[Development of salicylic acid detector tube]

A detector tube was successfully devised for the screening of salicylic acid in urine. It, named "salicylic acid detector tube", consists of glass tube in which silica gel coated with 5% (w/w) of ferric chloride is enclosed. A pipette rubber cap was attached to an end of the tube, and another end was inserted into urine sample. The sample was then introduced into the tube, the color of the reagent immediately turned purple under the condition of more than 50 microg/ml of salicylic acid in urine. This device was useful for the emergency screening of salicylic acid in acute poisoning cases with aspirin.