An analyte meter comprising: a test strip port configured for receiving a test strip (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900), the test strip port comprising: a strip port connector comprising a plurality of contacts (220, 222, 420, 424, 421, 425, 620, 621, 622, 721, 724, 820, 822, 920, 924) each configured to electrically connect to a corresponding contact pad (206, 208, 406, 408, 426, 428, 606, 608, 706, 708, 726, 728, 806, 808, 906, 908, 926, 928) disposed on the test strip when the test strip is inserted into the test strip port; and a test strip orientation detector for detecting an orientation of the test strip; and a control circuit electrically connected to the strip port connector and configured to apply a first predetermined voltage signal to a first contact of said connector when the test strip is in a first orientation, as determined by the orientation detector; characterised in that the control circuit is configured to apply a second predetermined voltage signal to the first contact when the test strip is in a second orientation, as determined by the orientation detector, where the second predetermined voltage signal is an inverse polarity of the first predetermined voltage signal, wherein said test strip orientation detector is configured to sense a feature of the test strip to determine the orientation of the test strip, said feature being indicative of the orientation of the test strip. a test strip port configured for receiving a test strip (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900), the test strip port comprising: a strip port connector comprising a plurality of contacts (220, 222, 420, 424, 421, 425, 620, 621, 622, 721, 724, 820, 822, 920, 924) each configured to electrically connect to a corresponding contact pad (206, 208, 406, 408, 426, 428, 606, 608, 706, 708, 726, 728, 806, 808, 906, 908, 926, 928) disposed on the test strip when the test strip is inserted into the test strip port; and a test strip orientation detector for detecting an orientation of the test strip; and a strip port connector comprising a plurality of contacts (220, 222, 420, 424, 421, 425, 620, 621, 622, 721, 724, 820, 822, 920, 924) each configured to electrically connect to a corresponding contact pad (206, 208, 406, 408, 426, 428, 606, 608, 706, 708, 726, 728, 806, 808, 906, 908, 926, 928) disposed on the test strip when the test strip is inserted into the test strip port; and a test strip orientation detector for detecting an orientation of the test strip; and a control circuit electrically connected to the strip port connector and configured to apply a first predetermined voltage signal to a first contact of said connector when the test strip is in a first orientation, as determined by the orientation detector; characterised in that the control circuit is configured to apply a second predetermined voltage signal to the first contact when the test strip is in a second orientation, as determined by the orientation detector, where the second predetermined voltage signal is an inverse polarity of the first predetermined voltage signal, wherein said test strip orientation detector is configured to sense a feature of the test strip to determine the orientation of the test strip, said feature being indicative of the orientation of the test strip.