Urine specific gravity

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Urine specific gravity is a laboratory test that measures the concentration of all chemical particles in the urine.

See also:

• Urine concentration test
• Urine osmolality
• Urinalysis

Urine density

The test requires a clean-catch urine sample. For information on how to collect this urine sample, see: Clean-catch urine culture

Your health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test. Drugs that can increase specific gravity measurements include dextran and sucrose. Receiving intravenous dye (contrast medium) for an x-ray exam up to 3 days before the test can also interfere with results.

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Eat a normal, balanced diet for several days before the test.

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

This test helps evaluate your body's water balance and urine concentration.

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).