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

Exercise 26

Acetyl acetone is added to the urine before performing the Ehrlich test when checking for:

A. Aminolevulinic acid

B. Porphobilinogen

C. Uroporphyrin

D. Coproporphyrin

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 for the detection of porphobilinogen, and aminolevulinate

• Acetyl acetone should be added to specimen prior to Ehrlich test to for the conversion of ALA to porphobilinogen

Therefore, Acetyl acetone is mixed to urine prior to Ehrlich tests when checking for “porphobilinogen” presence. Hence, the correct answer is option.