ANALYTE TEST STRIP WITH COMBINATION ELECTRODE CONTACT AND METER IDENTIFICATION FEATURE

An analyte test strip (e.g., an electrochemical-based analyte test strip for determining glucose in a bodily fluid sample) for use with a test meter includes a first insulating layer and a electrically conductive layer disposed on the first insulating layer. The electrically conductive layer includes at least one electrode portion and at least one electrical contact pad configured for an electrical connector pin of a test meter to travel therealong during insertion of the analyte test strip into the test meter. In addition, the electrical contact pad is in electrical communication with the electrode portion. The analyte test strip also includes at least one meter identification feature (such as stripes of visually transparent material) disposed on the electrical contact pad such that the electrical connector pin of the test meter travels across the meter identification feature during insertion of the analyte test strip into the test meter. The analyte test strip further includes a second insulating layer disposed above the first insulating layer and a patterned spacer layer positioned between the first insulating layer and the electrically conductive layer that defines a sample-receiving chamber therein. The electrical contact pad of the analyte test strip has a predetermined contact electrical characteristic value and the meter identification feature has a predetermined identification feature electrical characteristic value that is dissimilar from the predetermined contact electrical characteristic.