Specific Gravity

SPECIFIC GRAVITY Definition: A laboratory test that measures the concentration of particles in the urine as well as body’s water balance. How Test is Performed:  The test requires a clean-catch urine sample.  To obtain a clean-catch sample, men or boys should clean the head of the penis.  Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well.  As you start to urinate, allow a small amount to fall into the toilet bowl to clear the urethra of contaminants. Then, put a clean container under your urine. Remove the container from the urine stream. Cap and mark the container and give to health care provider or assistant. Normal Results/ Values: 1.010-1.025 Drugs that INCREASE specific gravity measurements: • • •

dextran sucrose intravenous dye

INCREASED urine specific gravity may be due to:        

dehydration diarrhea excessive sweating glucosuria heart failure ( related to decreased blood flow to the kidneys) renal arterial stenosis vomiting water restriction

DECREASED urine specific gravity may be due to:    

excessive fluid intake Diabetes insipidus renal failure ( that is, loss of ability to reabsorb water) pyelonephritis