what would give a positive result with the benedicts test
Benedict's reagent It is a complex mixture of sodium carbonate, sodium citrate and copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, [2], which is often used in place of Fehling's solution to detect the presence of reducing sugars. The presence of other reducing substances also gives a positive reaction.[3] Such tests that use this reagent are called the Benedict's tests. A positive test with Benedict's reagent is shown by a colour change from clear blue to a brick-red precipitate.
History of syphilis In 1905, Schaudinn and Hoffmann discovered Treponema pallidum in tissue of patients with syphilis.[3] One year later, the first effective test for syphilis, the Wassermann test, was developed. Although it had some false positive results, it was a major advance in the detection and prevention of syphilis.[citation needed] By allowing testing before the acute symptoms of the disease had developed, this test allowed the prevention of transmission of syphilis to others, even though it did not provide a cure for those infected. In the 1930s the Hinton test, developed by William Augustus Hinton, and based on flocculation, was shown to have fewer false positive reactions than the Wassermann test.[47] Both of these early tests have been superseded by newer analytical methods.