Test Name Test for… Reagent Principle Positive Result Positive with…

Intact Proteins (+)

Intact Proteins (Peptide
Biuret Test CuSO4.5H2O and NaOH Complexation Reaction Violet Solution Acid Hydrolysis (-)
Bonds)
Base Hydrolysis (-)
Intact Proteins (-)
Blue Solution Acid Hydrolysis (+)
Free amino acids Oxidative Deamination Base Hydrolysis (+)
Ninhydrin Test Triketohydrindine hydrate
(Amino group) and Condensation Cholesterol (-)
Violet Solution Glycerophosphotide (+)
Sphingolipid (+)
Aromatic Ring Nitration of aromatic ring Yellow PPT, which upon Intact Protein (+)
Xanthoproteic Test (Tryptophan, Tyrosine, Conc. HNO3 and NaOH (Electrophilic Aromatic heating, yields an orange Acid Hydrolysis (+)
Phenylalanine) Substitution) solution Base Hydrolysis (+)
Intact Proteins (+)
Guanido Group Condensation and Red colouration that
Sakaguchi Test α-napthol , NaOBr, NaOH Acid Hydrolysis (+)
(Arginine) Complexation disappears easily
Base Hydrolysis (-)
Glycoxillic Acid (Mg + Intact Protein (+)
Indole Ring Condensation and
Hopkins Cole Test Oxallic Acid) and Conc. Violet Interphase Acid Hydrolysis (-)
(Tryptophan) Complexation
H2SO4 Base Hydrolysis (+)
Phenolic Group Intact Protein (+)
Millons Test (Phenylalanine and Hg(NO3)2 and conc. HNO3 Complexation Red PPT Acid Hydrolysis (+)
Tyrosine) Base Hydrolysis (+)
Sulfuhydril Group
Degradation and
Lead Acetate Test (Cysteine and NaOH and Pb(Ac)2 Black PPT
Substitution
Methionine)
Amylose (+)
Glycogen (+)
Violet Ring/ Interphase
1. Hydrolysis Cellulose (+)
α-napthol, 95%EtOH,
Molisch Test Sugars 2. Dehydration
Conc. H2SO4
3. Condensation Cholesterol (-)
Violet Ring/ Interphase Glycerophosphotide (+)
Sphingolipid (+)
1. Hydrolysis Amylose (+)
Anthrone Test Hexoses Anthrone in Conc. H2SO4 2. Dehydration Blue Green Solution Glycogen (+)
Condensation Cellulose (+)
(+) – Deep Blue: Amylose
Differentiate helical
Red Violet: Amylopectin
Iodine Test from non-helical Iodine Solution Complexation
Red: Glycogen
polysaccharides
(-) – Yellow: Cellulose
 Test Name Test for… Reagent Principle Positive Result Positive with…
Fructose and Sucrose
1. Dehydration
Seliwanoff’s Test Ketohexoses Resorcinol, 6N HCl Cherry Red Solution (+)
2. Condensation
1. Dehydration
Bial’s Orcinol Test Pentose Orcinol, 6N HCl Blue Green Solution Xylose
2. Condensation
Oxidation of galactose to Crystal PPT (Galactaric
Mucic Test Galactose Conc. HNO3 Galactose and Lactose
galactaric acid Acid)
Glucose, Galactose,
Brick Red PPT Fructose, Xylose,
Benedict’s Test Reducing sugars Na Citrate, Na2CO3, CuSO4 Oxidation-Reduction Lactose, Maltose
PPT Urine + 1% Glucose
Reducing Glucose, Galactose,
Barfoed’s Test Cu acetate, glacial HAc Oxidation-Reduction Brick Red PPT (Cu2O)
monosaccharaides Fructose, Xylose
Cholesterol (-)
Burnt Fat Odour
Acrolein Test Glycerol KHSO4 Dehydration Glycerophosphotide (+)
(Acrolein/ 2-propenol)
Sphingolipid (-)
Yellow PPT Cholesterol (-)
Fusion mixture (3:1 Red to blue litmus paper Glycerophosphotide (+)
Phosphate and
Phosphate Test KNO3:Na2CO3) and HNO3 Precipitation Reaction (For nitrogen) Sphingolipid (+)
Nitrogen
and (NH4)2MoO4
Yellow PPT DNA and RNA
Cholesterol (+)
Salkowski’s Test Cholesterol Conc. H2SO4 Condensation Red-purple interphase Glycerophosphotide (-)
Sphingolipid (-)
Cholesterol (+)
Liebermann-Burchard Acetic anhydride, conc.
Sterol Condensation Emerald Green Solution Glycerophosphotide (-)
Test H2SO4
Sphingolipid (-)
Cholesterol (-)
Kraut’s Test Choline/Lecithin KBiI4 Complexation Reaction Brick Red PPT Glycerophosphotide (+)
Sphingolipid (+)
Decomposition of (NH2)2
70% NaOH and Bromine
Test For Urea Urea and CO by NaBrO to N2 Evolution of N2 gas -
Water
gas
20% Na2CO3 and
Test for Uric Acid Uric Acid Oxidation Reduction Tungsten Blue -
Phosphotungstic Acid
Obermayers Reagent Blue colour in lower
Indican Test Indican Oxidation -
(FeCl3) and chloroform chloroform layer
Test for Creatinine Creatinine Alkaline Picrate Solution Complexation Orange-Red Solution -
 Test Name Test for… Reagent Principle Positive Result Positive with…
Ammonium Hydroxide
Gunning’s Test Ketone Bodies and Lugol’s Solution (KI Complexation Iodoform crystals Urine + Acetone
and I2)
Exton’s Reagent
(anhydrous sodium White ppt with
Exton’s Test Albumin (proteins) Acid Precipitation Urine + Albumin
sulphate and cloudiness
sulfosalycylic acid)
Urine + Bile from
Alcoholic Tincture of Emerald Green
Smith’s Test Bile Pigments Oxidation chicken or pig gall
Iodine Interphase
bladder
95%EtOH with Guaiac
Decomposition and Urine + 3 drops of
Test for Occult Blood Occult Blood powder, H2O2, glacial Blue Ring
Oxidation blood
acetic acid
Diphenylamine and conc. 1. Dehydration
Dische Test Deoxyribose Blue Solution DNA
H2SO4 2. Complexation
1. Oxidation
Murexide Test Purine Conc. HNO3 and KOH 2. Condensation Purple Red residue Adenine and Guanine
3. Neutralization
1. Formation of
Bromine Water and Cytosine, Tyrosine,
Wheeler-Johnson Test Pyrimidine dialuric acid Purple Solution
Ba(OH)2 Uracil
2. Neutralization