Barium Chloride Solution, 10% w/v

Barium chloride solution 10%w/v is used in bile pigment determination in routine urine analysis. When it is added to urine, it combines with sulphate radicals in urine and precipitate of barium sulphate is formed. If bile pigments are present in urine, they will adhere to these large molecules. Ferric chloride present in Fouchet's reagent then oxidizes yellow bilirubin, in the presence of trichloroacetic acid to green biliverdin. Colour change to green: Bile pigments present ; No colour change in sediment: Bile pigment Absent