How does a refractometer measure urine?
Refractometer – Clinical Refractometer measures urine specific gravity, or gives the refractive index in seconds. Dimensions Place a drop or two of a sample on the prism and read the results. Simply place a drop or two of a sample on the prism and read the results immediately.
What is the procedure of refractometer?
Abbe’s refractometer is used to measure the refractive index of the given organic liquid. Using a particular monochromatic light source, the apparatus is calibrated with water as the liquid. Adjust the micrometer screw to focus the boundary between the bright and dark regions.
How do you use a veterinary refractometer?
Place a drop of distilled water on the prism, close the lid and hold the instrument up to the light while looking through the eye piece. Check that the distilled water reads 1.000 on the specific gravity (U.G.) scale. If it does, the instrument is ready for use.
What is considered a high specific gravity?
Ideally, urine specific gravity results will fall between 1.002 and 1.030 if your kidneys are functioning normally. Specific gravity results above 1.010 can indicate mild dehydration. The higher the number, the more dehydrated you may be.
What does an increased specific gravity mean?
High specific gravity suggests that the urine is too concentrated. Conditions that cause high specific gravity include: dehydration. diarrhea or vomiting resulting in dehydration. congestive heart failure.
What should urine specific gravity be?
Normal Results Urine osmolality is a more specific test for urine concentration. The urine specific gravity test is easier and more convenient, and is usually part of a routine urinalysis . The urine osmolality test may not be needed. The normal range for urine specific gravity is 1.005 to 1.030.
How does urine specific gravity work?
Urine specific gravity is a more precise measurement of your urine’s overall concentration than looking at the color of your urine alone. Your healthcare provider will look at the ratio of the density of your urine to the density of water. To put it another way, the specific density of water would be 1.000.
What is the function of refractometer?
A refractometer is used to determine a concentration of a particular substance within a given solution. It operates based on the principle of refraction. When rays of light pass from one medium into another, they are bent either toward or away from a normal line between the two media.
What does a specific gravity of 1.040 mean?
A value >1.035-1.040 suggests possible contamination, very high levels of glucose, or recently received low-molecular-weight dextran or high-density radiopaque dyes. A high specific gravity is also seen in shock, nephrotic syndrome, dehydration, acute glomerulonephritis, heart failure, or liver failure.
How is specific gravity measured in a refractometer?
Specific Gravity Measures density of a liquid in relation to the density of water, which has a specific gravity of 1. Calibrate the refractometer with a standard solution before use. Since the reading will be affected by temperature changes, it is best to calibrate at the temperature of the test environment.
How is the accuracy of the refractometer checked?
the refractometer is checked for accuracy by measuring the specific gravity of water (considered a standard) which should read 1.000 ±0.001. To verify the accuracy at a high specific gravity, the MASLevel 1 Liquid Urinalysis Control Solution is run.
How do you test urine in a refractometer?
Place a drop of urine in the designated spot on top of the refractometer. 2. Hold the instrument toward a source of light and read the value directly from the specific gravity scale. 3. Clean the refractometer after each use with distilled water or weak bleach solution (Quanto), wipe lens with lens paper or soft gauze.
How do you calibrate a urine specific gravity scale?
Calibrate the refractometer by placing distilled water on the glass as the sample, and adjusting the scale to read 1.000. This should be done before you begin testing, and after every ten samples or so to ensure that the calibration remains accurate. Measurement. Open up the flap at the end of the refractometer.