Containers for reading and handling diagnostic reagents and methods of using the same

A container with a rotatable lid for reading and handling diagnostic reagents in tape form, comprising:

• a body portion including an inner and outer surface;
• a lid portion being attached to the body portion and being adapted to rotate from a closed position to an open position;
• a continuous tape including a diagnostic reagent;
• a reagent-sensing device being attached to either the body portion or the lid portion and adapted to read the diagnostic reagent;
• a first storage device being attached to the body portion that is adapted to hold and dispense an unused portion of the continuous tape;
• and
• a second storage device being attached to the lid portion that is adapted to receive a used portion of the continuous tape,
• wherein during the rotation of the lid portion, the continuous tape is advanced from the first storage device and is extended over the reagent-sensing device and received by the second storage device.

A container with a rotatable lid for reading and handling diagnostic reagents adapted to determine glucose concentration in tape form, comprising:

• body portion including an inner and outer surface;
• a lid portion being attached to the body portion and being adapted to rotate from a closed position to an open position;
• a continuous tape including a diagnostic reagent to determine glucose concentration;
• a reagent-sensing device being attached to either the body portion or the lid portion and adapted to read the diagnostic reagent;
• and
• a first storage device being attached to the body portion that is adapted to hold and dispense an unused portion of the continuous tape,
• wherein during the rotation of the lid portion, the continuous tape is advanced from the first storage device and is extended over the reagent-sensing device.

A method of using a container with a rotatable lid for reading and handling diagnostic reagents in tape form, comprising:

• providing a rotatable container comprising a body portion, a lid portion, a continuous tape, a reagent-sensing device and a first storage device, the body portion including an inner and outer surface, the lid portion being attached to the body portion, the continuous tape including a diagnostic reagent, the reagent-sensing device being attached to either the body portion or the lid portion and adapted to read the diagnostic reagent, the first storage device being attached to the body portion and being adapted to hold and dispense an unused portion of the continuous tape;
• rotating the lid portion from a closed position to an open position;
• and
• advancing the continuous tape from the first storage device to extend over the reagent-sensing device during the rotation of the lid portion.