Quality assurance system and method for point-of-care testing

A system for performing quality assurance of a quantitative physiological sample test system without using a quality control sample, comprising:

• a sample testing cartridge comprising:
• a port configured to receive a physiological sample;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect an analyte in the physiological sample;
• a reader comprising:
• a port configured to receive the sample testing cartridge;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive a signal from the sensor when the sample testing cartridge is received by the port of the reader;
• and
• generate test results based on the signal;
• a thermal and temporal stress monitor module configured to:
• monitor thermal and temporal stress of the sample testing cartridge;
• register a shift in baseline calibration potential of at least one sensor based on the monitored thermal and temporal stress;
• and
• communicate information regarding the shift in the baseline calibration potential when the sample testing cartridge is received by the port of the reader;
• and
• a quality assurance failure alert module in communication with the thermal and temporal stress monitor module and configured to:
• receive the information regarding the shift in the baseline calibration potential;
• compare the information against an anticipated range;
• generate alert information indicating that the sample testing cartridge has failed quality assurance when the information is outside of the anticipated range;
• and
• suppress display of the test results on the reader when the sample testing cartridge has failed quality assurance.