Patent ID: 8303801

Claim:
A method of determining the concentration of glucose in a blood sample, comprising: providing a disposable biosensor test strip including a capillary chamber having a depth suitable for capillary flow of blood, and holding a volume of from about 0.3 μl to about 0.6 μl of the blood sample, working and counter or reference electrodes disposed within the capillary chamber, the working electrode including one or more electrically connected electrode elements having an aggregate width of about 100 μm to about 1350 μm, and a reagent proximal to or in contact with at least the working electrode, the reagent including an enzyme and a mediator; applying a blood sample containing glucose into the capillary chamber, the capillary chamber directing capillary flow of the blood sample into contact with the reagent to cause the blood sample to at least partially solubilize or hydrate the reagent, the glucose reacting with the reagent to produce an electroactive reaction product; detecting the blood sample in the capillary chamber; following said detecting, providing a delay period prior to application of an electrooxidation assay potential across the working and counter or reference electrodes; following said delay period, applying an electrooxidation assay potential across the working and counter or reference electrodes; electrooxidizing the electroactive reaction product at the working electrode, said electrooxidizing producing an assay current; measuring the assay current at one or more times after applying the assay potential, correlating the assay current measurement to the concentration of glucose in the blood sample, and within the time period lasting from about 2 to about 8 seconds after said detecting, providing a readout of the glucose concentration in the blood sample.