Diagnostic Laboratory Section

TEST FOR KETONE BODIES

• Ketones bodies are formed due to the derangement in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Rothera’s test

• Their accumulation in the blood and urine produces a condition known as ketosis. For detection of ketone bodies (acetone, acetoacetic acid only)
  • Saturate 5 ml of urine with ( NH₄)₂SO₄
  • Add few drops of 5% sodium nitroprusside.
  • Add 2 ml of conc. NH₄OH or liquor NH₃ along the inner walls of the tube.
  • Appearance of permanganate color indicates the presence of ketone bodies.

Ketonuria

• Ketosis (acetonaemia)
• Diabetes mellitus associated with a hyperglycaemia
• Acidosis
• High fat diet
• Starvation or fasting
• Impaired liver function
• Milk fever
• Hyperfunction of the anterior pituitary or adrenal cortex, excess of female sex hormones