An assay test strip reader comprising: a body sized to receive an assay test strip comprising a test portion and an encoder portion; at least one detector positioned within the body and fixedly attached thereto such that the at least one detector is configured upon an inserting of the assay test strip which inserting is characterized by a user sliding the assay test strip in a first direction with respect to the body, or a removing of the assay test strip which removing is characterized by a user sliding the assay test strip in a different second direction with respect to the body, which sliding results in movement of the assay test strip with respect to the body and the at least one detector, to detect a first signal based on a first point on the assay test strip and to detect a second signal based on a different second point on the assay test strip; an electro-mechanical or electro-magnetical position sensing mechanism configured to detect the encoder portion of the assay test strip and an amount of displacement of the assay test strip within the body during the user-caused moving of the assay test strip relative to the body of the reader, the position sensing mechanism being thereby configured to detect at least one position of the assay test strip with respect to the reader and to generate at least one output signal indicative of a relative position of the assay test strip and the body; at least one signal converter electronically connected to the at least one detector, the at least one signal converter configured to receive the first signal and the second signal detected by the detector, wherein the detection of the first signal and the second signal takes place during the user-caused moving of the assay test strip relative to the body of the assay test strip reader; and control electronics configured to determine the position of the assay test strip within the body during the user-caused moving of the assay test strip relative to the body of the reader, the control electronics configured to convert the signals generated during movement of the assay test strip with respect to the body of the assay test strip reader into a profile of the assay test strip, the profile indicating the presence or absence of analytes to which the assay test strip was exposed, wherein the assay test strip reader does not comprise a spring mechanism for moving the test strip outward relative to the body. a body sized to receive an assay test strip comprising a test portion and an encoder portion; at least one detector positioned within the body and fixedly attached thereto such that the at least one detector is configured upon an inserting of the assay test strip which inserting is characterized by a user sliding the assay test strip in a first direction with respect to the body, or a removing of the assay test strip which removing is characterized by a user sliding the assay test strip in a different second direction with respect to the body, which sliding results in movement of the assay test strip with respect to the body and the at least one detector, to detect a first signal based on a first point on the assay test strip and to detect a second signal based on a different second point on the assay test strip; an electro-mechanical or electro-magnetical position sensing mechanism configured to detect the encoder portion of the assay test strip and an amount of displacement of the assay test strip within the body during the user-caused moving of the assay test strip relative to the body of the reader, the position sensing mechanism being thereby configured to detect at least one position of the assay test strip with respect to the reader and to generate at least one output signal indicative of a relative position of the assay test strip and the body; at least one signal converter electronically connected to the at least one detector, the at least one signal converter configured to receive the first signal and the second signal detected by the detector, wherein the detection of the first signal and the second signal takes place during the user-caused moving of the assay test strip relative to the body of the assay test strip reader; and control electronics configured to determine the position of the assay test strip within the body during the user-caused moving of the assay test strip relative to the body of the reader, the control electronics configured to convert the signals generated during movement of the assay test strip with respect to the body of the assay test strip reader into a profile of the assay test strip, the profile indicating the presence or absence of analytes to which the assay test strip was exposed, wherein the assay test strip reader does not comprise a spring mechanism for moving the test strip outward relative to the body.