Patent ID: 7842235

Claim:
Test element for the testing of a liquid sample, the test element comprising: a sample application area having an exposed surface on which a liquid sample can be applied; a test field at which a measuring parameter that is characteristic of the test is measured, the test field comprising a reagent which reacts with a medically significant analyte present in the liquid sample to produce the measuring parameter, wherein the measuring parameter that is characteristic of the analysis can be measured with a measuring facility and can be analyzed by an analytical device to achieve a result of a test performed with the test element; a sample transport path extending between the sample application area and the test field; and an actuator field assigned to the test field and including an electrically-conductive layer, the actuator field being switchable between a first state attracting the sample and a second state attracting the sample less than in the first state, the actuator field being switchable by applying an electric voltage that is different from an earth potential to the conductive layer, and wherein the actuator field comprises a section that is disposed along the sample transport path intermediate the sample application area and the test field, the section being arranged at about the same distance from the sample application area as the test field, measured along the sample transport path, such that by applying a voltage to the actuator field, a wetting of the test field which includes a spreading of the sample over the test field can be controlled.