Abstract: An electrochemical-based analytical test strip includes an electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned conductive layer disposed over the electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned insulating layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, an enzymatic reagent layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, a patterned adhesive layer disposed above the enzymatic reagent layer and a top layer disposed over the enzymatic reagent layer. In addition, the test strip has a sample-receiving chamber defined by the electrically-insulating substrate, the patterned conductive layer, the patterned insulating layer, the enzymatic reagent layer, the patterned adhesive layer and the top layer. The sample receiving chamber of the test strip has a working portion and a non-working portion and the top layer has a first portion and an opaque second portion.

Abstract: A method for determining an analyte (such a glucose) in a bodily fluid sample includes introducing a bodily fluid sample (e.g., a whole blood sample) into a sample-receiving chamber of an analytical test strip. The method also includes verifying that the bodily fluid sample has filled at least a working portion of the sample-receiving chamber by user visual observation of the working portion through a first portion of a top layer of the analytical test strip, while an opaque second portion of the top layer precludes user visual observation of a non-working portion of the sample-receiving chamber. Thereafter, in the method, the concentration of analyte in the bodily fluid sample is determined only if during the verifying step the user has verified that the bodily fluid sample has filled the working portion.

Abstract: An electrochemical-based analytical test strip includes an electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned conductive layer disposed over the electrically-insulating substrate, a patterned insulating layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, an enzymatic reagent layer disposed over the patterned conductive layer, a patterned adhesive layer disposed above the enzymatic reagent layer and a top layer disposed over the enzymatic reagent layer. In addition, the test strip has a sample-receiving chamber defined by the electrically-insulating substrate, the patterned conductive layer, the patterned insulating layer, the enzymatic reagent layer, the patterned adhesive layer and the top layer. The sample receiving chamber of the test strip has a working portion and a non-working portion and the top layer has a first portion and an opaque second portion.