New reagents for detection of faecal occult blood

Imipramine hydrochloride (IPH) and desipramine hydrochloride (DPH), two widely used antidepressant drugs, are proposed as new reagents for detection of faecal occult blood. The usefulness of IPH and DPH in occult blood detection has been examined and compared with benzidine and stanoccult methods. The results show that the proposed reagents are selective and sensitive and gives reproducible results. The proposed methodology is much less subject to vegetable peroxidase, iron and vitamin C interference and can be performed on patients who are on a normal diet.