CARBOHYDRATES are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. A carbohydrate may exist in its simplest form, a monosaccharide, or as larger polymers called polysaccharides (e.g. starch, glycogen, and cellulose). Carbohydrates are essential constituents of living things, and in the form of glucose, serve as the main source of energy for metabolism. They are also commonly found in many fruits and vegetables as simple or complex sugars. BioAssay Systems’ QuantiChrom™ Total Carbohydrate Assay Kit first hydrolyzes polysaccharides to monosaccharides, which are then converted to furfural compounds that react with the Detection Reagent. The color intensity of the chromagen, measured at 490 nm, is directly proportional to the total carbohydrate concentration (glucose equivalents) in the sample.