Patent ID: 8394637

Claim:
A handheld analyzer for testing a biological fluid for a medically significant component, comprising a display device, a housing, a loading opening for receiving a replaceable magazine containing a plurality of analytical consumable means, a withdrawal device for withdrawing one of the analytical consumable means from the magazine and for conveying it onto a conveyance pathway, an analysis sensor to which an analytical consumable means may be supplied on the conveyance pathway, and a test unit which detects the correct positioning of an analytical consumable means in the conveyance pathway, wherein the test unit comprises an electric switch component configured for mechanically sensing the positioning of an analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway, assuming at least one position which represents the presence of an analytical consumable means and delivering a switch signal as a function of the positioning of the analytical consumable means, the test unit further comprising an optical sensor unit configured for optically sensing the positioning of an analytical consumable means on the conveyance pathway and delivering a sensor signal as a function of the positioning of the analytical consumable means, and the test unit further comprising a control unit configured for analyzing the switch signal of the electric switch component, analyzing the sensor signal of the optical sensor unit, and controlling the handheld analyzer as a function of the comparison of these signals.