Methods of laser welding disposable diagnostic test elements

A method of manufacturing a disposable diagnostic test element, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing, in a stacked or a layered arrangement, a base layer, a cover layer, and optionally an intermediate layer, wherein one of the layers is an absorbing layer configured to absorb radiation from a laser beam and at least one of the other layers is a transparent layer configured to transmit radiation from the laser beam, and wherein one of the layers includes a coating adapted to interact with a body fluid sample when conducting a test with a resulting test element;
• b) directing the laser beam in one or more weld areas through the at least one transparent layer and against the absorbing layer;
• and
• c) fusing the transparent and the absorbing layers together by radiation from the laser beam to form the test element,
• wherein the coating is a chemistry layer adapted to react with an analyte of interest in the body fluid sample when conducting the test with the resulting test element, and wherein the coating covers the weld area and absorbs and/or scatters the laser radiation at least in part.