Urine ketones test
Quick answer: A urine ketone test checks for ketones, which the body makes when it burns fat for energy instead of sugar. Doctors order it in diabetes, during illness with vomiting or poor eating, and in pregnancy with severe vomiting.
- SampleUrine
- TakesA few minutes to give the sample
- Before the testNo special preparation is usually needed.
- In fertility careIn pregnancy it helps doctors judge dehydration and starvation from severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum).
How the test is done
- 1You are given a clean, dry container
- 2You pass a small amount of urine into it, ideally midstream
- 3The lab dips a chemical strip into the urine
- 4The strip pad changes colour if ketones are present and is read against a chart
What your results can mean
Reading your report
Results are usually reported as negative or as a number of plus signs; discuss what they mean with your doctor.
If the result is outside the usual range
Ketones in urine can be seen with fasting, low-carbohydrate diets, prolonged vomiting such as severe morning sickness, and poorly controlled diabetes, where they can signal diabetic ketoacidosis. A negative result means no ketones were found at the time of the sample.
Who usually has this test
People with diabetes who are unwell, and pregnant women with severe vomiting or poor intake of food and fluids.
Risks and aftercare
There are no risks, and you can eat and drink normally afterwards.
Names and options
Also called: urine acetone, ketone bodies urine, urine ketone test
Options
- Acetone, urine
- Urine ketone bodies
Listed by the hospital as
- ACETONE, URINE
- URINE KETONE BODIES
Questions about this test
Can fasting cause ketones in urine?
Yes. When you go without food for many hours, the body burns fat and makes ketones, so small amounts can show up even in healthy people. Your doctor will read the result alongside how much you have been eating and drinking.
What do ketones in urine mean in pregnancy?
They often mean your body is short of fuel and fluids, which can happen with severe morning sickness. Doctors use the result, with your symptoms and weight, to judge whether you need extra fluids or treatment.
Are ketones in urine dangerous for people with diabetes?
Ketones in someone with diabetes, especially with high sugar, vomiting or tummy pain, can be an early sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, which needs urgent care. Follow your diabetes care plan and contact your doctor promptly if you test positive.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
34/3, 10th Cross Road, opp. Vardhaka Sardar Patel School, 1st N Block, 2nd Stage, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
Get directions ↗IVF Pulse fertility care at Tamara Hospital →
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This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.