Specific Gravity

Specific Gravity

WHAT IS ADULTERATION?
Adulteration is the tampering of a urine specimen with the intention of altering the test results. The use of adulterants can cause false negative results in Drug Tests (Strip/Card/Device/Cup) by either interfering with the screening test and/or destroying the drugs present in the urine. Dilution may also be employed in an attempt to produce false negative drug test results. One of the best ways to test for adulteration or dilution is to determine certain urinary characteristics such as pH, specific gravity and creatinine and to detect the presence of oxidants/PCC, nitrites or glutaraldehyde in urine.

Specific gravity tests for sample dilution. The normal range is from 1.003 to 1.030. Values outside this range may be the result of specimen dilution or adulteration.