BLooD

Benzidine Test
• A sensitive test for the presence
of blood (as in urine or feces)
based on the production of a blue
color upon contact with a solution
of benzidine, hydrogen peroxide,
and glacial acetic acid.
 Compositions of blood:

• Iron
• Proteins
• Sodium and Potassium
• Calcium and Magnesium
• Chloride ion
• Phosphate ion
• Glucose
Iron
 Proteins
Biuret test (Piotrowski's
test) is a chemical test
used for detecting the
presence of peptide
bonds.
In the presence of
peptides, a copper(II) ion
forms violet-colored
coordination complexes
in an alkaline solution.
• A low total protein level can suggest a liver
disorder, a kidney disorder, or a disorder in
which protein is not digested or absorbed
properly. Low levels may be seen in severe
malnutrition and with conditions that cause
malabsorption, such as celiac disease or
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Elevated total protein may indicate:
– inflammation or infections, such as viral hepatitis
B or C, or HIV
– bone marrow disorders, such as multiple
myeloma or Waldenstrom’s disease
 Sodium and Potassium
• NaCl- yellow flame
• KCl – violet flame

Calcium and Magnesium

• Ca- red orange flame
• Mg – intense white flame
 Glucose
The Benedict's test identifies reducing
sugars (monosaccharide's and some
disaccharides), which have free
ketone or aldehyde functional groups.
• Benedict's solution can be used to
test for the presence of glucose in
urine.
 Prehospital care includes the
following:
• Promptly remove the patient from
continued exposure and immediately
institute oxygen therapy with a
nonrebreather mask.
• Perform intubation for the comatose
patient or, if necessary for airway
protection, and provide 100% oxygen
therapy.
 Prehospital care includes the
following:
• Institute cardiac monitoring. Pulse oximetry,
although not useful in detecting
carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO), is still
important because a low saturation causes
even greater apprehension in this setting.
• Give notification to the emergency
department for comatose or unstable
patients because rapid or direct transfer to
a hyperbaric center may be indicated.
 Prehospital care includes the
following:
• If possible, obtain ambient CO measurements
from fire department or utility company
personnel, when present.
• Early blood samples may provide much more
accurate correlation between HbCO and
clinical status; however, do not delay oxygen
administration to acquire them.
• Obtain an estimate of exposure time, if
possible.
• Avoid exertion to limit tissue oxygen demand.