Patent ID: 8510067

Claim:
A system for performing quality assurance of a quantitative physiological sample test system without using a quality control sample, comprising: a sample testing cartridge comprising: a port configured to receive a physiological sample; and a sensor configured to detect an analyte in the physiological sample; a reader comprising: a port configured to receive the sample testing cartridge; and a processor configured to: receive a signal from the sensor when the sample testing cartridge is received by the port of the reader; and generate test results based on the signal; a thermal and temporal stress monitor module configured to: monitor thermal and temporal stress of the sample testing cartridge; register a shift in baseline calibration potential of at least one sensor based on the monitored thermal and temporal stress; and communicate information regarding the shift in the baseline calibration potential when the sample testing cartridge is received by the port of the reader; and a quality assurance failure alert module in communication with the thermal and temporal stress monitor module and configured to: receive the information regarding the shift in the baseline calibration potential; compare the information against an anticipated range; generate alert information indicating that the sample testing cartridge has failed quality assurance when the information is outside of the anticipated range; and suppress display of the test results on the reader when the sample testing cartridge has failed quality assurance.