Abstract: A sensor which has at least first and second electrodes and a volume therebetween for receiving a liquid sample, includes an agent that lyses cells, wherein the lysing agent is in or on the surface of the first electrode.

Abstract: A test strip for testing small volumes in which a layer of mesh or membrane material is provided, in which a small volume of liquid to be tested can be distributed and provide contact between an active electrode and counterelectrode on a support, and wherein an analyte-specific reagent is coated on the mesh or material or one of the electrodes, and in which the sample application area is at one edge of the mesh or membrane.

Abstract: A process for the production of a device having a surface microstructure of wells or channels. In the process one or more steps of screen-printing the microstructure as a curable material onto a plastic substrate, and curing the material. Such a device is also obtained by applying onto a substrate a material that is polymerizable or depolymerizable by irradiation, applying a negative or positive resist photoresist respectively, irradiating the structure and removing the unpolymerized or depolymerized material.

Abstract: A device, for use in the electrochemical analysis of an analyte in a small volume liquid sample, having a non-conducting substrate (1); a conductive layer, deposited on the substrate, in two parts (2a, 2b), defining a non-conducting gap (8) therebetween; an analyte-specific reagent (5) coated on the conductive layer, on one side of the gap; a reference electrode (3) on the conductive layer, on the other side of the gap; a spacer layer (4) deposited over the conductive layer; a monofilament mesh (6) coated with a surfactant or chaotropic agent, the mesh being laid over the reagent, the reference electrode and the spacer layer; and a second non-conductive layer (7) adhered to the mesh layer, but not coextensive therewith, thereby providing a sample application area (9) on the mesh.

Abstract: An electrode comprises a non-conductive substrate and a conductive layer comprising, in a bonded matrix, graphite particles coated with a noble metal, and carbon particles, wherein the graphite particles are up to 20 &mgr;m is size and have a surface area of 1-50 m2/g. This electrode is capable of measuring low levels of analyte, e.g. glucose in sweat when convined with a layer containing glucose oxidase.

Abstract: A method for the production of electrodes, especially microelectrodes, in which the (micro) electrode consists essentially of an electrically-insulating material through which apertures are formed to reveal the electrically-conducting material, is characterized in that aperture as formed by the use of a light-hardened (photopolymerizing) resist or light-softened (photoinduced breaking of bonds) resist.