Schmidt Reaction

The Schmidt test (also known as the Schmidt sublimate test) is a medical test developed by the German physician Adolf Schmidt (1865-1918) to diagnose diseases of the liver and biliary tract.

The test is based on the intravenous administration of sodium sulfate solution, which causes spasm of the biliary tract and slows down the flow of bile from the liver. In healthy people, this leads to a short-term increase in the level of bilirubin and bile acids in the blood. In diseases of the biliary system (for example, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis), the response to the administration of sodium sulfate is impaired.

To carry out the test, the patient is injected intravenously with a solution of sodium sulfate at the rate of 0.25 g per 1 kg of body weight. Blood sampling to determine the level of bilirubin and bile acids is carried out before the solution is administered and 30 and 60 minutes after the injection. In diseases of the biliary system, there is a smaller rise or no change in the level of bilirubin and bile acids.

Thus, the Schmidt reaction makes it possible to identify disturbances in the outflow of bile and diagnose diseases of the biliary tract. Currently, this test is used less frequently than before due to the emergence of more modern and informative diagnostic methods.

Schmidt Adolf is a therapist. In 1894, he was the first to use a serological reaction in a diagnostic method to diagnose syphilis using a specific serum antigen. He developed this into an independent technique, later called the “Schmidt Reaction”. Subsequently, this method became widespread and is used to diagnose seronegative forms of syphilis (latent syphilis) to this day.