Microalbumin Urine Test

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Microalbumin Urine Test

Test Overview

A microalbumin test checks urine for the presence of a protein called albumin. Albumin is normally found in the blood and filtered by the kidneys. When the kidneys are working properly, albumin is not present in the urine. However, when the kidneys are damaged, small amounts of albumin leak into the urine. This condition is called microalbuminuria.

Microalbuminuria is most often caused by kidney damage from diabetes. However, many other conditions can lead to kidney damage, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, cirrhosis, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). If early kidney damage is not treated, larger amounts of albumin and protein may leak into the urine. This condition is called macroalbuminuria or proteinuria. When the kidneys spill protein, it can mean serious kidney damage is present. This can lead to chronic kidney disease. A microalbumin urine test can be done on a sample of urine collected randomly (usually after the first time you urinate in the morning), a sample collected over a 24-hour period, or a sample collected over a specific period of time, such as 4 hours or overnight.

Why It Is Done

A microalbumin urine test is done to check for protein (albumin) in the urine. Early detection may change treatment in an effort to preserve as much kidney function as possible.

Results

A microalbumin test checks urine for the presence of a protein called albumin. Microalbuminuria is most often caused by kidney damage from diabetes. Normal results may vary depending on:

The laboratory.

The type (random versus timed) of urine sample collected.

The time of day of the sample.

Whether you are male or female.

Whether you are on bed rest or able to move about normally.Albumin in urineNormal: Less than 30 milligrams (mg) of albumin in 24 hours

Abnormal valuesYou may need more than one test to find out how well your kidneys are working.

When your kidneys do not work well and leak between 165 and 300 mg of albumin in 24 hours, your doctor may check your urine more often to watch for kidney damage.

If your kidneys leak 300 mg or more of albumin in 24 hours (macroalbuminuria), you may have chronic kidney disease.

If you have 2 or 3 high results in a 3- to 6-month period and you have diabetes, your doctor may find kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy). Even though diabetes is the most common reason for high results, there are many other kidney problems that can cause high results.Pregnant women with diabetes may have their urine checked to watch for high amounts of albumin.

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

Having high blood sugar levels, urinary tract infections, high blood pressure, heart failure, or a high fever during an infection.

Exercising just before the test.

Taking medicines, such as aspirin, corticosteroids, and some antibiotics, such as amoxicillin.

Having menstrual bleeding or vaginal discharge, which may temporarily affect the urine sample.

What To Think About

The American Diabetes Association recommends a microalbumin urine test for people with:

Type 2 diabetes: first at diagnosis and then yearly for diabetic nephropathy.

Type 1 diabetes: yearly screening for diabetic nephropathy should begin 5 years after diagnosis.

If a microalbumin urine test shows that kidney damage may be present, a test to check creatinine levels may be done. A blood test for creatinine is done along with a 24-hour creatinine clearance urine test to check kidney function. For more information, see the medical test Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance.

A less precise test, the urine dipstick test, can be used to check for microalbuminuria in a single sample of urine. However, the dipstick test does not accurately detect microalbuminuria and is not recommended in place of a microalbumin urine test.

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