Ketone bodies - urine; Urine ketones

A negative test result is normal. When ketones are present in the urine, the results 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

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

A positive test may indicate:

• Abnormal nutritional conditions
  • Anorexia
  • Fasting
  • High protein or low carbohydrate diets
  • Starvation
• Disorders of increased metabolism
  • Acute or severe illness
  • Burns
  • Fever
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Nursing a baby (lactation)
  • Postsurgical condition
  • Pregnancy
• Metabolic abnormalities, including uncontrolled diabetes or glycogen storage disease
• Vomiting frequently over a long period of time

Images

Male urinary system

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Ketones Overview

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Ketones Risks

Review Date: 11/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Herbert Y. Lin, MD, PHD, Nephrologist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)