Sterilizable chemistry for test elements

1. A sterilized diagnostic element, comprising:

a chemical detection reagent including at least one component sensitive to ionizing radiation, wherein the sterilized diagnostic element is mediator-free, the at least one component sensitive to ionizing radiation is present in a functional form in a proportion of ≧80% based on the total amount of the respective component in the diagnostic element before sterilization, and the at least one component sensitive to ionizing radiation includes both an enzyme and a coenzyme, wherein the enzyme is one of a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD/NADH)-dependent dehydrogenase or a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP/NADPH)-dependent dehydrogenase, and wherein the coenzyme is a NAD(P)/NAD(P)H compound.

2. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component sensitive to ionizing radiation is present in a functional form in a proportion of ≧90% based on the total amount of the respective component in the diagnostic element before sterilization.

3. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is one of a glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.47) and a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49).

4. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 1 , wherein the NAD(P)/NAD(P)H compound is a stabilized NAD(P)/NAD(P)H compound.

5. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 1 , further comprising one of an integrated and a separate sample collection element.

6. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 5 , wherein the sample collection element is a needle element.

7. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 1 , further comprising sterile packaging.

8. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 1 , further comprising a configuration structured to generate an optically or electrochemically detectable signal.

9. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 1 , further comprising a test element configuration including one of an integrated needle element, a test tape arrangement and a test strip arrangement.

10. A storage container, comprising the diagnostic element of claim 1 and a sample collection element.

11. The storage container of claim 10 , further comprising a magazine configuration.

12. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 4 , wherein the stabilized NAD(P)/NAD(P)H compound is a compound according to formula (I), and wherein the compound according to formula (I) is as follows:

in which:

A=adenine or an analog thereof,

T=in each case independently denotes O or S,

U=in each case independently denotes OH, SH, BH 3 − , or BCNH 2 − ,

V=in each case independently denotes OH or a phosphate group, or two groups that form a cyclic phosphate group,

W=COOR, CON(R) 2 , COR, or CSN(R) 2 in which R in each case independently denotes H or C 1 -C 2 -alkyl,

X 1 , X 2 =in each case independently denote O, CH 2 , CHCH 3 , C(CH 3 ) 2 , NH, or NCH 3 ,

Y=NH, S, O, or CH 2 ,

Z=a linear or cyclic organic residue, or

a salt or a reduced form thereof.

13. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 12 , wherein Z is a saturated or unsaturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic five-membered ring according to formula (II), wherein formula (II) is as follows:

Z=a carbocyclic 5-membered rim of the general formula (II)

in which a single bond or double bond is present between R5′ and R5″, and in which:

R4=in each case independently denotes H, F, CI, or CH 3 ,

R5=O or C(R4) 2 ,

R5′=O, S, NH, NC 1 —C 2 -alkyl, C(R4) 2 , CHOH, or CHOCH 3 ,

R5″=C(R4) 2 , CHOH, or CHOCH 3 if a single bond is present between R5′ and R5″,

R5′=R5″=C(R4) 2 if a double bond is present between R5′ and R5″,

R6=in each case independently denotes CH or CCH 3 , and

R6′=in each case independently denotes CH or CCH 3 .

14. The sterilized diagnostic test element of claim 4 , wherein

R4=H,

R5′=CHOH,

R5″=CHOH,

R5=C(R4) 2 ,

R6=CH, and

R6′=CH.

15. The sterilized diagnostic element of claim 4 , wherein the stabilized NAD(P)/NAD(P)H compound is a compound according to formula (III), and wherein formula (III) is as follows: