Quantitative Analysis of Reducing Sugars in Urine

Abstract

Examination of urine for glucose is rapid and inexpensive and can be used to screen large number of samples. The screening test detects sugars that reduce copper and produce different shades of colors. Substances other than glucose also reduce CuSO₄ and produce positive result. Quantitative test estimates the amount of reducing substances present in urine. This amount is sufficiently small to be detected positively with qualitative methods of glucose determination. The condition characterized by excretion of glucose in urine is called glycosuria. The commonly used quantitative test for urinary sugars is titration based Benedict’s test. This method is not specific for glucose and measures all the reducing sugars present in urine sample.