A method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a body fluid sample using a reaction involving an enzyme and the analyte, comprising: applying, by using a meter , a first DC pulse of electrical excitation to a body fluid sample in an analyte sensor , wherein the analyte sensor is an electrochemical test strip, wherein the electrochemical test strip is made up of two opposing substrates separated by a thin spacer layer, wherein these components define a reaction area or zone in which are located electrodes and a redox reagent system, wherein the redox reagent system present in the reaction area includes the enzyme with specificity for the analyte of interest, wherein the electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first DC pulse with a first polarity is applied to the electrodes , and the first electrode acts as a first working electrode during the first DC pulse , said first DC pulse being sufficient to generate a first current response ; determining, by using the meter , a first plurality of current measurements by measuring the first current response at a plurality of times during said first DC pulse ; using the first DC pulse to evaluate a reaction rate based on a shape and time-to-current-maximum of the first current response , and a presence and/or a level of bias from blank current sources; applying, by using the meter , a second DC pulse of electrical excitation to the body fluid sample, wherein the second DC pulse with a second polarity is applied to the electrodes , and the second electrode acts as a second working electrode during the second DC pulse , wherein the first polarity is opposite the second polarity to lessen analyte depletion over the second electrode, wherein the second DC pulse forms the primary basis for the analyte measurement, and it is compensated by the signal response measured for the first DC pulse , said second DC pulse being sufficient to generate a second current response ; determining, by using the meter , a second plurality of current measurements by measuring the second current response at a plurality of times during said second DC pulse ; and determining, by using the meter , the concentration of the analyte in the body fluid sample based on the first and second pluralities of current measurements; wherein the determined concentration is compensated for reaction rate and blank current interferent sources as a result of the first plurality of current measurements, wherein the meter uses a calibration chip storing information for various calibration coefficients that vary depending on reaction times and time-to-maximum current, which are then used to adjust the response from the second DC pulse , wherein, based on the shape and time-to-maximum current of the response to the first DC pulse , the meter selects from the calibration chip corresponding calibration coefficients and uses them to appropriately adjust the results from the response to the second DC pulse , wherein the method further comprises detecting, by using the meter , fill sufficiency of the body fluid sample in the analyte sensor , wherein said applying the first DC pulse occurs in response to said detecting the fill sufficiency of the body fluid sample. <EOS>