Electrochemical test sensor

1. An electrochemical test sensor for detecting the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, the electrochemical test sensor comprising:

a base that provides a flow path for the fluid test sample having on its surface a counter electrode and a working electrode in electrical communication with a detector of electrical current, the working electrode including a main portion and at least one secondary portion extending therefrom;

a reagent layer directly located on the surface of at least a part of the main portion of the working electrode and at least a part of the at least one secondary portion of the working electrode, the reagent layer including an enzyme that reacts with the analyte; and

a lid that mates with the base to form a capillary space with an opening for the introduction of fluid test sample thereto, the capillary space being defined by the base and the lid such that the fluid test sample contacts the main portion after being introduced to the capillary space; and

a spacer located between the base and the lid, the spacer including a spacer opening that assists in forming the capillary space, the capillary space being defined by the base, the spacer, and the lid.

2. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the reagent layer is further located on the surface of the counter electrode.

3. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the main portion of the working electrode has a first width in a first direction and the at least one secondary portion has a second width in the first direction, the first width being at least 2 times greater than the second width.

4. The test sensor of claim 3 , wherein the main portion of the working electrode has a first height in a second direction and the at least one secondary portion has a second height in the second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, the first height being from about 5 to about 15 times greater than the second height.

5. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary portion of the working electrode is generally polygonal.

6. The test sensor of claim 5 , wherein the main portion of the working electrode is generally polygonal.

7. The test sensor of claim 5 , wherein the main portion of the working electrode is generally non-polygonal.

8. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the capillary space is less than about 0.75 μL.

9. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the capillary space is less than about 0.6 μL.

10. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the main portion of the working electrode is disposed between at least two secondary portions of the working electrode, the at least two secondary portions of the working electrode being generally opposite from each other.

11. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the area of the main portion of the working electrode is larger than the area of the at least one secondary portion of the working electrode.

12. The test sensor of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a three-dimensional portion, the capillary space being defined by the base and the three-dimensional portion of the lid.

13. A method for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample with a test sensor, the method comprising the acts of:

providing an electrochemical test sensor comprising a base that provides a flow path for the fluid test sample having on its surface a counter electrode and a working electrode in electrical communication with a detector of electrical current, the working electrode including a main portion and at least one secondary portion extending therefrom, a reagent layer being directly located on the surface of at least a part of the main portion of the working electrode and at least a part of the at least one secondary portion of the working electrode, the reagent layer including an enzyme that reacts with the analyte, and a lid that mates with the base to form a capillary space with an opening for the introduction of fluid test sample thereto, the capillary space being defined by the base and the lid such that the fluid test sample contacts the main portion after being introduced to the capillary space, the electrochemical test sensor further comprising a spacer located between the base and the lid, the spacer including a spacer opening that assists in forming the capillary space, the capillary space being defined by the base, the spacer, and the lid;

contacting the reagent layer with the fluid sample via the capillary space;

generating an electrical signal in the test sensor in response to the presence of the analyte; and

determining the concentration of the analyte from the electrical signal.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the area of the main portion of the working electrode is at least 10 times the area of the at least two secondary portions of the working electrode adapted to interact with the fluid sample.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the analyte is glucose.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the capillary space is less than about 0.75 μL.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the main portion of the working electrode has a first width in a first direction and the at least one secondary portion has a second width in the first direction, the first width being at least 2 times greater than the second width.

18. An electrochemical test sensor for detecting the concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample, the electrochemical test sensor comprising:

a base that provides a flow path for the fluid test sample having on its surface a counter electrode and a working electrode in electrical communication with a detector of electrical current, the working electrode including a main portion and at least one secondary portion extending therefrom;

a reagent layer directly located on the surface of at least a part of the main portion of the working electrode and at least a part of the at least one secondary portion of the working electrode, the reagent layer including an enzyme that reacts with the analyte;

a lid that mates with the base to form a capillary space with an opening for the introduction of fluid test sample thereto; and

a spacer located between the base and the lid, the capillary space being defined by the base, the spacer, and the lid such that the fluid test sample contacts the main portion after being introduced to the capillary space, the working electrode being exposed to the fluid test sample without a dielectric layer located on the working electrode.