Chemistry:Gmelin's test

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Short description: Chemical test

Gmelin's test is a chemical test used for detecting the presence of bile pigments in urine. It is named after Leopold Gmelin, who introduced the test.[1][2][3] Five millilitres of urine is slowly added to five millilitres of concentrated nitric acid in a test-tube. Different coloured rings between the two layers are visible if bile pigments are present as they are oxidised to various chemical products.[4][5] Nitric acid is used as the oxidising agent.[6] Blue, green and violet rings are seen if bilirubin is present.[7] Gmelin's test is not sensitive so a positive result always indicates the presence of bile pigments but a negative result does not exclude the presence of small quantities of bile pigments.[8]

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