Urine density

Normal values are between 1.020 to 1.028.

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

Increased urine specific gravity may be due to:

• Addison's disease (rare)
• Dehydration
• Diarrhea that causes dehydration
• Glucosuria
• Heart failure (related to decreased blood flow to the kidneys)
• Renal arterial stenosis
• Shock
• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)

Decreased urine specific gravity may be due to:

• Aldosteronism (very rare)
• Excessive fluid intake
• Diabetes insipidus - central
• Diabetes insipidus - nephrogenic
• Renal failure
• Renal tubular necrosis
• Severe kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• Complicated UTI (pyelonephritis)
• High blood sodium level
• Low blood sodium level
• Excessive urination

Images

Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

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Urine specific gravity Overview

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Urine specific gravity Risks

Review Date: 08/07/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. 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)