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A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge. The instrument interface including multiple independently-controlled plungers aligned to respective fluidic pouches on a test cartridge that is inserted into a testing apparatus embodying the instrument interface. The plungers incl

A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge. The instrument interface including multiple independently-controlled plungers aligned to respective fluidic pouches on a test cartridge that is inserted into a testing apparatus embodying the instrument interface. The plungers include tips for applying mechanical force to the respective fluidic pouches.

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1. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge comprising: a first plunger having a first plunger tip at its front end, a first yoke at its back end, and being rotatable about a fulcrum, wherein the first plunger tip is configured for alignment with a first fluidic pouch on s

1. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge comprising: a first plunger having a first plunger tip at its front end, a first yoke at its back end, and being rotatable about a fulcrum, wherein the first plunger tip is configured for alignment with a first fluidic pouch on said test cartridge;a second plunger having a second plunger tip at its front end, a second yoke at its back end, and being rotatable about a fulcrum, wherein the second plunger tip is configured for alignment with a second fluidic pouch on said test cartridge;a first eccentric cam disposed on a camshaft and rotatably mated with the first yoke;a second eccentric cam disposed on said camshaft and rotatably mated with the second yoke;a first clutch disposed on said camshaft and coupled to said first eccentric cam; anda second clutch disposed on said camshaft and coupled to said second eccentric cam,wherein said first clutch engages said camshaft with a first direction of rotation of said camshaft and said second clutch engages said camshaft with a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction. 2. The reader of claim 1, further comprising a worm gear attached to a DC motor and to said camshaft. 3. The reader of claim 1, further comprising a wrap spring attached to each eccentric cam. 4. The reader of claim 1, further comprising one or more screws for applying drag to said camshaft. 5. The reader of claim 1, further comprising parallel plungers wherein the separation between said plungers is greater that about 3 mm and less than about 3 cm. 6. The reader of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional independent actuator for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 7. The reader of claim 1, wherein rotational motion of said camshaft causes oscillation of at lease one of said plunger tips. 8. The reader of claim 1, further comprising two additional independent actuators for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 9. The reader of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrical elements within said test cartridge. 10. The reader of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrochemical sensors within said test cartridge. 11. The reader of claim 1, that is a handheld portable instrument. 12. The reader of claim 1, that is a battery-powered instrument. 13. The reader of claim 1, that is a blood testing instrument. 14. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge, comprising a plurality of plungers each with a plunger tip at a front end and a yoke at a back end, wherein each plunger is attached to a fulcrum, each yoke mates with an eccentric cam having a camshaft, each eccentric cam has a clutch that only engages with one direction of rotation of said camshaft; and each plunger tip is configured to align with one of a plurality of fluidic elements on a test cartridge. 15. The reader of claim 14, further comprising a worm gear attached to a DC motor and to said camshaft. 16. The reader of claim 14, further comprising a wrap spring attached to each eccentric cam. 17. The reader of claim 14, further comprising one or more screws for applying drag to said camshaft. 18. The reader of claim 14, further comprising parallel plungers wherein the separation between said plungers is greater that about 3 mm and less than about 3 cm. 19. The reader of claim 14, further comprising at least one additional independent actuator for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 20. The reader of claim 14, wherein rotational motion of said camshaft causes oscillation of at least one of said plunger tips. 21. The reader of claim 14, further comprising two additional independent actuators for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 22. The reader of claim 14, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrical elements within said test cartridge. 23. The reader of claim 14, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrochemical sensors within said test cartridge. 24. The reader of claim 14, that is a handheld portable instrument. 25. The reader of claim 14, that is a battery-powered instrument. 26. The reader of claim 14, that is a blood testing instrument. 27. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge, comprising a first plunger and a second plunger each having a plunger tip at a front end and a yoke at a back end, wherein each plunger is attached to a fulcrum, each yoke mates with an eccentric cam and each eccentric cam mates with a separate motorized camshaft, and wherein said first plunger tip is configured for alignment with a first fluidic pouch on a test cartridge and said second plunger tip is configured for alignment with a second fluidic pouch on said test cartridge. 28. The reader of claim 27, further comprising multiple worm gears attached respectively to separate DC motors and to said respective camshafts. 29. The reader of claim 27, further comprising one or more screws for applying drag to each of said camshafts. 30. The reader of claim 27, further comprising parallel plungers wherein the separation between said plungers is greater that about 3 mm and less than about 3 cm. 31. The reader of claim 27, further comprising at least one additional independent actuator for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 32. The reader of claim 27, wherein rotational motion of said camshaft causes oscillation of at least one of said plunger tips. 33. The reader of claim 27, further comprising two additional independent actuators for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 34. The reader of claim 27, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrical elements within said test cartridge. 35. The reader of claim 27, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrochemical sensors within said test cartridge. 36. The reader of claim 27, that is a handheld portable instrument. 37. The reader of claim 27, that is a battery-powered instrument. 38. The reader of claim 27, that is a blood testing instrument. 39. A reader for mechanical actuation of fluids within a test cartridge, comprising a plurality of plungers each with a plunger tip at a front end and a yoke at a back end, where each plunger is attached to a fulcrum, each yoke mates with an eccentric cam with a camshaft attached to a separate motor; and each plunger tip is configured to be aligned with one of a plurality of fluidic elements on a test cartridge. 40. The reader of claim 39, further comprising multiple worm gears attached respectively to separate DC motors and to said respective camshafts. 41. The reader of claim 39, further comprising one or more screws for applying drag to each of said camshafts. 42. The reader of claim 39, further comprising parallel plungers wherein the separation between said plungers is greater that about 3 mm and less than about 3 cm. 43. The reader of claim 39, further comprising at least one additional independent actuator for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 44. The reader of claim 39, wherein rotational motion of said camshaft causes oscillation of at least one of said plunger tips. 45. The reader of claim 39, further comprising two additional independent actuators for actuation of fluids within said test cartridge. 46. The reader of claim 39, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrical elements within said test cartridge. 47. The reader of claim 39, further comprising an electrical connector for contacting electrochemical sensors within said test cartridge. 48. The reader of claim 39, that is a handheld portable instrument. 49. The reader of claim 39, that is a battery-powered instrument. 50. The reader of claim 39, that is a blood testing instrument.