ascorbate-cyanide test

a·scor·bate-·cy·a·nide test

a test to detect deficienty of glucose 6-phosphate in red blood cells; blood is incubated with sodium cyanide and ascorbate; the hydrogen peroxide that is generated is free to oxidize hemoglobin to methemoglobin, since cyanide inhibits catalase; a brown color is produced more rapidly in glucose 6-phosphate-deficient cells.