Abstract: Body fluid is sampled by causing a syringe mounted in a housing to be displaced toward a skin surface. The syringe remains in the resulting incision while the surrounding body tissue is stimulated by a stimulator ring to urge body fluid toward the incision. Simultaneously, the syringe is moved relative to the incision to keep the incision open. Such movement of the syringe may comprise reciprocation in the longitudinal or lateral directions, or both. Alternatively, the movement of the syringe may comprise rotation about a longitudinal center line of the syringe, with the pointed end of the syringe being in the shape of one-half of a cone segment. After the body fluid has been pooled, suction is created in a collection tube disposed in communication with the syringe, to draw body fluid inwardly through the syringe.

Abstract: A dry reagent test strip for determining the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample is described. The test strip has a matrix containing reagent detection chemistry, which includes an oxidase enzyme that can utilize the analyte as a substrate forming hydrogen peroxide, a benzidine dye precursor, a peroxidase enzyme, and an antipyrine compound. The addition of an antipyrine compound to the reagent detection chemistry provides a standard concentration graph which is substantially linear in a desired range of analyte concentration. The precision and accuracy of reading the test strip are enhanced.

Abstract: A dry chemistry dye indicator composition provides improved shelf life, stable color indication end point and capability for a system at near normal pH. The novel dry chemistry dye indication system comprises 3-Methyl-6-(sodium sulfonate)-benzothiazolinone-(2)-hydrazone (MBTH-S). A preferred dye systems are based on the dye couple (MBTH-S) and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS), and the dye couple MBTH-S and N-(3-sulfopropyl)analine. These dye indicator systems are used in conventional blood chemistry test strips and are particularly preferred for indication of glucose in blood.