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Abstract

A method for preparing a fecal sample for immunoassay testing comprising the steps of dispersing a sample of from 1 to less than 10 wt. % of a stool sample in an aqueous fecal test solution formulated with one or more preservatives, analyte stabilizing agents and endogenous interference reducing agents. The fecal solids are then permitted to settle to form a liquid phase substantially free from fecal solids, and the clarified liquid phase is removed to provide a test sample free from fecal solids. The fecal test solutions contain suitable stool stabilizers such as buffers and antimicrobial agents, analyte protecting agents such as proteolytic, reductive or oxidative enzyme inhibitors, endogenous assay interfering enzyme inhibitors such as a reducing agent, and non-specific binding inhibitors such as animal proteins. The stool sample should be fresh or be fresh frozen and thawed immediately before dispersion in the buffer solution. The sample is suitable for any solid-phase immunoassay determination of a fecal sample analyte. A method for determining analyte in the stool sample comprises conjugating anti-analyte antibody adhered to a insoluble support with analyte in the clarified sample, and determining the presence and extent of such conjugation. For determining human hemoglobin in a sample of human stool, the aqueous fecal test solution preferably contains a proteinase inhibitor, formaldehyde and an animal albumin.

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