Ketones, Qualitative, Urine
A urine ketones test checks for ketones, which are substances your body makes when it burns fat for energy instead of sugar. It is often used to help monitor conditions like diabetes or to investigate symptoms such as nausea and confusion.
["This test detects ketones in a urine sample to help assess how your body is using energy and to screen for a potentially serious condition called ketoacidosis."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 25705-5
- Short code
- Ketones 1h p 50 g Glc PO Ur Ql
- Synonyms
- Ketones 1h p 50 g Glc PO Ur Ql
- Category
- glucose
- Sample
- urine
- Container
- Sterile urine container
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- true
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Specimen volume
- 10 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 2h, Refrigerated: 24h, Frozen: 7d
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What Are Ketones?
Ketones are chemicals your liver produces when your cells do not get enough glucose (sugar) for energy and begin breaking down fat instead. Small amounts can be normal during fasting, strenuous exercise, or a low-carbohydrate diet, but high levels can signal a problem.
Why the Test Is Ordered
Your healthcare provider may order a urine ketones test to monitor diabetes, especially when blood sugar is high or you are ill. It can also be used to investigate unexplained nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or confusion, and to check on people following very low-carbohydrate diets or who are fasting.
How the Sample Is Collected
This test uses a urine sample, typically collected in a clean container at a clinic, laboratory, or at home with a test strip. Your provider will tell you whether a one-time sample or a timed collection is needed.
Understanding Your Results
Results are usually reported as negative, trace, small, moderate, or large, or as a qualitative positive or negative. What counts as abnormal depends on your situation and the method used, so your provider will interpret results alongside your symptoms, blood sugar, and other tests.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Ketones in urine can be a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes that requires prompt medical care. They can also appear with fasting, dehydration, vomiting, alcohol use, or certain diets. A positive result does not by itself diagnose a condition; it is interpreted together with your health history, blood glucose, and other laboratory findings.
Short name
Urine Ketones
Frequently asked questions
Does a positive urine ketones result always mean something serious?
Can I test for ketones at home?
Do I need to fast before a urine ketones test?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy