Ketones

How It Is Done

Blood test

The health professional taking a sample of your blood will:

  • Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
  • Clean the needle site with alcohol.
  • Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
  • Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
  • Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
  • Apply a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
  • Apply pressure to the site and then a bandage.

Urine test

  • Collect a urine sample in a clean container.
  • Follow the manufacturer's directions on the bottle of test strips or tablets.
  • Avoid getting toilet paper, pubic hair, stool, menstrual blood, or other foreign matter in the urine sample.

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Author: Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MSLast Updated: July 25, 2007
Medical Review: Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology

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Topic Contents
 Test Overview
 Why It Is Done
 How To Prepare
Arrow PointerHow It Is Done
 How It Feels
 Risks
 Results
 What Affects the Test
 What To Think About
 References
 Credits