Water Deprivation Test

Abstract

This document is directed primarily to physicians who may wish to conduct a water deprivation test on their own. The reader will soon sense that a complete, properly performed test is a complicated procedure that requires specially trained personnel. Therefore, we recommend that when a water deprivation test is needed—i.e., when the patient's basal plasma sodium concentration is within the normal range while the concurrent urine osmolality is below 300 mOsm/kg H2O—the patient be referred to a specialist.