Devices and methods for performing automated fluid sampling of a patient are disclosed, comprising a patient sampling assembly, test substrates, and a sample transfer assembly to transfer fluid samples from the sampling assembly to the test substrates. A first step involves providing a solids-loaded polymer foam consisting of an open-celled polymer foam matrix with zeolite dispersed and bound throughout the foam matrix. The displacement vector and optical correction array may then be used to accurately calculate the position of further substrates. The bootstrap program is received at the target device after the boot delay response is received.