Multi-analyte test strip with inline working electrodes and shared opposing counter/reference electrode

A test meter for use with a co-facial multi-analyte test strip, the test meter comprising:

• a test strip receiving module with at least:
• a first electrical connector configured for contacting a first analyte contact pad of a first working electrode of the co-facial multi-analyte test strip;
• a second electrical connector configured for contacting a counter/reference electrode contact pad of a shared counter/reference electrode of the multi-analyte test strip;
• and
• a third electrical connector configured for contacting a second analyte contact pad of a second working electrode of the multi-analyte test strip;
• and
• a signal processing module,
• wherein the signal processing module is configured to receive a first signal via the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector and employ the first signal for the determination of a first analyte in a bodily fluid sample applied to the co-facial multi-analyte test strip;
• and
• wherein the signal processing module is also configured to receive a second signal via the second electrical connector and third electrical connector and employ the second signal for the determination of a second analyte in the bodily fluid sample applied to the co-facial multi-analyte test strip;
• and
• wherein the first electrical connector and third electrical connector are configured for essentially coplanar contact with the first analyte contact pad and the second analyte contact pad and the second electrical contact pad is configured to contact the counter/reference electrode contact pad in a manner offset from the essentially coplanar contact.

A method for determining multiple analytes in a single bodily fluid sample, the method comprising:

• inserting a co-facial multi-analyte test strip into a test meter such that:
• a first electrical connector of the test meter comes into contact with a first analyte contact pad of a first working electrode of the multi-analyte test strip;
• a second electrical connector of the test meter comes into contact with a counter/reference electrode contact pad of a shared counter/reference electrode of the multi-analyte test strip;
• and
• a third electrical connector of the test meter comes into contact with a second analyte contact pad of a second working electrode of the multi-analyte test strip;
• determining a first analyte and a second analyte in a single bodily fluid sample applied to the co-facial multi-analyte test strip using a signal processing module of the test meter,
• wherein, during the determining step, the signal processing module receives a first signal via the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector and employs the first signal for the determination of the first analyte;
• and
• wherein, during the determining step, the signal processing module receives a second signal via the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector and employs the second signal for the determination of the second analyte;
• and
• wherein the first working electrode and second working electrode are disposed on a first insulating layer of the co-facial multi-analyte test strip in a planar inline configuration;
• and
• wherein the shared counter/reference electrode layer is configured in an opposing relationship to the first working electrode and the second working electrode.