The concentration of a solute in serum can be converted to serum water - and vice versa - if the specific gravity of the solution is known.
Parameters:
(1) specific gravity of the solution
(2) concentration of the solute, either per liter serum or kilogram water
concentration of solute in grams per kilogram serum water =
= (concentration of solute in grams per liter serum) * (conversion factor based on the specific gravity of the solution)
If the equation is rearranged:
concentration of solute in grams per liter serum =
= (concentration of solute in grams per kilogram serum water) / (conversion factor)
Specific Gravity |
Conversion Factor |
1.015 |
1.035 |
1.016 |
1.038 |
1.017 |
1.040 |
1.018 |
1.043 |
1.019 |
1.045 |
1.020 |
1.048 |
1.021 |
1.051 |
1.022 |
1.053 |
1.023 |
1.056 |
1.024 |
1.059 |
1.025 |
1.061 |
1.026 |
1.064 |
1.027 |
1.067 |
1.028 |
1.069 |
1.029 |
1.072 |
1.030 |
1.075 |
1.031 |
1.078 |
1.032 |
1.081 |
1.033 |
1.083 |
1.034 |
1.086 |
When this data is plotted in JMP, the following equation is obtained:
conversion factor =
= (2.6807 * (specific gravity of solution)) - 1.686
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory