SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF URINE SERIES

Urine specific gravity is a measure of urine concentration. Typically, this is done by dipping a strip into the urine sample, and chemical reactions change the color of the pads.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF URINE SERIES

In other words THE URINE SPECIFIC GRAVITY IS AS THAT OF PLASMA.Urinalysis refers to a series of tests that can be run to assess the chemical quality of urine. It occurs specifically in chronic renal disease in which the kidney cannot form urine with a higher or a lower specific gravity than that of protein-free plasma. The specific gravity of the urine remains at 1.010 regardless of the volume of water consumption by the person. This is condition where there is fixed specific gravity. What are the causes of decreased specific gravity in urine?ĭiabetes insipidus, chronic renal failure (low and fixed at 1.010) due to loss of concentrating ability of tubules and compulsive water drinking. What are the causes of increased specific gravity in urine?ĭiabetes mellitus, nephritic syndrome, fever and dehydration.ġ2. Advantages are that temperature corrections are not necessary.ġ1. Harmonic oscillation densitometry: the principle is – principle that the frequency of a sound wave entering a solution changes in proportion to the density of the solution. Advantages are, only one or two drops of urine is sufficient and temperature correction not necessary. Refractometer: determines the concentration of the dissolved particles in the specimen by measuring the refractive index. What are the other methods of measuring the specific gravity of urine Specific gravity increases as solute concentration increases and decreases when temperature increases.ġ0. Solute and temperature affect the specific gravity. What are the factors affecting the specific gravity of urine? Specific gravity of urine is a measure of concentrating ability of kidneys and is determined to get information about its tubular function.ĩ. Normal values of specific gravity is 1.003-1.030. What is the normal value of specific gravity and what does it signify? This can correct the viewing error to a certain extent.Ĩ. In this scenario, the top of the meniscus can be read and 0.002 can be added to the reading you get. If the urine is very turbid, then it is very difficult to read at the lower meniscus. If the urine is very turbid then the measurement will be very difficultħ. What are the disadvantages of urinometer to measure specific gravity

This is done by adding 0.001 for every 3 degree rise above 15 degree C OR, substracting 0.001 for every 3 degree below 15 degree C.Ħ. so the temperature correction has to be done to measure the correct specific gravity. Note that urinometer is calibrated at 15 degree C. What is the temperature correction done to measure the specific gravity so the temperature correction has to be done to measure the correct specific gravity.ĥ. Read the calibrated graduation at the lowest level of urinary meniscus.

One may even have to gently spin the urinometer so that it is in the center of the cylinder Make sure the urinometer do not touch the bottom or the sides of the container and allow it to float freely. Gently insert the urinometer into the container. This may lead to difficult to take the readings of the meniscus Make sure that there are no bubbles/foam in the glass cylinder. Fill the glass cylinder with urine up to 2/3rds. Describe the procedure of measurement of specific gravity by urinometer The weight of the weighted float is designed in such a way that the urinometer sinks to the level of 1.000 in the distilled water.Ĥ. The weighted float will displace the volume of the urine which is equal to its weight. Because of increased density of urine compared to that of water, the urinometer will float higher in urine than in water. It is based on the principle of BUOYANCY. What is the principle behind the measurement of specific gravity by urinometer Stem- Has calibrations with numbers marked to measure the specific gravityģ. They are as illustrated in the Figure below

Urinometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity of urine.