What it is: A urine acetone (ketone) test checks for ketones — byproducts of fat breakdown — in a urine sample, usually as part of a broader dipstick urinalysis.
Why it's ordered: Most often ordered to check for diabetic ketoacidosis in people with diabetes, or to evaluate starvation, very low-carbohydrate diets, prolonged vomiting, or illness affecting nutrition.
What it detects: Ketones aren't normally present in urine. They appear when the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose, which happens with inadequate insulin, inadequate carbohydrate intake, or significant illness.
Collection & prep: A urine sample collected in a clean container, tested with a dipstick that changes color based on ketone concentration. No special preparation is required.
Results:
Positive – ketones present; in someone with diabetes and high blood sugar, this raises concern for diabetic ketoacidosis, a medical emergency
Negative – no significant ketones detected
Possible complications of ketone buildup: In people with diabetes, a positive ketone result combined with high blood sugar and symptoms like nausea, abdominal pain, or rapid breathing needs urgent medical attention, since diabetic ketoacidosis can be life-threatening if untreated.
Statements made in the Clinical Manual have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
