Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 25

The Ehrlich reaction will only detect the presence of:

A. Uroporphyrin

B. Porphobilinogen

C. Coproporphyrin

D. Protoporphyrin

Step 1 of 2

Porphyrinuria:

It is the presence of excess porphyrin in urine.

• Porphyrin is formed from heme synthesis through glycine, and succinyl

coA ->aminolevlinate(ALA)->porphobilinogen->hydroxymethylbilane

->uroporphyrinogen->coproporphyrinogen->protoporphyrinogen

->protoporphyrin IX->heme

• Screening test for porphyrinuria use florescence test, and Ehrlich reaction

• The Ehrlich reaction is used only for the detection of porphobilinogen

Therefore, Ehrlich reaction only detects the “porphobilinogen” presence. Hence, the correct answer is option.