Iodine Test

The iodine test or Fouche test is a method for determining glycogen in tissues and biological fluids. This method is based on the ability of iodine to stain glycogen brown, which makes it possible to identify the presence of glycogen in cells.

The iodine test was first described by the French biochemist Jean-Baptiste Foucher in 1906. The method involves adding potassium iodide to the material being tested and observing the color change. If glycogen is present in the material, it turns brown under the influence of iodine.

An example of using an iodine test would be to determine the glycogen content in the liver. In this case, when iodine is added to a liver tissue sample, the glycogen turns brown-orange. This indicates the presence of a large amount of glycogen in the liver tissue, which may indicate its functional activity and healthy condition.

In addition, an iodine test can be used to detect glycogen in the blood. When iodine is added to blood samples, glycogen also turns brown. This allows you to determine the level of glycogen in the blood plasma and assess its functional state.

Thus, the iodine test is a simple and effective method for determining glycogen in biological fluids and tissues. It is widely used in medicine to diagnose various diseases and assess the functional state of the body.



The iodine test is the general name for several methods that are used to detect glycogen (carbohydrates) in body tissues. These methods are based on the fact that when exposed to iodine, glycogen turns brown, making it easy to detect.

The iodine test was developed in 1902 by German biochemist Emil Fischer. He discovered that if iodine was added to a solution containing glycogen, the glycogen quickly began to turn brown. This method was one of the first ways to determine the presence of glycogen in cells.

Since then, several iodine test methods have been developed and are used in various fields of biology and medicine. One of these methods is called the Fischer iodine test, which is based on the addition of iodine to a glycogen solution. In this case, glycogen quickly turns brown and becomes easily detectable.

Another method of iodine testing is the iodine test using luminol. This method is based on the reaction between glycogen and luminol, which is a dye that can glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. When luminol is added to a solution with glycogen, the latter begins to glow brown. This method is used to detect glycogen in blood and other body fluids.

In addition, the iodine test can be used to determine the glycogen content in the tissues of animals and plants. For example, farmers can use an iodine test to measure the amount of glycogen in the muscles of animals before slaughter to determine their body condition and meat quality.

Thus, the iodine test is a simple and effective method for determining the presence of glycogen in various tissues and body fluids. It is widely used in biology, medicine and agriculture, and continues to develop and improve.