Patent ID: 8916036

Claim:
An analyte test instrument suitable for performing an assay, said analyte test instrument comprising: a test port for receiving a test strip; a microprocessor for executing instructions downloaded to the analyte test instrument; a display in communication with the microprocessor for displaying assay results to a user of the analyte test instrument; and a test strip circuit that switches between a two electrode configuration and a three electrode configuration following sample application to the test strip and before removal of the test strip, wherein switching between the configurations comprises the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having two electrodes to an assay with a test strip having three electrodes or the microprocessor setting the switches of the test strip circuit from an assay with a test strip having three electrodes to an assay with a test strip having two electrodes, wherein the test strip circuit is in a two electrode configuration during a first portion of an assay and a three electrode configuration during a second portion of the assay.