A ketones urine test measures the presence or absence of ketones in the urine.

Child or adult:

Collect a "clean-catch" ("midstream") urine sample. To obtain a clean-catch sample, men or boys should wipe 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 (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. Give the container to the health care provider or assistant.

Infant:

Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For girls, the bag is placed over the labia. Diaper the infant as usual, covering and securing the bag. Check the baby frequently and remove the bag after the infant has urinated into it. Active infants may displace the bag, so it may take more than one attempt to obtain the specimen. Drain the urine into a container and give it to the health care provider.

Urine ketones are usually measured as a "spot test" using a dipstick impregnated with chemicals that react with ketone bodies. The dipstick is dipped in the urine sample, and a color change indicates the presence of ketones.

A special diet may be recommended, and you should stop taking any drugs that may affect the test (see Special Considerations).

If the collection is being taken from an infant, extra collection bags may be necessary.

The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.

Ketones (beta-hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetic acid, and acetone) are the end-product of rapid or excessive fatty-acid breakdown. As is the case with glucose, ketones will be present in the urine when the blood levels of ketone surpass a certain threshold.

Fatty-acid release from adipose tissue (body fat) is stimulated by a number of hormones including glucagon, epinephrine, and growth hormone. The levels of these hormones increase in starvation (whether related to excess alcohol use or not), uncontrolled diabetes, and a number of other conditions.

A negative test result is normal. Results of the presence of acetone in the urine are usually listed as small, moderate or large with these corresponding values:

Small - < 20 mg/dL

Moderate - 30-40 mg/dL

Large - > 80 mg/dL

A positive test may indicate:

• Metabolic abnormalities, including uncontrolled diabetes or glycogen storage disease
• Abnormal nutritional conditions, including starvation, fasting, anorexia, high protein or low carbohydrate diets
• Vomiting frequently over a long period of time, including hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of morning sickness)
• Disorders of increased metabolism, including hyperthyroidism, fever, acute or severe illness, burns, pregnancy, lactation (nursing a baby), or post-surgical condition

There are no risks.

Special diets may alter test results. For example, a diet consisting of low amounts of carbohydrates with high amounts of protein and fat may effect the ketone levels.

Drugs that may cause false positive measurements include glucocorticoids.