Diesel Exhaust Fluid for diesel-powered vehicles employing Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology must be maintained within a very narrow concentration range of less than 1.5% in order to receive API Certification and meet international standards. Proper urea concentration is critical for sustaining reduced diesel emissions.

The straightforward refractometer test requires only a few drops of urea-based Diesel Exhaust Fluid, and a couple of seconds, to obtain a digital reading of urea concentration with a precision of +/-0.1%.

Key to the refractometer's precision is MISCO’s proprietary Optical Engine, which combines high-index sapphire optics (the next hardest substance to diamond) with a detector array containing more than a 1,000 detector elements. The instrument also features an optimized combination of hardware and software which automatically temperature compensates the reading specifically for aqueous urea solutions.

In addition to reading DEF, the refractometer can be programmed to read up to four more critical automotive parameters such as engine coolant freezing-point, engine coolant concentration, brake fluid water content, and windshield washer fluid. Each refractometer bears a laser-etched serial number for traceability. Options for the instrument include a rubber-armor jacket (in one of three colors), a virtually indestructible storage case, and NIST traceable certified calibrations.