One of the first in vitro tests for aspirin was through the Trinder reaction. Aqueous ferric chloride was added to a urine sample, and the formation of the iron complex turned the solution purple. This test was not specific to acetylsalicylic acid but would occur in the presence of any phenol or enol. The downfall of this test occurs in the presence of hyperbilirubinemia or elevated bilirubin. When the level of bilirubin exceeds 1 mg/dl, a false positive could occur.