A portable analytical test meter is designed for use with an associated analytical test strip. A test-strip-receiving module receives the analytical test strip and is electrically connected to a dummy load calibration circuit block. That block is configured to provide a dummy magnitude correction and a dummy phase correction; and a memory block is configured to store the dummy magnitude correction and the dummy phase correction. A method for calibrating a portable analytical test meter for use with an analytical test strip includes determining a dummy magnitude correction and a dummy phase correction of the portable analytical test meter using a dummy load calibration circuit block of the portable analytical test meter. The dummy magnitude correction and the dummy phase correction are stored in a memory block of the portable analytical test meter. Using the stored dummy magnitude correction and stored dummy phase correction, an analyte is determined.