BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuUrine specific gravity testUrine densityUrine specific gravity is a laboratory test that shows the total concentration of all chemical particles in the urine. How the Test is Performed After you provide a urine sample, it is tested right away. The health care provider uses a dipstick made with a color-sensitive pad. The color the dipstick changes to will tell the provider the specific gravity of your urine. The dipstick test gives only a rough result. For a more accurate result, your provider may send your urine sample to a lab. How to Prepare for the Test Your provider may tell you that you need to limit your fluid intake 12 to 14 hours before the test.Your provider will ask you to temporarily stop taking any medicines that may affect the test results. Be sure to tell your provider about all the medicines you take, including dextran and sucrose. DO NOT stop taking any medicine before talking to your provider.Other things can also affect the test results. Tell your provider if you recently:Had any type of anesthesia for an operation Received intravenous dye (contrast medium) for an imaging test, such as a CT or MRI scan Used herbs or natural remedies, especially Chinese herbs How the Test will Feel The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed This test helps evaluate your body's water balance and urine concentration. Normal Results Urine osmolality is a more specific and precise test for urine concentration. The urine specific gravity test is easier and more convenient, and is usually part of a routine urinalysis. The urine osmolality test may not be needed.OsmolalityThe osmolality urine test measures the concentration of chemicals in urine. Osmolality in the blood can be measured using a blood test.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The normal range for urine specific gravity is 1.005 to 1.030. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Increased urine specific gravity may be due to conditions such as:Adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones (such as Addison disease) Glucose in the urine Heart failure Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High sodium level in the blood Loss of body fluids (dehydration) DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Narrowing of the kidney artery (renal artery stenosis) Shock Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH) SIADHSyndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is a condition in which the body makes too much antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased urine specific gravity may be due to:Damage to kidney tubule cells (renal tubular necrosis) Renal tubular necrosisAcute tubular necrosis (ATN) is a kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, which can lead to acute kidney failure. The t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diabetes insipidus Diabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the kidneys are unable to prevent the excretion of water. DI is not the same as diabetes me...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Drinking too much fluid Kidney failure Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low sodium level in the blood Severe kidney infection (pyelonephritis) Risks There are no risks with this test.Open ReferencesReferencesKrishnan A, Levin A. Laboratory assessment of kidney disease: glomerular filtration rate, urinalysis, and proteinuria. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 23.Riley RS, McPherson RA. Basic examination of the urine. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 29.Villeneuve P-M, Bagshaw SM. Assessment of urine biochemistry. In: Ronco C, Bellomo R, Kellum JA, Ricci Z, eds. Critical Care Nephrology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 55.AllVideoImagesTogFemale urinary tract - illustration The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Female urinary tractillustrationMale urinary tract - illustration The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Male urinary tractillustrationFemale urinary tract - illustration The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Female urinary tractillustrationMale urinary tract - illustration The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.Male urinary tractillustrationA Closer Look Urinary tract infection - InDepth(In-Depth)Exercise - InDepth(In-Depth) Tests for Urine specific gravity test Urine specific gravity testUrine concentration testUrinalysisUrine chemistryOsmolality urine testRelated Information Urine concentration test(Medical Test)Osmolality blood test(Medical Test)Dehydration(Condition)Glucose urine test(Medical Test)Heart failure(Condition)Low blood sodium(Condition)Central diabetes insipidus(Condition)Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus(Condition)Acute kidney failure(Condition)Acute tubular necrosis(Condition)Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 8/20/2023 Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. 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Urine specific gravity testUrine densityUrine specific gravity is a laboratory test that shows the total concentration of all chemical particles in the urine. How the Test is Performed After you provide a urine sample, it is tested right away. The health care provider uses a dipstick made with a color-sensitive pad. The color the dipstick changes to will tell the provider the specific gravity of your urine. The dipstick test gives only a rough result. For a more accurate result, your provider may send your urine sample to a lab. How to Prepare for the Test Your provider may tell you that you need to limit your fluid intake 12 to 14 hours before the test.Your provider will ask you to temporarily stop taking any medicines that may affect the test results. Be sure to tell your provider about all the medicines you take, including dextran and sucrose. DO NOT stop taking any medicine before talking to your provider.Other things can also affect the test results. Tell your provider if you recently:Had any type of anesthesia for an operation Received intravenous dye (contrast medium) for an imaging test, such as a CT or MRI scan Used herbs or natural remedies, especially Chinese herbs How the Test will Feel The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed This test helps evaluate your body's water balance and urine concentration. Normal Results Urine osmolality is a more specific and precise test for urine concentration. The urine specific gravity test is easier and more convenient, and is usually part of a routine urinalysis. The urine osmolality test may not be needed.OsmolalityThe osmolality urine test measures the concentration of chemicals in urine. Osmolality in the blood can be measured using a blood test.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The normal range for urine specific gravity is 1.005 to 1.030. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Increased urine specific gravity may be due to conditions such as:Adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones (such as Addison disease) Glucose in the urine Heart failure Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High sodium level in the blood Loss of body fluids (dehydration) DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Narrowing of the kidney artery (renal artery stenosis) Shock Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH) SIADHSyndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is a condition in which the body makes too much antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased urine specific gravity may be due to:Damage to kidney tubule cells (renal tubular necrosis) Renal tubular necrosisAcute tubular necrosis (ATN) is a kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, which can lead to acute kidney failure. The t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diabetes insipidus Diabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidus (DI) is an uncommon condition in which the kidneys are unable to prevent the excretion of water. DI is not the same as diabetes me...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Drinking too much fluid Kidney failure Kidney failureAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low sodium level in the blood Severe kidney infection (pyelonephritis) Risks There are no risks with this test.Open ReferencesReferencesKrishnan A, Levin A. Laboratory assessment of kidney disease: glomerular filtration rate, urinalysis, and proteinuria. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 23.Riley RS, McPherson RA. Basic examination of the urine. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 29.Villeneuve P-M, Bagshaw SM. Assessment of urine biochemistry. In: Ronco C, Bellomo R, Kellum JA, Ricci Z, eds. Critical Care Nephrology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 55.