Methods for making and operating physiological characteristic sensors are presented here. An exemplary method includes providing a quantified effect of an electrical performance parameter on a calculation of a concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample. The method includes providing a group of sensors and testing a test sensor from the group of sensors with a known concentration of the analyte in a test sample to determine the electrical performance parameter of the test sensor. Further, the method includes associating the electrical performance parameter of the test sensor with a selected sensor from the group of sensors. The method may associate the quantified effect with the selected sensor, measure an unknown concentration of the analyte with the selected sensor, and input the measured electrical performance parameter and the quantified effect into an algorithm to provide an estimated blood analyte level.