The invention provides transdermal optical analysis systems, test sensors, methods, and kits for determining the presence and/or concentration of at least one analyte in a fluid sample. The system includes a transdermal test sensor including an aqueous material including at least one analyte selective reagent and at least one optically active moiety. The optical system preferably uses fluorescent spectroscopy to correlate fluorescent emission or adsorption from a dye with the analyte concentration of the sample. An optical light source and/or detector may be housed with the aqueous material in a housing or external to the housing of the aqueous material.