Patent ID: 7477404

Claim:
A method for monitoring whether an analysis region of a test element holding a sample is positioned in an analysis position for analyzing the sample using an analysis system, the analysis system having a test element receptacle and an analysis unit, the analysis position being relative to the analysis unit as the test element is mounted in the test element receptacle, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating the analysis region with light from at least one monitoring light source; detecting responsive detection signals by a detector, the detection signals comprising light scattered and/or reflected at the analysis region; delimiting a light-transmissive region arranged between the test element and the detector by a delimiting element comprising a light-opaque region and positioned relative to the monitoring light source and the detector such that detection signals generally impinge upon the light-opaque region and not the detector when the test element is mounted in the test element receptacle in an incorrect position in a Z direction; evaluating the detection signals using an evaluation unit; and comparing the detection signals with at least one predetermined limit value corresponding to a correct analysis position with respect to the Z direction.