DIAGNOSYISKT PREPARAT OCH FOERFARANDE FOER UNDERSOEKNING AV MATSMAELTNINGSFUNKTIONER

Enterally administrable diagnostic compositions for investigating alimentary functions comprise mul ple units of a size of at the most 5 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 1.3 mm, in particular between 0.7 and 1.0 mm, each uni- comprising a tracer-binding agent such as an ion exchange -ssin to which a radioactive tracer substance with a half-life of at the most 5 days, in particular 99mTc, 113In, 111In and 129Cs, is associated, the tracer-binding agent being formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, in particular granulating excipients in such a way that the exposure of the gastrointestinal mucosa to the tracer-binding agent is reduced and that the units do not disintegrate during the passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Preferred units comprise cross-sectionally substantially homogeneous mutti-component cores in which the tracer-binding agent is granulated with one or more excipients and which are optionally coated.Preferred units comprise cross-sectionally substantially homogeneous multi-component cores made by granulating the tracer-binding agent with granulating excipients, the cores being coated with a diffusion coating. The labelling of the composition is performed at the site of use by immersing the units containing the tracer-binding agent in a solution of the tracer substance. The formulation of the tracer-binding agent with the excipients and the coating reduces leaching and permits easy variation of parameters important to the behaviour of the units in the gastrointestinal system such as size, density and surface properties. Tracer substances are normally present in an amount from about 2 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 5 to about 10% by weight, calculated on the units. Due to low leaching and the non-disintegrating properties, the composition can be used to investiate gastric emptying also of the last 20% of a food bolus.