How Do I "Read" TESTIX™ Ketone Test Strips? Bill Bailey, Ph.D., MH, ND, CNHP, CTN (Dr. Bailey can be reached at Traditional Naturopath)

Testing with a TESTIX™ Ketone Urine Test  reagent strip is safe and easy. Always keep the sticks in a cool, dry place and remove only one strip for immediate use. Do not touch the test area of the strip and replace the cap immediately and tightly. Then, simply follow these directions:

1. Dip the reagent end of strip in FRESH urine and immediately remove. An alternative method is to pass the reagent strip quickly through the urine stream.

2. While removing, run the edge of the strip against the rim of the urine container to remove excess urine.

3. Compare the test area with the color chart on the side of the bottle within 40 seconds from first exposing the test area to the urine being tested.

The reagent strip will not read a specific level for ketones, but rather a range, ranging from a "negative" to "trace" to "small," "moderate" or "large." It simply reads whether or not ketones are present and if so, a range of the amount present in the urine.

Ketone bodies are produced as a byproduct of protein or fat metabolism. There are some suggestions that small amounts of ketones are used by the brain as "food." It is known that hunger is suppressed by moderate amounts of ketones. Usually, the normal amounts of ketones present in the urine are at such low levels that they would not register on a urine reagent strip. When doing a low carb diet, the presence of ketones indicates that you are successfully burning fat which produces the ketone bodies.  The various ranges of color "pink" to "purple" indicate a lesser or higher presence of ketones, however, the color can be effected by how much water you are drinking (drinking large amounts of water will dilute the urine, causing less color change, but drinking a lot of water is recommended on a low carb diet, therefore, a light pink color is perfectly acceptable.)  The important thing to note is ANY presence of ketones, as this means that carbohydrates have been lowered enough to produce a higher body fat metabolism.

Some people get upset if their indicated ketosis level is higher/darker than a friend's ketosis level.  As indicated above, this can be caused by increased water consumption, and many other factors... the bottom line is that everyone is different!  Do not "compare" color levels with others to see who is "doing better" on the diet!

TESTIX™ Ketone Test Strips are manufactured in bulk quantities without the above information included in the bottle as a way to lower costs and make the sticks available at the very best possible price, since this information is quite readily available in all low carb diet books, including Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, as well as on the Low Carb Nexus® Web site.  Check out our other great articles for more information by clicking HERE!

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