Patent ID: 8196374

Claim:
A method, comprising: assembling on a sterility sheet a plurality of test elements configured to analyze body fluid; enclosing in the sterility sheet a plurality of piercing members configured to pierce tissue, wherein each piercing member is associated with one of the test elements to create a tape of integrated sampling elements; sterilizing the piercing members; and said assembling on the sterility sheet the plurality of test elements comprising assembling one or more components of the test elements that are unaffected by said sterilization on the sterility sheet prior to said sterilization, and assembling one or more components of the test elements that are affected by said sterilization on the sterility sheet after said sterilization; folding the tape after said enclosing to create a folded tape section; and packing the folded tape section into a supply compartment of a cartridge; and forming on the sterility sheet a plurality of guide members configured to guide the tape in the cartridge.