Abstract: A method for analyzing a biological fluid specimen. The collection cartridge is inserted into a reader. The plurality of reactive elements of the collection cartridge following insertion of the collection cartridge is optically read recurrently. The first color change of at least one reactive element of the collection cartridge is detected and dated following the recurrent optical reading. The biological fluid specimen from the collection cartridge is analyzed following the detection of the color change of at least one reactive element of the collection cartridge.