Method For Detecting And Compensating An Underdosage Of Test Strips

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for detecting an underdosage of an analytical test element and optionally for compensating the underdosage. The invention also concerns an analytical system and a test element which are suitable for detecting an underdosage. An underdosage of the test element can be reliably detected and optionally calculated by irradiating the analytical test element in a control wavelength range. For this purpose the test element contains a control substance which interacts with the radiation in the control wavelength range as a function of the contact with the applied amount of sample.

1 . A test element for use in determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample, the test element comprising:
 a test field for accepting the sample;   a first reagent in the test field, wherein said first reagent interacts with the analyte in the sample, wherein (i) the interaction between the first reagent and the analyte causes a first photometrically detectable signal to be produced when the test field is illuminated with light and (ii) the first photometrically detectable signal is a function of the concentration of the analyte in the sample; and   a second reagent in the test field, wherein the second reagent interacts with a sample matrix of the sample, wherein (i) the interaction between the second reagent and the sample matrix causes a second photometrically detectable signal to be produced when the test field is illuminated with light and (ii) the intensity of the second photometrically detectable signal is a function of the amount of the sample matrix applied to the test field.   
   
   
       2 . The test element of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first reagent is capable of interacting with glucose to cause the first photometrically detectable signal to be produced when the test field is illuminated with light, and   the second reagent is capable of interacting with a sample matrix present in blood to cause the second photometrically detectable signal to be produced when the test field is illuminated with light.   
   
   
       3 . The test element of  claim 2  wherein the second reagent is a chromophore that has an emission wavelength within a range of about 500 to about 600 nm. 
   
   
       4 . The test element of  claim 2  wherein the second reagent is fluorescein. 
   
   
       5 . The test element of  claim 2  wherein the second reagent is chlorophenol red. 
   
   
       6 . The test element of  claim 5  wherein the first reagent is 2,18 phosphomolybdic acid.