Patent ID: 6881550

Claim:
A method for determining glucose concentration, the method comprising: applying an unmetered whole blood sample to a reagent test strip for use in an apparatus for determining the blood glucose concentration of a sample of whole blood, the apparatus including optical means for detecting intensity of light reflected from a reading surface portion of the reagent test strip, the reagent test strip comprising: a sample receiving surface portion for receiving an unmeasured whole blood sample; a reading surface portion, other than the sample receiving surface portion, from which reflectance is read by the apparatus; and a notch for aligning the reading surface portion of the reagent test strip in register with the optical means in the apparatus; allowing the unmetered whole blood sample to migrate to the reading surface portion; and monitoring the reflectance of the reading surface portion using the optical means of the apparatus; wherein the applying of the unmetered whole blood sample occurs while the reagent test strip is emplaced in the apparatus.