A test sensor for determining an analyte concentration in a fluid sample, comprising: a fluid-receiving area for receiving a fluid sample, the fluid-receiving area containing a reagent that produces a measurable reaction with an analyte in the sample, the test sensor having a test-sensor temperature and the reagent having a reagent temperature, the test sensor being configured to be received in the opening of a meter, the meter being configured to determine a measurement of the reaction between the reagent and the analyte; and a temperature-dependent element disposed along a surface of the test sensor, the meter being further configured to determine a concentration of the analyte in the sample using the measurement of the reaction and the measurement of the test-sensor temperature; wherein the temperature-dependent element is disposed along the surface of the test sensor so that the temperature-dependent element can be detected inside the meter when the test sensor is received into the opening, characterized in that: the temperature-dependent element includes a polarizing material disposed along a surface of the test sensor, the polarizing material causing a degree of polarization of light reflected from the polarizing material, the polarizing material having a structure that changes in response to temperature and changes the degree of polarization, a temperature-measuring system of the meter being configured to determine a measurement of the test-sensor temperature from the temperature-dependent element when the temperature-dependent element is inside the meter, the temperature-measuring system including a light source and a light detector, the polarizing material configured to receive incident light directed from the light source, the light detector configured to receive an amount of reflected light from the polarizing material, the amount of light changing according to the degree of polarization, the temperature-measuring system configured to determine the measurement of the test-sensor temperature according to the amount of reflected light received by the detector. a fluid-receiving area for receiving a fluid sample, the fluid-receiving area containing a reagent that produces a measurable reaction with an analyte in the sample, the test sensor having a test-sensor temperature and the reagent having a reagent temperature, the test sensor being configured to be received in the opening of a meter, the meter being configured to determine a measurement of the reaction between the reagent and the analyte; and a temperature-dependent element disposed along a surface of the test sensor, the meter being further configured to determine a concentration of the analyte in the sample using the measurement of the reaction and the measurement of the test-sensor temperature; wherein the temperature-dependent element is disposed along the surface of the test sensor so that the temperature-dependent element can be detected inside the meter when the test sensor is received into the opening, characterized in that: the temperature-dependent element includes a polarizing material disposed along a surface of the test sensor, the polarizing material causing a degree of polarization of light reflected from the polarizing material, the polarizing material having a structure that changes in response to temperature and changes the degree of polarization, a temperature-measuring system of the meter being configured to determine a measurement of the test-sensor temperature from the temperature-dependent element when the temperature-dependent element is inside the meter, the temperature-measuring system including a light source and a light detector, the polarizing material configured to receive incident light directed from the light source, the light detector configured to receive an amount of reflected light from the polarizing material, the amount of light changing according to the degree of polarization, the temperature-measuring system configured to determine the measurement of the test-sensor temperature according to the amount of reflected light received by the detector.