Extracting reagent for hydrophobic analyte in whole blood

Abstract

The present invention utilizes an extracting reagent to achieve quantitative detection of hydrophobic analytes from a biological test sample. The hydrophobic analytes can include steroids, and drugs. The biological test sample can include serum, plasma, whole blood, urine and spinal fluid. The hydrophobic analyte is preferably the drug cyclosporine, which is used primarily as an immunosuppressant. The biological test sample is preferably whole blood. The extracting reagent comprises a zwitterionic detergent and saponin, and optionally, a viscosity additive such as sucrose or glycerin. The detection and analysis of the hydrophobic analyte is preferably performed in an automated immunoanalyzer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.