Beta -Hydroxybutyrate test.Ketone body assay.

• What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis

• Diabetic ketoacidosis is a severe and life threatening metabolic disease.
• It occurs when the body cannot use glucose as an energy source because there is no insulin or a shortage of insulin.
• The body switches to burning fatty acids and producing acidic ketones in the blood and urine.
• Ketones are poisonous in high levels.
• This condition is called ketoacidosis.


There are 3 type of ketone bodies.
The breakdown of fatty acids in the liver produces three compounds:
1. β-hydroxybutyric acid
2. Acetoacetate
3. Acetone
These three collectively Known as ketone bodies.
β-hydroxybutyric acid comprises approximately 78%, and acetoacetate is approximately 20% of the ketone bodies.
Acetoacetate is unstable and breaks down into Co2 and acetone, which comprises the remaining 2%.