A method of determining the concentration of an analyte in blood as liquid sample comprising: providing a test sensor including a sample receiving cavity having a volume of 1 μl or less, the sensor including working and counter electrodes disposed within the sample receiving cavity, each electrode having electrode elements and a common element commonly connecting the electrode elements, wherein each electrode has from 4 to 30 electrode elements disposed in an interdigitated array of the electrodes on a flexible substrate, each electrode connected to electrically-conductive connectors having pads available to be contacted to an external electronic, each electrode element having a width in a range from greater than 15 μm to 50 μm, wherein a separation between alternating electrode elements is in a range between 15 μm and 50 μm, the sensor further comprising a coating including a reagent layer comprising an enzyme and a mediator, the reagent layer being disposed on the interdigitated array of the electrodes, the enzyme and mediator being selected to react with the analyte to generate an electroactive reaction product for measuring an electrochemical signal representative of the concentration of the analyte in the blood; admitting the blood into the sample receiving cavity, whereby the coating is at least partly solubilized or hydrated by the analyte; detecting the time at which the blood enters the sample cavity; following said detecting, controlling the voltage or current across the working and counter electrodes; and within 2-6 seconds after said detecting, obtaining a readout of the concentration of the analyte in the blood. providing a test sensor including a sample receiving cavity having a volume of 1 μl or less, the sensor including working and counter electrodes disposed within the sample receiving cavity, each electrode having electrode elements and a common element commonly connecting the electrode elements, wherein each electrode has from 4 to 30 electrode elements disposed in an interdigitated array of the electrodes on a flexible substrate, each electrode connected to electrically-conductive connectors having pads available to be contacted to an external electronic, each electrode element having a width in a range from greater than 15 μm to 50 μm, wherein a separation between alternating electrode elements is in a range between 15 μm and 50 μm, the sensor further comprising a coating including a reagent layer comprising an enzyme and a mediator, the reagent layer being disposed on the interdigitated array of the electrodes, the enzyme and mediator being selected to react with the analyte to generate an electroactive reaction product for measuring an electrochemical signal representative of the concentration of the analyte in the blood; admitting the blood into the sample receiving cavity, whereby the coating is at least partly solubilized or hydrated by the analyte; detecting the time at which the blood enters the sample cavity; following said detecting, controlling the voltage or current across the working and counter electrodes; and within 2-6 seconds after said detecting, obtaining a readout of the concentration of the analyte in the blood.