Test strip with magneto-elastic-resonance sensor

A test strip for testing a characteristic of a fluid sample applied to the test strip, the test strip comprising:

• a body of wicking material having a first surface and a second surface;
• a cavity within the wicking material;
• and
• at least one magneto-elastic-resonance sensor at least partially positioned within the cavity.

A method of interrogating a test strip to identify a characteristic of a fluid sample, the method comprising:

• applying a fluid sample to a test strip;
• permitting the fluid sample to flow into a cavity within a wicking layer of the test strip so as to wet a magneto-elastic-resonance sensor positioned at least partially within the cavity;
• transmitting an electromagnetic field into the test strip so as to excite the magneto-elastic resonance sensor;
• obtaining a resultant oscillation frequency of the sensor;
• and
• identifying a characteristic of the fluid sample based on the resultant oscillation frequency.

A test strip for testing a characteristic of a fluid sample applied to the test strip, the test strip comprising:

• a body of wicking material having a first surface and a second surface;
• a cavity within the wicking material, the cavity extending at least partially between the first and second surfaces of the body;
• at least one first magneto-elastic-resonance sensor positioned within the cavity;
• and
• at least one second magneto-elastic-resonance sensor positioned outside of the cavity.