An aqueous composition comprising as components: one chaotrope present in an amount from 0.5 M to 6M; one detergent present in an amount from 0.1% to 1% (wt./vol.), wherein the detergent comprises sodium dodecyl sulfate, lithium dodecyl sulfate, sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC), sodium taurocholate (NaTC), sodium glycocholate (NaGC), sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), sodium cholate, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (NaABS), N-lauroyl sarcosine, salts of carboxylic acids, salts of sulfonic acids, salts of sulfuric acid, phosphoric and polyphosphoric acid esters, alkylphosphates, monoalkyl phosphate, salts of perfluorocarboxylic acids, anionic detergents or any combination thereof; one reducing agent, wherein the reducing agent is β-ME, DTT, DMSO or formamide present in an amount from 0.05 M to 0.3 M, or wherein the reducing agent is TCEP present in an amount from 0.5 mM to 30 mM; one chelator present in an amount from 0.5 mM to 50 mM; one surfactant present in an amount from 0.0001% to 0.3% (wt./vol.), wherein the surfactant comprises cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, alkylaminopropionic acids, imidazoline carboxylates, betaines, sulfobetaines, sultaines, alkylphenol ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates, polyoxyethylenated polyoxypropylene glycols, polyoxyethylenated mercaptans, long-chain carboxylic acid esters, alkonolamides, tertiary acetylenic glycols, polyoxyethylenated silicones, N-alkylpyrrolidones, alkylpolyglycosidases, silicone polymers such as Antifoam A ®, or polysorbates such as Tween ®, or any combination thereof; one short-chain alkanol present in an amount from 1 to 25% (vol./vol.); one buffer providing the composition a pH of from 6 to 7; and nuclease-free water, wherein the components are together present in an amount sufficient to denature proteins, inactivate nucleases, kill pathogens, and not degrade nucleic acid of a sample suspected of containing pathogens when the sample is contacted with the composition. one chaotrope present in an amount from 0.5 M to 6M; one detergent present in an amount from 0.1% to 1% (wt./vol.), wherein the detergent comprises sodium dodecyl sulfate, lithium dodecyl sulfate, sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC), sodium taurocholate (NaTC), sodium glycocholate (NaGC), sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), sodium cholate, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (NaABS), N-lauroyl sarcosine, salts of carboxylic acids, salts of sulfonic acids, salts of sulfuric acid, phosphoric and polyphosphoric acid esters, alkylphosphates, monoalkyl phosphate, salts of perfluorocarboxylic acids, anionic detergents or any combination thereof; one reducing agent, wherein the reducing agent is β-ME, DTT, DMSO or formamide present in an amount from 0.05 M to 0.3 M, or wherein the reducing agent is TCEP present in an amount from 0.5 mM to 30 mM; one chelator present in an amount from 0.5 mM to 50 mM; one surfactant present in an amount from 0.0001% to 0.3% (wt./vol.), wherein the surfactant comprises cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, alkylaminopropionic acids, imidazoline carboxylates, betaines, sulfobetaines, sultaines, alkylphenol ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates, polyoxyethylenated polyoxypropylene glycols, polyoxyethylenated mercaptans, long-chain carboxylic acid esters, alkonolamides, tertiary acetylenic glycols, polyoxyethylenated silicones, N-alkylpyrrolidones, alkylpolyglycosidases, silicone polymers such as Antifoam A ®, or polysorbates such as Tween ®, or any combination thereof; one short-chain alkanol present in an amount from 1 to 25% (vol./vol.); one buffer providing the composition a pH of from 6 to 7; and nuclease-free water, wherein the components are together present in an amount sufficient to denature proteins, inactivate nucleases, kill pathogens, and not degrade nucleic acid of a sample suspected of containing pathogens when the sample is contacted with the composition.