What it means
It compares the weight of urine with the weight of water (1.000), so it shows how much dissolved material the urine holds. It is part of a urinalysis and can be checked with a dipstick. A high value means concentrated urine, as when the body is holding on to water; a low value means dilute urine.
For the nurse
Read the value with the client's fluid intake, urine output and weight. Report a value that does not fit the clinical picture.
At a glance
| Normal range | 1.005–1.030 (no units) |
|---|---|
| Also written | specific gravity, SG |
Related terms
dehydration
A state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in.
intake and output
The measured record of all fluids a client takes in and all fluids that leave the body over a set time.
urinary
Having to do with urine or with the organs that make, store and pass urine.
osmotic
Relating to osmosis, the movement of water across a membrane toward the side with more dissolved particles.