Test member orientation

A method of determining the orientation of test member within a test meter, the test member comprising a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, each major surface comprising an orientation indicator region, the orientation indicator regions differing by at least one optical property, the test meter comprising a test region for accepting a test member and a processor, the test region comprising an optical orientation sensor aligned with the orientation indicator region of one major surface of a test member within the test meter, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) using the orientation sensor to produce an orientation signal indicative of the reflectance of the orientation indicator region of one surface of the test member;
• and
• b) using the processor to determine which of the orientation indicator regions is being measured by the orientation sensor.

A test apparatus, comprising a test member and a test meter capable of determining the orientation of a stationary test member fully inserted therein, the test member comprising a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, each major surface having an orientation indicator region, the orientation indicator regions differing by at least one optical property, the test meter having a test region for accepting a test member, the test region being provided with an optical orientation sensor for measuring the at least one optical property of an orientation indicator region of a test member within the test meter, the optical orientation sensor generating an orientation signal indicative of the at least one optical property of the orientation indicator region, the test meter further comprising a processor for receiving said orientation signal and determining the orientation of the test member.

A test apparatus, comprising an elongate test strip and a test meter capable of determining the orientation of a stationary test strip fully inserted therein, the test strip comprising a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, each major surface having an orientation indicator region, the orientation indicator regions having a different reflectance, the test member further comprising a test portion for accepting a liquid sample, the reflectance of said test portion varying with a characteristic of said liquid sample, the test meter having a test region for accepting a test member, the test region being provided with an optical orientation sensor for measuring the reflectance of an orientation indicator region of a test member within the test meter and an optical test sensor for measuring the reflectance of the test portion of a test member within the test meter, the optical orientation sensor generating an orientation signal indicative of the reflectance of the orientation indicator region, the test sensor generating a signal indicative of the reflectance of the test portion, the test meter further comprising a processor for receiving said orientation signal and determining the orientation of the test member, said processor also receiving a signal from the test sensor and determining the characteristic of the liquid sample.