Glucose monitor and test strip containers for use in same

A system for the detection of glucose comprising,

• a test meter which receives a disposable test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the amount of an analyte in the sample, said meter comprising:
• (a) a housing having formed therein
• slot for receiving a disposable test strip with a sample of bodily fluid thereon, said slot forming a connection between the exterior of the housing and an interior region in which electronics for measuring the amount of analyte are disposed;
• and
• a receptacle for receiving a container in which disposable test strips are provided, said receptacle having an open end providing access to the receptacle from the exterior of the housing and through which the container is received, and an inner end which does not provide an operative connection for disposable test strips to the interior region of the housing, said container having affixed thereto information specific to the disposable test strips provided in the container in a form readable by the test meter;
• (b ) means for reading the information affixed to the container while it is in the receptacle, and
• a container of disposable glucose test strips sized to be placed within the receptacle, said container comprising:
• (a) a sealable body member for receiving at least one glucose test strip;
• (b) machine-readable means for storing information specific to glucose test strips provided in the container;
• and
• (c) at least one disposable glucose test strip for electrochemical analysis of the amount of the glucose in a sample disposed within the sealable body member.

A method for detection of glucose in a sample of bodily fluid from a patient comprising the steps of:

• providing an analytical system comprising:
• a test meter which receives a disposable glucose test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the amount of glucose in the sample, said meter comprising:
• (a) a housing having formed therein
• a slot for receiving a disposable glucose test strip with a sample of bodily fluid thereon, said slot forming a connection between the exterior of the housing and an interior region in which electronics for measuring the amount of glucose are disposed;
• and
• a receptacle for receiving a container in which disposable glucose test strips are provided, said receptacle having an open end providing access to the receptacle from the exterior of the housing and through which the container is received, and an inner end which does not provide an operative connection for disposable test strips to the interior region of the housing, said container having affixed thereto information specific to the disposable test strips provided in the container in a form readable by the test meter;
• (b) means for reading the information affixed to the container while it is in the receptacle, and
• a container of disposable glucose test strips disposed within the receptacle, said container comprising
• (a) a sealable body member for receiving at least one disposable glucose test strip;
• (b) machine-readable means for storing information specific to glucose test strips provided in the container;
• and
• (c) at least one disposable glucose test strip for electrochemical analysis of the amount of the glucose in a sample disposed within the sealable body member;
• removing a test strip from the container disposed within the receptacle;
• inserting the removed test strip into the slot formed in the housing;
• and applying the sample to the test strip.