A hand-held test meter and analytical test strip cartridge assembly combination includes a hand-held test meter with a test meter housing and an extractor with a test strip engagement feature, while the analytical test strip cartridge assembly includes a desiccant vial and an analytical test strip cartridge with a cartridge housing, a test strip presentation mechanism disposed within the cartridge housing, and a plurality of analytical test strips (each with at least one extractor engagement feature) disposed in the cartridge housing. The test meter housing is configured for operative engagement with the cartridge housing and the test strip presentation mechanism is configured to present a single analytical test strip from the plurality of analytical test strips for engagement with the extractor. Moreover, the analytical test strip cartridge is configured for operative disposition in the desiccant vial.