Cartridge for packaging a sensor in a fluid calibrant

A cartridge for packaging a fluid calibrant containing an analyte, comprising:

• an analyte-impermeable container defining a volume and having an opening;
• a fluid calibrant containing an analyte within the container;
• a probe comprising an analyte-detecting portion, a sealing portion, and a connecting portion;
• and
• wherein the analyte-detecting portion of the probe is located within the container, the sealing portion is adapted to seal the container opening, and the connecting portion allows the probe to be operatively connected to a device external to the cartridge for quantitating or determining the concentration of the analyte while the opening is sealed by the sealing portion of the probe.

A cartridge for packaging a fluid calibrant containing an analyte, comprising:

• an analyte-impermeable container having an opening;
• a substantially analyte-impermeable sealing member adapted to seal the opening;
• a membrane that divides the container into a calibrant compartment containing the fluid calibrant and an outer compartment that communicates with the opening;
• and
• wherein the cartridge is adapted to allow a probe having an analyte-detecting portion to extend through the opening of the container and to sealingly pierce through the membrane such that the analyte-detecting portion of the probe is placed in the calibrant compartment.

A method for preparing a cartridge containing a calibrant and a probe comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an analyte-impermeable container having an opening;
• (b) dividing the container into a calibrant compartment and an outer compartment by a septum having a predetermined analyte permeability, such that the calibrant compartment contains a fluid calibrant and the outer compartment communicates with the opening;
• (c) positioning a probe within the container such that the probe extends sealingly through the septum, wherein the probe has an analyte-detecting portion and a connecting portion, the analyte-detection portion is located in the calibrant compartment, and the connecting portion is located in the outer compartment;
• (d) filling the container with a sufficient amount of analyte so as to allow the fluid calibrant to stabilize at a predetermined analyte concentration;
• and
• (e) rendering the opening substantially analyte-impermeable.