Patent ID: 7118667

Claim:
A biosensor for electrochemical analysis of a liquid sample, which biosensor comprises: a) a base member having a proximal and a distal end; b) a laminate member having a proximal and a distal end positioned in vertical, parallel alignment with said base member, wherein the laminate member defines a venting means and a sample application means positioned over said distal end of said laminate, and wherein said distal end of said laminate member is aligned with said distal end of said base member; c) an electrode system positioned between said base member and said laminate member, wherein said electrode system comprises a working electrode and a counter electrode, said working and counter electrodes having conductive leads at said proximal end of said base member for connecting said electrodes to a readout device for electrochemical measurement, wherein said working electrode is positioned adjacent to said counter electrode, and there is a gap space between said working and counter electrodes; d) an insulating layer positioned between said base member and said laminate member; e) a reaction area positioned between said base member and said laminate member, which reaction area encompasses at least a portion of said working electrode, said counter electrode and the gap space between said working electrode and said counter electrode, wherein the reaction area is defined by an opening between said base member and said laminate member, and which reaction area has a test reagent positioned therein; and f) a dielectric coating positioned between said electrode system and said base member and within at least a portion of the reaction area, wherein the test reagent comprises a liquid soluble hydrophilic component.