Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

TEST FOR ACETONE BODIES - (ROTH ERA’S TEST)

Aim

To detect whether actone or ketone bodies are present in the given sample of urine. Apparatus

Test tube, pipette

Procedure

Saturate about 5m1. of urine with ammonium sulphate. Add few crystals of sodium nitropruside and shake well. Add liquor ammonia through the sides of the test tube, formation of a purple ring at the junction indicate a +ve test. The ketone bodies that may be present are acetone, acetoacetic acid and —hydroxy buryric acid.

Causes of Keton urea

a. Diabetic ketonurea - indicates ketoacidosis and if unchecked may gone to coma.

b. Non diabetic ketonurea - in infants and children in acute febrile stage, in vomiting and in diarrhoea and also in hyperemesis gravidarum and sometimes following severe exercise. Carbohydrate free diets as well as high protein and fat will cause ketonurea. Drugs that may cause ketonurea are metformin, insulin, levodopa etc.

c. Physiologically ketone bodies are found in starvation also.

Note: The observation may be classified as no ring formation (-ye) and purple ring formation (+ve).

Sample

Observation

Result

I

II

III

Iv

Question:

1. In the presence of ketone bodies in urine, what changes in blood chemistry do you expect?

2. What are ketone bodies? How it is formed?

3. What are non-diabetic causes of ketonurea?