Test member

• US 20020044890A1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypoguard USA Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hypoguard USA Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Murdo M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,833,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001

Abstract

A test member suitable for use in a test device for testing of analyte concentration in a fluid to be applied thereto comprises a base member (2) having a working area (4) to which the fluid is to be applied, containing a reagent which is reactive to the said analyte to produce an electrical signal or a color change, and a non-working area (8) adjacent to the working area (4). The total thickness of the test member in at least a portion of the non-working area (8) is at least as great as the total thickness of the test member in the working area (4).

Claims

1. A test member suitable for use in a test device for testing of analyte concentration in a fluid to be applied thereto, the test member comprising a base member having a working area to which the fluid is to be applied, containing a reagent which is reactive to the said analyte to produce an electrical signal or a color change, and a non-working area adjacent to the working area, wherein the total thickness of the test member in at least a portion of the non-working area is at least as great as the total thickness of the test member in the working area.

2. A test member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total thickness of the test member in at least a part of the non-working area is greater than the total thickness of the test member in the working area.

3. A test member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the total thickness of the test member in at least a part of the non-working area is from 1 to 20 μ

m greater than the total thickness of the test member in the working area.

4. A test member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the total thickness of the test member in at least a part of the non-working area is from 5 to 10 μ

m greater than the total thickness of the test member in the working area.

5. A test member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said at least a part of the non-working area includes a printed ink layer.

6. A test member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said at least a part of the non-working area includes an adhered tape or pad.

7. A test member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said at least a part of the non-working area includes an embossed structure.

8. A test member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said at least a part of the non-working area includes a mesh layer.

9. A test member as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said mesh layer is continuous with a mesh layer in the working area.

10. A test member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said reagent produces an electrical signal in response to the concentration of analyte in an applied fluid, the test member having a plurality of electrode tracks for transmitting the electrical signal, the said electrode tracks being exposed on a portion of the non-working area for connection to corresponding electrodes of a meter of a test device.

11. A test member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the test member is an elongate test strip.

12. A test member as claimed claim 1, suitable for use in testing for the concentration of glucose in blood.