Stabilized tetrazolium dye-phenazine reagent compositions and methods
for their use in the measurement of an analyte in a sample are provided. The subject
reagent compositions include: (1) a tetrazolium dye component, e.g., a water soluble
tetrazolium salt; (2) a phenazine component; and (3) an effective amount of one
or more tetrazolium dye-phenazine stabilizing reagents, e.g., an inorganic Group
IIIA compound and/or a flavin. In many embodiments, the subject reagent compositions
include additional members of an analyte oxidizing signal producing system, such
as: an analyte oxidizing enzyme, e.g., an analyte dehydrogenase or an analyte oxidase;
and an enzyme cofactor. Also provided are test strips that include the subject
reagent compositions, as well as systems and kits incorporating the subject test
strips. The subject reagent compositions, test strips, systems and kits find use
in the detection of a wide variety of analytes in a sample, such as a physiological
sample, e.g., blood or a fraction thereof, or ISF (interstitial fluid).