# Lugol's solution
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 8, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766 "2008-11-08T03:24:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766/1 "2008-11-08T03:24:46Z")
Is anyone here familiar with Lugol’s solution? I’m having some weird issues doing blood tests and although I’ve googled around, cannot find out what’s going on.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766/2 "2008-11-08T04:09:23Z")
What do you want to know about iodine? That’s what Lugol’s solution essentially is. It’s also know as SSKI, or potassium iodide salts.
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### Author:  [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766/3 "2008-11-08T07:06:08Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> What do you want to know about iodine? That’s what Lugol’s solution essentially is. It’s also know as SSKI, or potassium iodide salts.
I know. I’m using the solution in some animal blood testing. I am getting different results according to the strength of solution - how dilute it is. I don’t remember seeing this before. Will a weaker solution not react as much as a strong solution to the presence of certain proteins?
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2008, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766/4 "2008-11-08T08:02:43Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Will a weaker solution not react as much as a strong solution to the presence of certain proteins?
I’m at a loss as to why you would think it would react as strongly. Of course a weaker solution won’t react as much.
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### Author:  [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766/5 "2008-11-08T16:21:19Z")
If you have made the solution too weak, then the I[sub]3[/sub][sup]-[/sup] is the limiting reagent, so of course it will not react as much. Even if you have not made it that weak, the rate at which it reacts will be directly proportional to the concentration. IIRC, it’s a pretty fast reaction though, so I doubt that is the case.
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### Author:  [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lugols-solution/471766/6 "2008-11-08T19:23:27Z")
Thanks for the replies. I could go on at great length, but I won’t. I have 400 tests to do and am going to use 3 different solutions and see what I can figure out.
Thanks again.