[Glucose]_corrected=[Glucose]_measured×(1−K(T−23° C.)),
wherein T is the environmental temperature (in ° C.) at the time of the sample measurement and K is a constant derived from the following regression equation:
Y=K(T−23),
wherein

$Y=\frac{{\left[\mathrm{Glucose}\right]}_{\mathrm{measured}\mathrm{at}23°C.}-{\left[\mathrm{Glucose}\right]}_{\mathrm{measured}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{T°}C.}}{{\left[\mathrm{Glucose}\right]}_{\mathrm{measured}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{T°}C.}}$
In order to calculate the value of K, each of a multiplicity of glucose concentrations is measured by the meter at various temperatures, T, and at 23° C. (the base case). Next, a linear regression of Y on T−23 is performed. The value of K is the slope of this regression.

Various features of the present invention may be incorporated into other electrochemical test strips, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,120,420; 5,141,868; 5,437,999; 5,192,415; 5,264,103; and 5,575,895, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. A test strip, having an indentation along an edge for tactile identification of a sample application port, said test strip comprising:

a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, an indentation along an edge and a vent hole;

at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;

a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, an indentation along an edge, and first and second openings, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the first opening exposing a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the second opening being located along said edge and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks and the vent hole;

a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the second opening; and

a roof having first and second surfaces and an indentation along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that the second surface of the roof and the surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, wherein the second opening in the second insulating substrate and the indentations in the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate, and the roof are aligned to thereby provide for tactile identification of the sample application port.

2. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

3. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the test reagent includes

reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.

4. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.

5. The test strip of claim 4, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

6. The test strip of claim 1, wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.

7. The test strip of claim 6, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

8. The test strip of claim 6, wherein the test reagent includes

reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.

9. The test strip of claim 6, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.

10. The test strip of claim 9, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

11. The test strip of claim 1, further comprising:

a first notch along the indentation in the first insulating substrate, and a notch along the indentation in the roof, both first and second notches being positioned so that they overlay one another.

12. The test strip of claim 11, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

13. The test strip of claim 11, wherein the test reagent includes

reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.

14. The test strip of claim 11, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.

15. The test strip of claim 14, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

16. The test strip of claim 11 wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.

17. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

18. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for performing a test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% by weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the test reagent may be applied to the test strip in a wet form, may be subsequently dried, and then redissolved or resuspended upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the dried reagent.

19. The test strip of claim 18, wherein the second surface of the roof includes a hydrophilic coating.

20. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the test reagent includes reaction components appropriate for the test, and a dissolvable or suspendable film forming mixture including from about 0.2% weight to about 2% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight of 300 kilodaltons.

21. The test strip of claim 20, wherein the polyethylene oxide is about 0.71% by weight.

22. The test strip of claim 16, wherein the test reagent includes

reaction components appropriate for performing a test and from about 1.75% by weight to about 17.5% by weight polyethylene oxide having a mean molecular weight from about 100 kilodaltons to about 900 kilodaltons,

wherein the reagent will redissolve or resuspend upon addition of an aqueous test sample to the reagent.

23. The test strip of claim 22, wherein the mean molecular weight of the polyethylene oxide is 300 kilodaltons.

24. The test strip of claim 23, wherein the amount of polyethylene oxide, in the reagent is about 6.2% by weight.

25. A test strip comprising:

a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, a notch along an edge, and a vent hole;

at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;

a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and first and second openings, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the first opening exposing a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the second opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks, the notch in the first insulating substrate, and the vent hole;

a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the second opening; and

a roof having first and second surfaces and a notch along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that 1) the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and 2) the notch in the roof overlays the notch in the first insulating substrate;

whereby the notch in the roof and the notch in the first insulating substrate will cause a liquid aqueous sample, when touched to the sample application port, to flow into the capillary chamber without significant hesitation.

26. A test strip, comprising:

a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and a vent hole;

at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;

a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and first and second openings, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the first opening exposing a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the second opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks and the vent hole;

a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the second opening; and

a roof having first and second surfaces and a solid transparent or translucent window, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that it overlays the second opening of the second insulating substrate and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and the transparent or translucent window being dimensioned and positioned so that the window extends from the sample application port, and overlays the entire width of one of the electrically conductive tracks and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.

27. A test strip, having an indentation along an edge for tactile identification of a sample application port, said test strip comprising:

a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and an indentation along an edge;

at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;

a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces, an indentation along an edge and an opening, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along said edge and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks;

a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the opening;

a roof having first and second surfaces and an indentation along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so as to overlay the opening and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate; and

a vent hole communicating with the capillary fill chamber;

wherein the opening in the second insulating substrate and the indentations in the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate, and the roof are aligned to thereby provide for tactile identification of the sample application port.

28. The test strip of claim 27, wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.

29. The test strip of claim 27 further comprising a first notch along the indentation of the first insulating substrate, and a notch along the indentation in the roof, both first and second notches being positioned so that they overlay one another.

30. The test strip of claim 29 wherein the roof has a solid transparent or translucent window, which is dimensioned and positioned so that the window overlays the entire width of the electrically conductive track that is closest to the indentation of the first insulating substrate and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track.

31. A test strip comprising:

a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and a notch along an edge;

at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;

a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and an opening, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks, aid overlaying the notch in the first insulating substrate;

a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the opening;

a roof having first and second surfaces and a notch along an edge, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that 1) the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and 2) the notch in the roof overlays the notch in the first insulating substrate; and

a vent hole communicating with the capillary fill chamber;

whereby the notch in the roof and the notch in the first insulating substrate will cause a liquid aqueous sample, when touched to the sample application port, to flow into the capillary chamber without significant hesitation.

32. A test strip comprising:

a first insulating substrate having first and second surfaces;

at least two electrically conductive tracks affixed to the first surface of the first insulating substrate;

a second insulating substrate having first and second surfaces and an opening, the second surface being affixed to the conductive tracks and the first surface of the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along an edge of the second insulating substrate and exposing a different portion of the conductive tracks;

a test reagent overlaying at least a portion of the conductive tracks exposed by the opening;

a roof having first and second surfaces and a solid transparent or translucent window, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second insulating substrate and positioned so that it overlays the opening of the second insulating substrate and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first insulating substrate form opposing walls of a capillary fill chamber with a sample application port at said edge of the second insulating substrate, and the transparent or translucent window being dimensioned and positioned so that the window extends from the sample application port, and overlays the entire width of one of the electrically conductive tracks and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrically conductive track; and

a vent hole communicating with the capillary fill chamber.

33. An electrochemical test strip for conducting testing for the concentration of glucose in a blood sample, comprising:

a strip body including an edge surface extending about the perimeter of said strip body, said strip body defining a capillary channel and a vent in fluid communication with the capillary channel, said strip body comprising a sample application port open at a location along the edge surface, the capillary channel extending from the sample application port to at least the vent;

at least working and counter electrodes spaced from each other and positioned within the capillary channel at a location spaced from the perimetric edge surface;

a test reagent adjacent at least the working electrode; and

visualization means associated with the capillary channel for enabling a user to visually identify when a sufficient amount of blood sample has been added to the capillary fill chamber to accurately perform a test, said visualization means including a solid, transparent or translucent viewing material extending from at least adjacent the sample application port and overlying at least a portion of the capillary channel including said working electrode and at least a portion of said counter electrode,

said visualization means further includes a fill line extending across the capillary channel at a location intermediate the length of the capillary channel at a position such that movement of the blood sample to the fill line indicates sufficient filling of the test strip for conducting a test.

34. The test strip of claim 33 in which said fill line is formed by an opaque portion overlying a portion of the capillary test chamber.

35. The test strip of claim 34 in which the fill line extends at a location between the working electrode and the vent.

36. The test strip of claim 35 in which said fill line is formed by an opaque portion overlying a portion of the capillary test chamber.

37. The test strip of claim 33 in which said strip body includes opposed sides of the capillary channel, the sides being parallel and extending in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes, the fill line extending across the capillary channel in an orientation orthogonal to the opposed sides of the capillary channel.

38. The test strip of claim 37 in which said strip body further includes opaque portions generally aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel from adjacent the sample application port to at least one of the electrodes.

39. The test strip of claim 38 in which the opaque portions are spaced apart to reveal greater than about 75% of the width of the capillary channel.

40. The test strip of claim 33 in which said strip body includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a roof, the second substrate being positioned intermediate the first substrate and the roof and including an opening, the opening of the second substrate together with the first substrate and the roof defining the capillary channel.

41. The test strip of claim 40 in which said test strip includes conductive tracks connected with said working and counter electrodes, the first substrate having first and second surfaces, the working and counter electrodes being affixed to the first surface of the first substrate, the second substrate having first and second surfaces and an opening, the second surface of the second substrate being affixed to the first surface of the first substrate, the second substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along a perimetric edge surface of the second substrate and exposing said electrodes, and a roof having first and second surfaces and including a solid, transparent or translucent viewing material, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second substrate and positioned so that it overlays the opening of the second substrate and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first substrate form opposing walls of the capillary channel, the transparent or translucent viewing material extending from at least adjacent to the sample application port and overlying the entire width of one of the electrodes and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrode.

42. The test strip of claim 40 in which the second substrate defines opposed sides of the capillary channel, the sides being parallel and extending in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes.

43. The test strip of claim 42 in which said test strip further includes opaque portions generally aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel from adjacent the sample application port to at least one of the electrodes, the fill line extending across the capillary channel in an orientation orthogonal to the opposed sides of the capillary channel.

44. The test strip of claim 43 in which the opaque portions are defined by the roof.

45. The test strip of claim 40 in which the opening of the second substrate defines opposed sides of the capillary channel, said visualization means including opaque portions generally aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel extending from adjacent the sample application port to at least one of the electrodes, the opaque portions being located in the area adjacent the capillary channel, the opaque portions having a color which contrasts with the color of the sample as observed through the viewing material,

whereby a user is able to visually locate the sample within the capillary channel by observation through the viewing material and is able to determine when the sample has filled the capillary channel at least up to the fill line.

46. The test strip of claim 45 in which the opposed sides of the capillary channel are parallel and extend in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes, and the fill line extends across the capillary channel in an orientation orthogonal to the opposed sides of the capillary channel.

47. An electrochemical test strip for conducting testing for the concentration of an analyte in a blood sample, comprising:

a strip body including an edge surface extending about the perimeter of said strip body, said strip body defining a capillary channel and a vent in fluid communication with the capillary channel, said strip body comprising a sample application port open at a location along the edge surface, the capillary channel extending from the sample application port at least to the vent;

at least working and counter electrodes spaced from each other and positioned within the capillary channel at a location spaced from the perimetric edge surface; and

a test reagent adjacent at least the working electrode;

a solid, transparent or translucent viewing material extending from at least adjacent the sample application port and overlying at least a portion of the capillary channel, said strip body defining a viewing area comprising a portion of the viewing material allowing continuous visualization of the capillary channel from a portion thereof at or generally adjacent the sample application port, up to and including said working electrode and at least a portion of said counter electrode,

the viewing area being positioned and dimensioned such that blood introduced to the capillary channel through the sample application port and filling the viewing area at least up to a portion of said counter electrode under the viewing area is required for the test strip to have a sufficient blood sample to conduct a test,

said strip body further including a fill line extending across the viewing area at a location intermediate the length of the capillary channel at a position such that movement of the blood sample to the fill line indicates sufficient filling of the test strip for conducting a test.

48. The test strip of claim 47 in which said fill line is formed by an opaque portion overlying a portion of the capillary test chamber.

49. The test strip of claim 48 in which the fill line extends at a location between the working electrode and the vent.

50. The test strip of claim 49 in which said fill line is formed by an opaque portion overlying a portion of the capillary test chamber.

51. The test strip of claim 47 in which said strip body includes opposed sides of the capillary channel, the sides being parallel and extending in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes, the fill line extending across the capillary channel in an orientation orthogonal to the opposed sides of the capillary channel.

52. The test strip of claim 51 in which said strip body further includes opaque portions generally aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel from adjacent the sample application port to at least one of the electrodes.

53. The test strip of claim 52 in which the opaque portions are spaced apart to reveal greater than about 75% of the width of the capillary channel.

54. The test strip of claim 47 in which said strip body includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a roof, the second substrate being positioned intermediate the first substrate and the roof and including an opening, the opening of the second substrate together with the first substrate and the roof defining the capillary channel.

55. The test strip of claim 54 in which said test strip includes conductive tracks connected with said working and counter electrodes, the first substrate having first and second surfaces, the working and counter electrodes being affixed to the first surface of the first substrate, the second substrate having first and second surfaces and an opening, the second surface of the second substrate being affixed to the first surface of the first substrate, the second substrate configured to expose a portion of the conductive tracks for electrical connection to a meter capable of measuring an electrical property, the opening being located along a perimetric edge surface of the second substrate and exposing said electrodes, and a roof having first and second surfaces and including a solid, transparent or translucent viewing material, the second surface of the roof being affixed to the first surface of the second substrate and positioned so that it overlays the opening of the second substrate and so that the second surface of the roof and the first surface of the first substrate form opposing walls of the capillary channel, the transparent or translucent viewing material extending from at least adjacent to the sample application port and overlying the entire width of one of the electrodes and at least about ten percent of the width of the other electrode.

56. The test strip of claim 54 in which the second substrate defines opposed sides of the capillary channel, the sides being parallel and extending in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes.

57. The test strip of claim 56 in which said test strip further includes opaque portions generally aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel from adjacent the sample application port to at least one of the electrodes, the fill line extending across the capillary channel in an orientation orthogonal to the opposed sides of the capillary channel.

58. The test strip of claim 57 in which the opaque portions are defined by the roof.

59. The test strip of claim 54 in which the opening of the second substrate defines opposed sides of the capillary channel, said visualization means including opaque portions generally aligned with the opposed sides of the capillary channel extending from adjacent the sample application port to at least one of the electrodes, the opaque portions being located in the area adjacent the capillary channel, the opaque portions having a color which contrasts with the color of the sample as observed through the viewing material,

whereby a user is able to visually locate the sample within the capillary channel by observation through the viewing material and is able to determine when the sample has filled the capillary channel at least up to the fill line.

60. The test strip of claim 59 in which the opposed sides of the capillary channel are parallel and extend in a straight line from the sample application port, and orthogonal to the perimetric edge surface, to at least one of the electrodes, and the fill line extends across the capillary channel in an orientation orthogonal to the opposed sides of the capillary channel.

61. An electrochemical test strip for conducting testing for the concentration of glucose in a blood sample, comprising:

a strip body including an edge surface extending about the perimeter of said strip body, said strip body defining a capillary channel and a vent in fluid communication with the capillary channel, said strip body comprising a sample application port open at a location along the perimetric edge surface, the capillary channel extending from the sample application port to at least the vent, said strip body further defining a test area along the capillary channel between the sample application port and the vent;

at least working and counter electrodes spaced from each other and positioned within the test area of the capillary channel at a location spaced from the perimetric edge surface;

a test reagent received within the test area of the capillary channel and adjacent at least the working electrode;

said strip body including a solid, transparent or translucent viewing material overlying at least a portion of the capillary channel, including from a portion thereof at or generally adjacent the sample application port continuously up to and including said working electrode and at least a portion of said counter electrode, the viewing material permitting visualization of the blood sample as it moves through the capillary channel to the test area;

said strip body further including opaque portions defining a fill area viewable through the viewing material, the fill area comprising an area of the capillary channel needed to be filled to conduct an accurate test; and

a fill line extending across the capillary channel at a location intermediate the length of the capillary channel at a position such that movement of the blood sample to the fill line indicates sufficient filling of the test strip for conducting a test,

wherein observation through the viewing material of the blood sample within the capillary channel up to said electrodes comprises confirmation of sufficient blood sample being introduced into the capillary channel to conduct a test.

62. The test strip of claim 61 in which said fill line is formed by an opaque portion overlying a portion of the capillary test chamber.

63. The test strip of claim 61 in which the fill line extends at a location between the working electrode and the vent.

64. The test strip of claim 63 in which said fill line is formed by an opaque portion overlying a portion of the capillary test chamber.

65. The test strip of claim 63 in which the fill line extends at a location between the test area and the vent.

66. The test strip of claim 65 in which said fill line is formed by an opaque portion overlying a portion of the capillary test chamber.

67. The test strip of claim 61 in which the opaque portions are sized and dimensioned such that the blood sample is required to fill up to the fill line the portion of the capillary channel viewable through the viewing material in order to have a sufficient amount of blood sample to conduct a test.

68. The test strip of claim 61 in which the opaque portions extend continuously in alignment with the opposed sides of the capillary channel from the perimetric edge surface to the electrodes.

69. The test strip of claim 61 in which the opaque portions are sized and dimensioned such that the blood sample is required to fill up to the fill line the portion of the capillary channel viewable through the viewing material in order to have a sufficient amount of blood sample to conduct a test.