Marijuana.com

fastlx

Ok everyone heres the missing link many of you have been looking for. I've been researching urine tests for over 2 years now, and finally made an essential connection that will give you that last bit of confidence when diluting. After failing my recent tests at a new laboratory for dilution even after creatine loading I talked with a counseler and social engineered some info out of her. You can apparently fail for just a low specific gravity on the test I am administered. The test is at redwood toxicology laboratories, the UA label had 3 check boxes, a 5 or 8panel (cant remember), 8 panel + SG (checked), and one labeled oxycontin $5.00. I take the 8 panel + SG.

Now for the good info. I spoke with a friend of mine that has a salt water acquarium. Apparently for these the salt content needs to be contolled very precisely. This is done by measuring specific gravity! The cheapest accurate way is by using a glass hydrometer ($3.99!), you can also purchase a reflectometer but they will cost you a bit more (about $40-50 on ebay). I went to my local petco and purchased: http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?sku=4258373292 this hydrometer is marked down to .002 accuracy and has a range from 1.000 to 1.060 (perfect). I also purchased a section of 1" diameter clear tubing.

Cork or plug the bottom of the tube and cut it to a length a little longer than the length of the hydrometer. Fill the tube with urine/water and leave a little more than an inch at the top. The hydrometer needs to float freely in the tube, and the level at which the top of the water sits on the gauge is the specific gravity! VERY easy to do. A trick to keep the hydrometer from sticking to the sides of the tube is give it a gentle spin.

Note: this might not be exactly accurate because hydrometers need to be calibrated for a certain temperature, and salt water tanks run 75-80 degrees rather than 98, but for our purposes it will work good enough as all you need is what your normal SG is and how to get it up around there comparatively.

Now for some results of testing I did:

Last night i did a control of tap water, read 1.000.
Then I did a baseline after my normal fluid consumption throughout the day: 1.020
I consumed 32-40oz of water then urinated almost immediately (5-10min) and it read 1.006.
I urinated once more where i didnt have my setup with me, then the 3rd time (30-40min after the 1.020) it read 1.000!

Now for my tests this morning, here was my water/gatorade/etc intake schedule:
MV=multivitamin, ASP=325MG aspirin, Calci = 1200mg calcium citrate + vitamin d supplement
B=Vitamin B complex supplement

06:17 1 16oz glass gatorade w/ creatine, 1 tsp salt in 12oz, 4 ASP, 1 MV, 1 Calci
06:57 1 16oz glass water + 1 scoop protein shake mix
07:47 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt in 12oz, 3 ASP, 1 B, 1 Calci
08:32 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt in 12oz, 1/2 Calci
09:02 1 16oz glass water + 1 scoop protein shake mix, 1/2 Calci
09:52 1 16oz glass gatorade w/ creatine, 1tsp salt in 12oz, 1 Calci, 4 ASP
09:57 1 b vitamin small amt water
10:33 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1tsp salt in 12oz, 1 Calci

Now for the corresponding specific gravity readings:

05:52 1.016
08:00 1.020
08:50 1.008
09:09 1.007
H20 control 1.000
09:27 1.002
09:47 1.002
10:11 1.003
10:29 1.007
11:15 -----urine test-----
11:48 1.014

Conclusions: Salt + calcium citrate/vitamin d supplement raised my specific gravity levels significantly. Protein shake mix didnt seem to raise it, allowed it to lower. I tried the protein shake mix after reading protein excreted in urine raises specific gravity, but found that my kidneys seem to be working properly and all the protein was metabolized.

Hopefully someone with a little time can take this testing method and find exactly what substances are raising the specific gravity. I found a few prescription dieuretics that are pharmacologenically known to raise SG levels but I am not including them in this report as I am not sure of their safety. I also read that taking sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) can increase SG levels, but this could also disturb urine pH levels greatly.

CAUTION: be careful taking large amounts of calcium citrate this can cause 'gastric disturbances' I'll let you figure out on your own what that means

 

fastlx

I have done much more testing on specific gravity since I originally posted this. I no longer use calcium supplements, and found that 1/4-1/2tsp of salt in every 16oz of gatorade/powerade will keep my specific gravity at acceptable levels as long as I keep a good 25-30min between drinks. Here is a link to a picture of my Specific Gravity testing setup to give a better idea of what it looks like:

http://www.realpoor.com/sf/thc/sg-setup.jpg

The line on the pill bottle is about where the urine level has to be to get a result.

melanotaenia

thanks for the tip for everyone fast! I am a reef saltwater keeper myself so I have a couple refractos and hydrometers to test my salt levels in my aquarium so I know they are accurate; just make sure the one you get at your pet store goes down to 1.000, since a lot of them have the recommended salt levels for aquariums, which ranges from 1.010 to 1.025. The glass ones are great, just make sure you have enough urine to test the glass one out in.

Cheers to you fastlx!

__________________

Your Best Friend is Right Here: Search and You Shall Receive

For more info on Urine Testing, Click Here

The Obligatory Forum Rules You Must Read

reefermadness1

This should be stickied... very important ****.

fastlx

I see some interest has been sparked, so here are some more examples of dilution, and home testing of specific gravity:

MV=multi vitamin, B=B-complex vitamin, ASP=aspirin, 1 scoop creatine=5g creatine monohydrate

================================================== ===
Dilution regiment:
5:40 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1 scoop creatine + 5/6tsp salt in 12oz, 1MV
6:00 1 16oz glass gatorade, 5/6tsp salt in 12oz
6:22 1 16oz glass gatorade, 5/6tsp salt in 12oz
6:45 1 16oz glass gatorade, 5/6tsp salt in 12oz
7:05 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/4tsp salt in 12oz, 1 B
7:40 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt
8:13 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz, .5 B
8:35 1 14oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz

Specific gravity:
5:35 1.018
6:45 1.020
7:10 1.002
7:30 1.001
7:45 1.002
8:08 1.004
8:35 1.007
================================================== ===

dilution regiment:
~11:20 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1 scoop creatine, .5B, 1MV
12:05 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt, 4 ASP
12:25 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt, 2 ASP
12:45 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt,
1:00 1 8oz glass gatorade, small amt salt, 1B
1:35 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt
1:55 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz
2:20 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/4tsp salt in 12oz
2:42 1 16oz glass gatorade, small amt salt
2:52 1 16oz glass gatorade, small amt salt
3:02 1 16oz glass gatorade, small amt salt
3:20 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz

specific gravity:
12:15 1.012
12:40 1.005
1:35 1.003
2:35 1.012
2:53 1.003
3:02 1.002
3:11 1.002
================================================== ===

Dilution method:
4:25 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz, 4ASP, 1MV
4:45 1 12oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt
5:10 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt in 12oz
5:25 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz
5:40 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt
5:55 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/4tsp salt
6:15 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1 B, 3 ASP
6:35 1 12oz glass gatorade, 1/4tsp salt
7:05 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/4tsp salt in 12oz
7:30 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz
8:00 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz 1 B
8:25 1 16oz glass gatorade, 1/2tsp salt in 12oz
8:45 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt in 12oz, .5 B

Specific Gravity:
4:39 1.028
6:35 1.022
7:16 1.008
7:34 1.001
8:05 1.003
8:30 1.003
8:50 1.005
-next void an hour later
9:52 1.005
================================================== ===

Dilution Regiment:
6:20 1 16oz glass gatorade, w/ creatine, 1tsp salt in 12oz, 4ASP, 1MV
7:00 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp saslt in 12oz
7:50 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt in 12oz, 1 B, 3 ASP
8:40 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt in 12oz
9:30 1 16oz glass gatorade, 3/4tsp salt in 12oz
10:00 1 12oz glass gatorade 3/4tsp salt
10:03 1 32oz glass gatorade w/ 1 packet CERTO
10:35 1 12oz glass gatorade, w/ creatine, 3/4tsp salt, 3 ASP, .5 B
11:15 1 12oz glass gatorade w/ 1tsp salt

Specific Gravity:
07:50 1.022
08:42 1.020
09:20 1.014
09:40 1.010
10:20 1.012
10:40 1.003
10:55 1.001
11:13 1.006
================================================== ===

 

melanotaenia

your methods are very precise, and also should aid those on here who are afraid they might run into a problem with their S.G.

Cheers to you fastlx!