1. Define specific gravity. 2. What information does the specific gravity of urine provide? 3. What is the name of the device used to measure specific gravity? 4. What is the normal range for the specific gravity of urine in humans? 5. List three things (on one line) that can be assessed using urine reagent test strips, e.g., Clinistix, Multistix, Chemstrip. 6. Is the specific gravity of urine related to the osmolarity (or osmolality) of urine?

1. Define specific gravity. Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a volume of some substance compared with the weight of an equal volume of pure H 2 O (specific gravity of H 2 O = 1.000) 2. What information does the specific gravity of urine provide? Specific gravity of urine is an indicator of the amount of solute present in the urine. (Abnormally low/high specific gravity may be indicative of pathology in the kidney or urine elimination system.) 3. What is the name of the device used to measure specific gravity? A Urinometer or hydrometer. (The difference between the two is the range of specific gravity each can measure, the urinometer having a smaller range.) 4. What is the normal range for the specific gravity of urine in humans? to 1.035

5. List three things (on one line) that can be assessed using urine reagent test strips, e.g., Clinistix, Multistix, Chemstrip. pH, glucose, protein, ketones, bilirubin, Hb/occult blood, Nitrites 6. Is the specific gravity of urine related to the osmolarity (or osmolality) of urine? Definitely! Both measure the concentration of solutes in the urine. Specific gravity is used as a first assessment since it’s easy to do. Further thinking: If the normal range of urine specific gravity (USG) is to 1.035, and urine osmolarity varies between about 50 mOsm/L to 1200 mOsm/L, what is the numerical relationship to of unit of specific gravity to each 100 mOsm/L?