Process and apparatus for detection of presence of a liquid on a test strip

本发明提供了一些方法和设备，在测试条插进光学计量器时用来检测在测试条表面上流体样品的施加。在该主题方法中，反射数据是从该光学计量器的一部分上获得的，该部分就是该测试条的样品施加区域所在的地方，在这里反射数据所覆盖的时间段是从至少在将该样品施加到该测试条之前的点到该样品施加到该测试条之后的点的范围。然后从该反射数据确定在该测试条上流体样品的存在。还提供的是光学计量器，它包括用来获取反射数据的光学装置，在这里这些光学装置至少包括照射源和光检测器。该主题方法和设备在各种测试条上都找到了应用，而且特别适于用在包括流体移动装置，如可压缩气囊的测试条上。 Methods and devices are provided for detecting the application of a fluid sample onto a test strip surface when the test strip is inserted into an optical meter. In the subject methods, reflectance data is obtained from a portion of the optical meter in which the sample application region of the test strip is located, where the reflectance data covers a period of time ranging from a point at least prior to application of the sample to the strip to a point following application of the sample to the strip. The presence of the fluid sample on the test strip is then determined from the reflectance data. Also provided are optical meters that include optical means for obtaining reflectance data, where these optical means include at least an irradiation source and a light detector. The subject methods and devices find use with a variety of test strips, and are particularly suited for use with test strips that include a fluid movement means, such as a compressible bladder.