Question:

Rothera's test is used for detection of:

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Sodium nitroprusside ring test on urine, classic in diabetic ketoacidosis.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Proteins
  • Glucose
  • Fatty acid
  • Ketones
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall the basis of Rothera's test. It is a nitroprusside-based qualitative test performed on urine to detect ketone bodies.
Step 2: Understand the chemistry. Sodium nitroprusside reacts with acetoacetate and acetone in an alkaline medium (provided by ammonium sulfate and ammonia or sodium hydroxide) to produce a purple or permanganate-colored ring at the interface. A positive ring indicates ketonuria.
Step 3: Note its clinical use. The test detects acetoacetate and acetone but not beta-hydroxybutyrate, and it is used to screen for ketosis in conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis and starvation.
Step 4: Rule out the distractors. Proteins are detected by heat coagulation or sulfosalicylic acid tests. Glucose is detected by Benedict's test. Fatty acids are not the target of Rothera's test. Therefore the answer is ketones (option D).
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