An automated method of reading a test strip for the analysis of one or more analyte(s) in a liquid test sample that comprises the steps of: a) providing a test strip having at least one test field (500, 501) comprising a respective reagent on its surface that reflects light at a specific range of wavelengths and at least two distinct marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) on the same surface of said test strip as said test field (500, 501), said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) reflecting light at different ranges of wavelengths from each other and from said test field (500, 501) in a coded sequence of ranges of wavelengths, said coded sequence correlates to information concerning identification of the test strip; b) introducing said test strip on a feed table into a strip reading device equipped with reading means for both said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c), said reading means comprises a light source as transmitter and a light sensitive element as receiver, said receiver being capable of differentiating between said ranges of wavelengths at which said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) reflect, said strip reading device also being equipped with means for correlating the coded range of infrared wavelength sequence of reflected light with preprogrammed information concerning said test strip, said correlating means being in operative communication with a receiving means, said reading device having means for moving said test strip and said receiving means relative to one another so that the reflectance of said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) can be individually read by said reading means; c) allowing said ranges of wavelength values reflected by said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) to be individually read by said reading means; d) allowing said reading means to communicate said coded infrared sequence of spectral reflectance values reflected from said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) to said correlating means and allowing said correlating means to correlate said infrared sequence of reflected range of wavelength values with said preprogrammed information concerning said test strip; characterised in that the method comprises the step of e) allowing said reading means to communicate said reflected range of infrared wavelength values to said correlating means and allowing said correlating means to determine, for one or more of the reagents disposed on said test strip, if said reflected range of infrared wavelength values are within a predetermined range of infrared reflectances, wherein said predetermined range of infrared reflectances corresponds to positions of said test strip in which said test strip is not more than about 0.51 mm (0.020") in a lateral direction from a predetermined central location of the feed table and is not incompletely inserted into the feed table by more than about 1.27 mm (0.050"). a) providing a test strip having at least one test field (500, 501) comprising a respective reagent on its surface that reflects light at a specific range of wavelengths and at least two distinct marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) on the same surface of said test strip as said test field (500, 501), said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) reflecting light at different ranges of wavelengths from each other and from said test field (500, 501) in a coded sequence of ranges of wavelengths, said coded sequence correlates to information concerning identification of the test strip; b) introducing said test strip on a feed table into a strip reading device equipped with reading means for both said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c), said reading means comprises a light source as transmitter and a light sensitive element as receiver, said receiver being capable of differentiating between said ranges of wavelengths at which said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) reflect, said strip reading device also being equipped with means for correlating the coded range of infrared wavelength sequence of reflected light with preprogrammed information concerning said test strip, said correlating means being in operative communication with a receiving means, said reading device having means for moving said test strip and said receiving means relative to one another so that the reflectance of said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) can be individually read by said reading means; c) allowing said ranges of wavelength values reflected by said test field (500, 501) and said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) to be individually read by said reading means; d) allowing said reading means to communicate said coded infrared sequence of spectral reflectance values reflected from said marker fields (504, 504a, 504b, 504c) to said correlating means and allowing said correlating means to correlate said infrared sequence of reflected range of wavelength values with said preprogrammed information concerning said test strip; characterised in that the method comprises the step of e) allowing said reading means to communicate said reflected range of infrared wavelength values to said correlating means and allowing said correlating means to determine, for one or more of the reagents disposed on said test strip, if said reflected range of infrared wavelength values are within a predetermined range of infrared reflectances,