References and texts in the fields of diabetes and clinical chemistry commonly report that ascorbic acid when given orally or parenterally gives a false-positive reaction to the copper reduction glucose test (Clinitest). This impression is based on a study in which ascorbic acid (250 mg./dl.) was added to urine in vitro, with a resultant positive-test reading in the absence of glucose. Ascorbic acid is a reducing agent, and theoretically it could interfere with the copper reduction method of glucose detection. In the current study 10 nondiabetic men were ingesting 4 and 6 gm. ascorbic acid per day. A total of 360 glucose detection tests with the copper reduction method were undertaken. In no instance was there a positive reaction to the glucose test.

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