Patent ID: 7549323

Claim:
A system for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample, the system comprising: a test strip including: a base having a first portion and a second portion separated by a bend line formed in the base, the bend line traversing the longitudinal axis of the base, the base being adapted to bend about the bend line; and a test element disposed on one of the first or second portions of the base, the test element including a reagent adapted to react with the analyte in the fluid sample and to produce a reaction indicative of the concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample; and a meter including: a read-head adapted to analyze the reaction between the analyte and the reagent; and a receiving area adapted to receive the first portion of the base of the test strip, wherein the receiving area of the meter receives the first portion of the base of the test strip, the test strip adapted to be bent about the bend line such that the second portion of the test strip is disposed over the read-head, the first portion of the test strip positioning the second portion of the test strip a predetermined distance from the read-head such that a spacing is created between the second portion of the test strip having the test element disposed thereon and the read-head.