Abstract: A method of configuring a hand-held instrument (10) for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid or a control comprises providing a configuring computer (14) having a first port (18) for transmitting instructions and data for configuring the instrument (10), providing on the instrument (10) a second port (17) for receiving the instructions and data from the configuring computer (14), coupling the first port (18) to the second port (17), transmitting instructions and data to configure the instrument (10) from the first port (18), receiving the instructions and data at the second port (17), and configuring the instrument (10) according to the instructions and data transmitted from the first port (10) and received at the second port (17).

Abstract: An instrument (20) has a well (28a-b) for receiving a dry cell (75), an opening (78) through which a first connector (74) is exposed to the well (28a-b), and a boss (76) adjacent the opening (78). The boss (76) precludes the wrong terminal of the dry cell (75) from engaging the first connector (74) when the dry cell (75) is inserted into the well (28a-b) in incorrect orientation. A second connector (80) includes a base (81), a first leg (82) resiliently connected to and extending away from the base portion, a second leg (84) resiliently connected to and extending away from the first leg (82), and a third leg (86) resiliently connected to and extending away from the second leg (84) and toward the first leg (82). A display (42) for the instrument (20) has a lens (90) having a substantially transparent substrate with a polyurethane coating. The instrument housing has first and second portions.