the present invention provides a method and apparatus for creating test strips that may be identified based on differences in electrical conduction or resistance between contact point on the test strip . this is achieved by creating a base test strip with contact points that may be connected to other contact points by an electrical connection . these base test strips may be modified to create a difference in electrical conductivity between contact points , or a contact point may be eliminated . this modification can be used to distinguish different types of test strips based on electrical signature . additionally , the base test strip may be created such that multiple modifications are possible to distinguish numerous characteristics of test strips .