What does specific gravity mean on urine test?

Urinary specific gravity (SG) is a measure of the concentration of solutes in the urine. It measures the ratio of urine density compared with water density and provides information on the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. A urinary specific gravity measurement is a routine part of urinalysis.

What happens if specific gravity of urine is low?

In cases of low specific gravity, a person may be drinking too much fluid or have a condition that makes them thirsty. Further testing is often needed to determine if a heart condition, kidney problem, or metabolic disorder is the cause of the abnormal result. Low specific gravity suggests that urine is too diluted.

Why is specific gravity important in medicine?

Measurement of specific gravity provides information regarding a patient’s state of hydration or dehydration. It also can be used to determine loss of renal tubular concentrating ability. There are no “abnormal” specific gravity values. This test simply indicates urine concentration.

What does high urine specific gravity mean?

Abnormal: A very high specific gravity means very concentrated urine, which may be caused by not drinking enough fluid, loss of too much fluid (excessive vomiting, sweating, or diarrhea), or substances (such as sugar or protein) in the urine.

What does a low specific gravity indicate?

Low specific gravity (SG) (1.001-1.003) may indicate the presence of diabetes insipidus, a disease caused by impaired functioning of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Low SG also may occur in patients with glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, and other renal abnormalities.

What does a specific gravity of 1.025 mean?

Specific gravity is usually 1.010-1.025 (normal range: 1.003-1.030) and highest in the morning. A value >1.025 indicates normal concentrating ability. A value >1.035-1.040 suggests possible contamination, very high levels of glucose, or recently received low-molecular-weight dextran or high-density radiopaque dyes.

What does specific gravity of 1.005 in urine mean?

Specific gravity. Normal: 1.005–1.030 footnote 1. Abnormal: A very high specific gravity means very concentrated urine, which may be caused by not drinking enough fluid, loss of too much fluid (excessive vomiting, sweating, or diarrhea), or substances (such as sugar or protein) in the urine.

What is the urine specific gravity for diabetes insipidus?

A urinary specific gravity of 1.005 or less and a urinary osmolality of less than 200 mOsm/kg are the hallmark of DI. Random plasma osmolality generally is greater than 287 mOsm/kg.

What does a urine specific gravity greater than 1.03 suggest about the patient’s condition?

Ideally, urine specific gravity results will fall between 1.002 and 1.030 if your kidneys are functioning normally. Specific gravity results above 1.010 can indicate mild dehydration. The higher the number, the more dehydrated you may be.

What does a pH of 5 in urine mean?

According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, the average value for urine pH is 6.0, but it can range from 4.5 to 8.0. Urine under 5.0 is acidic, and urine higher than 8.0 is alkaline, or basic.

What does it mean when urine has a high specific gravity?

High urine specific gravity can be an indication that you have extra substances in your urine—these substances could be glucose, bilirubin, red blood cells, white blood cells, crystals, bacteria, or even protein. Some conditions allow proteins to pass through the filters in kidneys, producing protein in the urine.

What causes elevated specific gravity in urine?

High specific gravity suggests that the urine is too concentrated. Conditions that cause high specific gravity include: Excess substances in the urine can also cause high specific gravity. The doctor may perform additional urine testing, including urinalysis, urine culture, urine osmolality, urine pH, or ketone testing.

How do you increase specific gravity of urine?

Urine Specific Gravity. The first and most common reason for an increase in urine specific gravity is dehydration. The second reason for a high specific gravity is an increased secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). ADH causes increased tubular water re-absorption and decreased urine volume.

What does specific gravity of urine indicate?

A urine specific gravity test can diagnose kidney problems. A urine specific gravity test gives information about how well the kidneys concentrate the urine and a person’s hydration status. The primary function of the kidneys is to maintain a healthy fluid and electrolyte balance.