Patent ID: 8173008

Claim:
A method for determining an analyte in a bodily fluid sample, the method comprising: inserting an analyte test strip into a test meter such that: at least one electrical connector pin of the test meter travels along at least one electrical contact pad of the analyte test strip, and across a meter identification feature disposed on the electrical contact pad, during the insertion; and while a signal processing module of the test meter measures an electrical characteristic via the electrical connector pin as the electrical connector pin continuously travels along the electrical contact pad and across the meter identification feature, identifying the analyte test strip, using the signal processing module, based on the electrical characteristic measured as the analyte test strip is inserted into the test meter; determining an analyte in a bodily fluid sample applied to the test strip using the test meter only if the identification indicates that such determining is appropriate, wherein the electrical contact pad has a predetermined contact electrical characteristic value and the meter identification feature has a predetermined identification feature electrical characteristic value that is dissimilar from the predetermined contact electrical characteristic.