What is urine specific gravity?
Urine Specific Gravity (SSG) is a measure of the concentration of H20 in your urine. It helps doctors determine if you have kidney disease or not. If you do have kidney problems, it will help them to decide what type of treatment would be best for you.
How is the test performed?
The test consists of collecting several samples from different parts of your body. You then urinate into a cup and let it drain for a few minutes. Then you take another sample, which you pour into a glass vial. The liquid in the bottle is called serum and it contains all the blood cells in your body. The liquid in the vial is called serum concentrate.
The two liquids are mixed together and tested on a laboratory machine. The result is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. A value of less than one means that the fluid has more water in it than H20; a value greater than one means that the fluid has less water in it than H20.
How is the test interpreted?
A value of less than 1.005 indicates that you have normal kidney function. A value between 1.005 and 1.030 means you probably have minor kidney damage. A value over 1.030 means you probably have moderate kidney damage. A value over 1.050 means you definitely have moderate to severe kidney damage.
What preparation is required?
No Preparation is required.
How are the results interpreted?
If your result is normal, you have nothing to worry about. If your result is between 1 and 1.030, you probably have minor kidney damage. If your result is over 1.030, you probably have moderate kidney damage. If your result is over 1.050 then you definitely have moderate to severe kidney damage.
What are the test’s side effects?
Sources & references used in this article:
Comparison of 3 methods to assess urine specific gravity in collegiate wrestlers by KJ Stuempfle, DG Drury – Journal of athletic training, 2003 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Accuracy of urine specific gravity and osmolality as indicators of hydration status by RA Oppliger, SA Magnes… – … journal of sport …, 2005 – journals.humankinetics.com
Specific gravity test strips used in monitoring urine concentrations of urolithiasis patients by RE Cadoff, GW Drach, J LeBouton – The Journal of urology, 1988 – auajournals.org
