Abstract: An in-the-bowl occult blood test is provided with a flushable matrix having a separate testing site which will indicate the presence of residual oxidizing compounds in the toilet.

Abstract: The invention provides a reagent composition for detecting peroxidase-like activity in aqueous media, particularly for determining occult blood in fecal matter "in-the-bowl". The reagents comprise a dry mixture of a 3, 3', 5, 5' -tetramethylbenzidine and an alkali metal perborate, such as sodium perborate, and preferably also including a strong organic carboxylic acid such as citric acid and a sequesterant for trace metals such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The composition can be made increasingly more stable by coating the tetramethylbenzidine and an antioxidant with a water soluble polymer and or film coating the sodium perborate with a coating at least partially soluble in water. The reagents are deposited in porous or holed matrices including adsorbent paper, gelatin and molded polysaccharide film.

Abstract: A specimen-collection wipe 2 is suitable for use in testing for the presence of occult blood in fecal matter or other bodily substance. The wipe 2 includes a substrate 4 having a hand-contact surface 11 for manipulating the wipe 2 and an occult-blood detection-test surface 10 for collecting a specimen and supporting it during treatment with an occult-blood indicator fluid. The substrate 4 has a sufficiently low wet strength to permit the wipe 2 to be disposed of in a toilet and preferably has a sufficiently high resistance to seepage to permit the hand-contact surface 11 to remain dry for the duration of the test. The wipe 2 also includes an indicator-activity verification region 14 on which is dispersed a reagent capable of interacting with the occult-blood indicator fluid to provide an indication characteristic of the presence of occult blood.

Abstract: A test for the presence of occult blood in fecal matter or other bodily substance employs an indicator wipe 2. The indicator wipe 2 has an occult-blood detection-test surface 10 for collecting a specimen and includes a peroxidase-activity indicator reagent dispersed on or located proximate to the specimen collection region. The test involves contacting the specimen-collection region to the bodily substance to obtain a specimen, then applying an oxidizing-agent developing fluid to the specimen and observing any color change to determine if the specimen contains occult blood, and finally disposing of the indicator wipe by placing it in a toilet bowl and flushing it away.