A biochemical test to detect monosaccharide (reducing) sugars in solution, devised by the Swedish physician Christen Barfoed (1815–99). Barfoed’s reagent, a mixture of ethanoic (acetic) acid and copper(II) acetate, is added to the test solution and boiled. If any reducing sugars are present a red precipitate of copper(II) oxide is formed. The reaction will be negative in the presence of disaccharide sugars as they are weaker reducing agents.