Urine Refractometer

Urine Refractometer

Measuring the urine Specific Gravity can help your veterinarian determine how well your pet’s kidneys are working. Urine that is too diluted may indicate that the kidneys can’t retain enough water to prevent dehydration. Often, urine SG is evaluated along with other urine and blood tests that screen for abnormalities involving the kidneys.

Specific gravity is defined as the weight or density of a quantity of liquid as compared with that of an equal amount of distilled water.

Under normal circumstances, in healthy dogs, the urine specific gravity may range from 1.001 to 1.060. Depending on the dog’s hydration status, the urine specific gravity varies throughout the day and between different days. For example, drinking excessive amounts of water just before the test or not drinking any water for several hours before the test will result in abnormal specific gravity values. However, these values are physiological.

Unfortunately, not all alterations in the urine specific gravity are physiological. Put as simply as possible concentrated urine suggests the dog is dehydrated, in acute renal failure or in shock. On the other hand, diluted urine usually suggests that the kidneys are not functioning properly. The urine may also be diluted as a result of:
certain medications – corticosteroids, diuretics, certain disease processes – some liver conditions, diabetes insipidus, cancers and pyometra.

Luckily, more than for any other body system, the diagnosis of most urinary tract diseases can be made from careful examination of a fresh urine sample and from accurate information from you about your dog’s drinking and urinating habits.

This is because almost all urinary tract disorders lead to changes in the normal pattern of drinking and urinating. When the drinking and urinating patterns are changed, the urine’s features are also altered.

 

Handheld Refractometer NEW

With automatic temperature compensation

Measuring range:
0—12 g/dl
1.000-1.040sg

Measuring scale:
0.2g/dl, 0.002sg

Login to see prices

Measuring urine S.G. using a refractometer

A refractometer is a device that measures the refractive index of liquids. The presence of particles in a liquid causes a light beam to bend more as it transitions from one medium to another, such as from air into urine. This bending creates a shadow line at the interface of the illuminated and dark areas, which is read where it intersects the refractometer’s scale.

 

Components of a refractometer include:

 

– Measuring prism

– Illuminator flap/cover

– Eyepiece

– Bimetallic strip (internally placed)

– Calibration screw

– Scales

 

A traditional handheld refractometer features a measuring prism onto which a few drops of the test liquid are placed, covered by a flap. You look through the eyepiece while directing the instrument towards a light source to read the result.

 

The eyepiece is adjustable to sharpen the image, facilitating an accurate reading. Pressing down on the flap can also enhance image clarity.

 

An adjustable screw located behind the stage manipulates the bimetallic strip, allowing for proper calibration with distilled water before testing urine or plasma samples. Regular calibration is crucial as the refractive index can significantly vary with environmental temperature changes.

 

Veterinary clinical refractometers typically have two or three scales. The scale for measuring specific gravity is usually on the right side, marked as U.G. (urine gravity) or S.G. (specific gravity), with a range from 1.000 to 1.030 or 1.000 to 1.040.

Automated External Defibrillator AED

Keep up with our news