The material composition of the working electrode is a primary determinant of test strip accuracy and manufacturing cost. The market is divided into two main technologies:

1. Screen-Printed Carbon (Thick Film): Utilized by generic and value-oriented brands. It is highly cost-effective but suffers from higher electrical resistance, surface roughness, and batch variability. It typically requires higher operating voltages, increasing susceptibility to electrochemical interference.

2. Noble Metals - Gold/Palladium (Thin Film): Utilized by premium brands (e.g., Abbott, Roche). Manufactured via sputtering and defined by laser ablation, these electrodes offer superior conductivity, precise surface areas, and faster electron transfer. This allows for lower operating voltages, significantly reducing interference and improving compliance with strict ISO 15197 accuracy standards.

The shift toward noble metals represents a move from low-cost manufacturing to high-precision engineering, creating a barrier to entry for third-party generic manufacturers.