Method for sensing arrival and monitoring flow of a sample in a testing device

1. A method for sensing arrival and monitoring flow of a sample in a testing device, comprising:

providing a meter relay for sensing a sample arrival in the testing device that includes three electrodes for measurement of an analyte in a sample that includes a switch located in an analog or digital part of a circuit, the testing device including a reference electrode lead, a counter electrode lead, and a working electrode, the metal including a cartridge positionable in the testing device and a disc,

in a start condition having a counter relay open;

using first and second electrodes in an auto-trigger function;

starting a measurement when the sample wets the second electrode until a current reaches a threshold level of from 50 to 2,000 Na;

closing counter relays for the testing device when a threshold level is reached; and

providing a dual rotation and indexing of the disc and the cartridge.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a blood sample.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement of the analyte is an amperometric measurement.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold level is the value for the auto trigger function to start.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold level is adjustable.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the switch provides for monitoring of the first and second electrodes which contact with the sample.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

moving the switch to a second configuration for measuring an amount of the analyte with the second and third electrodes.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the second and third electrodes in the testing device in the second configuration.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

producing a signal in the second configuration that is indicative of an amount of the analyte.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

transferring the signal to a digital portion of the circuit which includes a microcontroller.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using a relay to switch to monitor a time it takes for the sample, after it contacts the second electrode until the sample reaches the third electrode.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

using a time it takes for the sample to flow from the second electrode to the third electrode to determining a flow velocity of the sample.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

discarding the measurement when the flow velocity exceeds a threshold, then the measurement can be discarded.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is at least one minute.