Specimen

2 mL (0.5 mL min.) Serum from 1 SST. Ship refrigerated or frozen.

Usage

Beta hydroxybutyrate a predominant ketone is an extremely reliable guide for monitoring insulin therapy in the treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). During successful therapy, total ketones & beta Hydroxybutyrate decreases but acetoacetate increases. It may produce a paradoxical situation, as ketosis may appear to worsen because most of the tests for ketosis detects acetoacetate only whereas Beta hydroxybutyrate measurement quantitate this decrease.