Analyte test strip for accepting diverse sample volumes

#Analyte determination, for example analyte detection and/or concentration measurement, in bodily fluid samples (e.g., a whole blood sample) is of increasing importance in today's society. Assays for analyte determination find use in a variety of settings, including clinical laboratories and homes. The results of such assays (also referred to as “tests”) play a prominent role in the diagnosis and management of a variety of medical conditions. Analytes of medical interest include, for example, glucose and cholesterol. In response to the importance of analyte determination, a variety of analyte detection protocols and devices for both clinical and home use have become commercially available.

#One type of analyte detection device is an analyte test strip that employs an electrochemical-based method to detect and/or measure the concentration of an analyte, such as glucose, in a bodily fluid sample (e.g., a whole blood sample). During such an electrochemical-based method, a bodily fluid sample is placed into a sample-receiving chamber of an analytical test strip that includes two electrodes, e.g., a counter electrode and working electrode. The analyte is allowed to react with a redox reagent within the sample-receiving chamber to form an oxidizable (or reducible) substance in an amount corresponding to the analyte's concentration. The quantity of the oxidizable (or reducible) substance present is then measured electrochemically and related to the amount of analyte present in the initial bodily fluid sample. Such conventional analyte test strips are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,708,247; 5,951,836; 6,241,862; and 6,284,125; each of which is hereby incorporated in full.

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the descriptions herein, serve to explain features of the invention, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a simplified, exploded, perspective view of an analyte test strip according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein broken lines indicate alignment of various components;

#FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of the analyte test strip of FIG. 1;

#The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like numbers indicate like elements. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected exemplary embodiments for the purpose of explanation only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The detailed description illustrates by way of example, not by way of limitation, the principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

#As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part, or collection of components, or method to function for its intended purpose as described herein. In addition, as used herein, the terms “patient”, “host” and “subject” refer to any human or animal subject and are not intended to limit the systems or methods to human use, although use of the subject invention in a human patient represents a preferred embodiment.

#Analyte test strip for accepting diverse bodily fluid sample volumes and determining an analyte according to embodiments of the present invention possess a variety of benefits. For example, the analyte test strips can be employed both in an institutional setting (e.g., a hospital or clinic) where bodily fluid sample volumes are large (e.g., greater than 5 microliters, and typically greater than 25 microliters) and in home settings where bodily fluid samples are small (for example, less than 5 microliters and frequently less than 1 microliter). Moreover, embodiments of the present invention also provide visual guidance for the application of large bodily fluid samples and/or a configuration that contains excess bodily fluid sample. Such containment of excess bodily fluid sample is beneficial in terms of avoiding bodily fluid contamination of associated equipment (e.g., a meter) and personnel.