| abstract |
A hand-held test meter for use with an electrochemical-based assay test strip in the determination of an analyte (e.g. glucose) in a body fluid sample (e.g., a whole blood sample) includes a housing, a micro-controller disposed within the housing, Ground reference switch circuit block disposed within the ground electrode, a strip port connector configured to operatively insert an electrochemical-based analysis test strip having an electrode (e.g., a reference electrode), and a ground reference. In addition, the test strip electrode-ground reference switch circuit block is configured to be in electrical communication with the electrodes of the electrochemical-based analysis test strip inserted within the strip port connector. Moreover, the test strip electrode-ground reference switch circuit block is configured to connect and disconnect the electrodes of the inserted electrochemical-based analysis test strip to the ground reference under the operation control of the micro-controller. |