Ketone Testing

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Considerations:

  • Provide the student with as much privacy as possible
  • Encourage the student to assist in the procedure as much as he/she is able to help student learn self-care skills
  • Ensure strips are contained in a tightly sealed container and show no signs of discoloration
    • Prolonged exposure of test strips to air may lead to inaccurate results
    • Discolored test strips should be discarded

Supplies:

  • Urine cup
  • Ketone testing strips
  • Individualized Health Plan (IHP) and/or Healthcare provider’s order

ketone
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Procedure Download
Skill Competency Download

Procedure:

  1. Position student to provide as much privacy as possible
  2. Explain the procedure to the student at his/her level of understanding
  3. Encourage the student to assist in the procedure as much as he/she is able to help student learn self-care skills
  4. Gather supplies and place on a clean surface
  5. Check expiration date on testing strips
  6. Ensure strips are contained in a tightly sealed container and show no signs of discoloration
    • Discolored test strips should be discarded
  7. Wash hands
  8. Put on gloves
  9. Have the student provide a urine sample in a urine cup or clean container
  10. Place the test strip in the urine
  11. Gently shake excess urine off the strip
  12. Wait for the strip pad to change color
    • The directions will tell you how long to wait
    • Be sure to follow timing instructions accurately as reading to soon or waiting too long could result in inaccurate results
  13.  Compare the strip pad to the color chart on the strip bottle
    • This gives you a range of the amount of ketones in the student’s urine
  14. Remove gloves
  15. Wash hands
  16. Document ketone results in student’s healthcare record
  17. Follow health care provider’s orders
  18. Update parent’s and healthcare provider, as needed

References:

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. (2021). How to check urine for glucose and ketones. Available at: https://www.stjude.org/treatment/patient-resources/caregiver-resources/patient-family-education-sheets/home-care-guidelines/how-to-check-urine-for-glucose-and-ketones.html

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (2021). Urine ketone testing. Available at: https://uihc.org/health-topics/urine-ketone-testing

Acknowledgement of Initial Reviewers:

Andrea Monicken, BSN, RN
Diabetes Educator
Aurora Healthcare

Page last reviewed: September 16, 2021
Page last updated: September 16, 2021

The information and materials presented in this Website are intended for informational purposes only and are not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or assist in diagnosis or treatment of the same.  The information is not intended to substitute for, supplement or replace clinical judgment.  If there are any concerns or questions about or relating to a nursing or medical procedure, contact the individual’s healthcare provider.  The information provided on this Website is not intended to be a substitute for medical orders and persons without the proper education, training, supervision and/or licensure should not perform the procedures.