GOVERNMENT DEGREE COLLEGE, ALAIR

YADADRI-BHUVANAGIRI DIST

STUDENTS’ STUDY PROJECT

Submitted for
Jignasa 2021

Under the supervision of

Dr. K. HARITHA,
Assistant Professor of Physics
 The Team

S. S.No.S. Hallticket No. Name of the student Class Group

1 20044010468021 V. Saidatta B.Sc II year (Physical Sciences)

2 20044010468015 M. Sathwika B.Sc II year (Physical Sciences)

3 20044010468007 D. Srikanth B.Sc II year (Physical Sciences)

4 20044010468009 G. Shravani B.Sc II year (Physical Sciences)

5 20044010468020 S. Swathi B.Sc II year (Physical Sciences)

 Investigation of the Urine Glucose using Refractometric Analysis
Abstract
In the present project an attempt is made to study the refractive index of human urine with
various samples having different sugar levels using hollow prism, alpins and laser light and thus
estimate the sugar content in urine.

Objective
To examine the use of refractometric techniques to estimate the sugar content in human urine.

Introduction
Analysis of human urine can determine many crucial parameters such as sugar content, salt
content. The properties of urine and clinical examination of urine provide overall assessment of
our body’s health.
The optical properties of a material define the interaction of material with light. The optical
properties of matter include: Refractive index, Dispersion, Scattering, Fluorescence,
Phosphorescence, Dichroism, Birefringence, etc [1].
Of late, optical measurement techniques are the most powerful mechanism for the investigation
of the characteristic properties of diverse materials, especially after the triumph of lasers and
computers. These have been used extensively for optical microscopy, fiber optics, optical
recording and optical sensing. Refractive index is the ratio of the velocity of light in air to the
velocity of light in other medium [2]. Industrial application of a refractive index measurement
include is to check the purity and concentration of liquid, semi-liquid and solid samples. Liquids
and semi-liquid samples can be measured with high accuracy. In pharmacy, it is an important
optical parameter that can be used to characterize the physicochemical properties of pharmaceutical
solids [3].

The refractive index profile of both human blood and urine is very important for pathologists in
the study and treatment of various diseases. In the present work, the results of study of refractive
index of urine and the corresponding glucose levels are presented. The refractive index is
directly proportional to the number of dissolved impurities.

Literature Review
In a work done by T.V. Starkey [4] a liquid prism is used in the spectrometer of auto-collimating
type and the refractive indices and dispersive powers of liquid are accurately determined. M
Pradella et al [5] compared the physical properties and chemical composition of urine by the
results obtained in 1725 urine samples using an automated refractometer to those from dip stick
method. In the work done by Yusmawati et al, the sugar concentration in carbonated drinks is
determined by a simple optical sensor [6].

The study [7] demonstrates refractometry as an effective tool in diagnosing the diabetic level of a
patient by a simple calibration curve of increment in refractive index ‘Δn’, as a function of sugar
level.
In the study done by [8], using the calibrated graph, the refractive index of human urine samples
of 25 persons in the age group between 20 years and 60 years are determined. The refractive
indices obtained are further compared with that determined using Abbe’s refractometer.
This paper [9] demonstrates how to fabricate hollow glass prisms, and a method to determine the
sugar content of soft drinks with a laser pointer and hollow prism.

Methodology
We have collaborated with the Community Health Centre, Alair and obtained urine samples
with varying sugar levels. As we couldn’t collect adequate samples of diabetic patients, later we
have taken the help of Asha workers and ANMs during covid vaccination drive in the town and
collected urine from the diabetic patients. We have collected 31 samples in disposable
containers.
With the office superintendent Dr. Kranti Kumar, CHC, Alair

We have collaborated with the Community Health Centre, Alair and

obtained urine samples with varying sugar levels.

With the Lab Technician Mr. Pavan Kumar

Collecting Samples at Alair
The samples are labeled and their sugar content range is noted using the dip-stick method.
The hollow prism is cleaned and is placed on a white paper, its outline is marked and normal
is drawn on one surface. Using a protractor the incident angle 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 degrees
angles of incidence one on each paper.
Now the urine sample is injected using a syringe. Two alpins P and Q are fixed vertically on the
incident ray with a gap of 10 cm in between the pins. Now looking from the other refracting
surface two more pins R and S are to be fixed such that the P, Q, R, S appear to be in a straight
line. A laser light is made incident on one surface along P, Q, the emergent ray is cross verified
by the laser light with the pins R and S.

The angle of minimum deviation in each case is found by plotting a graph between angle of
incidence on X-axis and angle of deviation on Y-axis. The angle of minimum deviation is
determined by the graph.
A+ δm
sin
2
The refractive indices of the samples are evaluated using the formula µ= , where the
A
sin
2
angle of the equilateral prism, A is 60o, δm is the angle of minimum deviation.
S.No Urine sugar range using No of Refractive Index
Dip-stick method samples
tested
1 below 100 (Normal) 10 1.338

2 100 to 200 7 1.351

3 200-300 7 1.363

4 300-400 5 1.376

5 400-500 2 1.389
 Variation of refractive index with Glucose level

1.39

1.38

1.37

1.36

1.35

1.34

1.33

1.32

1.31
below 100 100 to 200 200-300 300-400 400-500
(Normal)

Conclusions and Discussion

The diabetes test is usually done testing blood sugar content. Our method is completely non-
invasive technique and gives the glucose content in urine when calibrated with the known values.
It is found that the refractive index holds a direct relationship with the glucose content of the
urine. The samples are re-tested after 24 hours the values of refractive index remained unchanged.
This shows that the test can be done not only with the fresh sample unlike as required by the dip-
stick method.
The present method of determination of refractive index of urine is very much useful for
diagnostic purposes by medical professionals. A device may be designed wherein the calibration
of refractive index values of urine samples with the glucose levels is made. Greater precessional
protractor may be used to increase the variation of refractive indices between the samples.
The device also can be used to measure the pollutants in the water bodies, contaminated liquids
like contamination of milk and contamination of honey by measuring the refractive indices of
contaminated agents etc.
Acknowledgements:
The entire team acknowledges the Superintendent Dr. Kranti Kumar, Lab Technician Mr. Pavan,
Community Health Centre (CHC), ALAIR and Mrs. Santhosha ANM for providing the required
urine samples, the Commissionerate of Collegiate Education, Hyderabad, Telangana for providing
this opportunity.

References
[1] “Introduction to light”, Gary Waldman, Dover Publications (1983)
[2] “Refractometric Analysis” by Goddu Robert F and Little James N (2020) ,
https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.577500
[3] Shikhar Mohan, Eiji Kato James K. DrennenIII, Carl A. Anderson J. Pharm. Sci, 108, 3478-
3495, (2019)

[4] Starkey T. A “Variable-angle liquid-prism spectrometer”, Journal of Scientific Instruments

15.290. 10.1088/0950-7671/15/9/302 (2002)
[5] Marco Pradella, Romolo Marco Dorizzi, Franco Rigolin and Bernard E. Statland “Relative
Density of Urine: Methods and Clinical Significance” CRC Critical Reviews in Clinical
Laboratory Sciences, 26, 3, 195-242 (1988)

[6] W.Y.W. Yusmawati, H.P. Chuah and M.Y.W. Mahmood Am. J. Appl. Sci., 4 (1) 01-04, (2007)

[7] S Kavitha And VR Murthy “Refractometry as a tool in diabetic studies” Anc. Sci. of life
25(3-4) 76-83 (2006)
[8] S. Venkateshwar Rao, “A Comparative study of determination of refractive index of human
urine using glass refractometer and Abbe’s refractometer” International conference on advance
studies in Engineering and Sciences (2017)
[9] Michael D. Edmiston, “A Liquid Prism for Refractive Index Studies” J. Chem. Educ. 78, 11,
1479 (2001) https://doi.org/10.1021/ed078p1479