Urine Ketones

Panel: Urinalysis & Urine Tests · All urinalysis tests

Typical adult reference range

Conventional unitsNegative
SI units—

Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.

What a high or low result can mean

High urine ketones: a positive result can be seen in diabetic ketoacidosis, prolonged fasting, and very low carbohydrate intake.

These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.

Good to know

Dipsticks detect acetoacetate, not beta-hydroxybutyrate.

Please note: Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and between the methods and instruments they use — the range printed on your own report is the one your result should be compared with. A result outside the range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a result inside it does not rule out illness. These pages are an educational summary, not medical advice: always discuss your results with the clinician who ordered them, who can interpret them in the context of your health and history.