Screening for the presence of ketoacidosis
Dipstick
Urine
Container/Tube: Plastic urine container
Specimen Volume: 20 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect a random urine specimen.
2. No preservative.
2 mL
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Urine | Refrigerated | 72 hours |
Screening for the presence of ketoacidosis
The body normally metabolizes fats to carbon dioxide and water. Inadequate carbohydrate in the diet or defects in carbohydrate metabolism or absorption cause the body to metabolize fatty acids. Ketones (acetoacetic acid, acetone, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid) are produced during fat metabolism and are excreted in urine.
Patients with untreated or inadequately treated diabetes mellitus are unable to efficiently utilize glucose due to insufficient insulin. Under these conditions, large amounts of fatty acids are metabolized, and abnormal amounts of ketones are excreted in the urine (ketonuria).
Increased ketones may occur during physiological stress conditions such as fasting, starvation, pregnancy, strenuous exercise, fever, frequent vomiting, anorexia, and some inborn errors of metabolism.
Negative
Detection of ketones in the urine of a diabetic is significant and indicates a change in insulin dosage or other alteration in treatment is necessary.
Ketones may appear in urine in large amounts before serum ketone is elevated.
False positive results (trace or less) may occur with highly pigmented urine specimens or those containing large amounts of levodopa metabolites. Compounds such as mesna (2-mercaptoethane sulfonic acid) that contain sulfhydryl groups may cause false positive results or an atypical color reaction.
1. Free HM: Modern Urine Chemistry Manual. Bayer Corp; 1996:47-49
2. Morton A: Review article: Ketoacidosis in the emergency department. Emerg Med Australas. 2020 Jun;32(3):371-376. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.13503
The Clinitek Status+ analyzer is a reflectance spectrophotometer that analyzes the intensity and color of the light reflected from the reagent areas. No calculations are required.(Package insert: Multistix 10 SG Reagent Strip. AN30516J. Siemens; Rev, 02/2011)
Monday through Sunday
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.
81003
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
SKETC | Ketone, QL, U | 50557-8 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
SKETC | Ketone, QL, U | 50557-8 |