Specimen Collection
5 mL Urine
Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours

Urgent sample within 1 hour. Contact laboratory to notify.

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

This is a dip-stick test : results are semi-quantitative.

This test measures acetoacetate only (not acetone or beta-hydroxybutyrate). It can be positive in pregnancy with minimal fasting, in prolonged fasting and prolonged exercise. It can be positive in diabetic and alcoholic ketoacidosis. As it only measures urine acetoacetate, it is possible to observe a paradoxical rise during the recovery phase of ketoacidosis.

Serum or plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate is the test of choice in diagnosis and monitoring of ketoacidosis.

Contact Information

Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

After-hours : contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.

Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402

Dr Cam Kyle: CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052

Dr Weldon Chiu: WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Campbell Heron: CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025