Host apparatus and method providing calibration and reagent information to a measurement apparatus which makes use of a consumable reagent in a measuring process

Apparatuses and methods providing data such as, for example, calibration and reagent information over a network to a measurement apparatus which makes use of a consumable reagent in a measuring process are disclosed. The present invention permits a measurement apparatus to download the necessary code assignment and calibration data of the consumable reagent by means of an electronic communication protocol from a host. The host can be a software application running on a host computer, another measurement apparatus with or without a code-key slot used to read a memory device providing the above mentioned information, a dedicated connectivity device, such as a docking station, a portable memory reader, a remote computer, and combinations thereof.