| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | A specific test to detect small quantities of urine albumin |
| Alternative Names | |
| How the test is performed | A 24-hour urine sample is needed. The health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test. On day 1, urinate into the toilet upon arising in the morning. Collect all subsequent urine (in a special container) for the next 24-hours. On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning upon arising. Cap the container. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed. Infant: Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For males, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For females, the bag is placed over the labia. Place a diaper over the infant (bag and all). The infant should be checked frequently and the bag changed after the infant has urinated into the bag. For active infants, this procedure may take a couple of attempts--lively infants can displace the bag, causing an inability to obtain the specimen. The urine is drained into the container for transport to the laboratory. Deliver it to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible upon completion. |
| How to prepare for the test | No special preparation is necessary for this test, but if the collection is being taken from an infant, a couple of extra collection bags may be necessary. |
| How the test will feel | The test involves only normal urination, there is no discomfort. |
| Why the test is performed | The main reason for performing the test is for the early detection of diabetic nephropathy in a patient who has had diabetes for several years. Normally less than 150 mg of protein per day (or 10 milligrams per deciliter) are excreted in the urine. The proteins are derived from plasma and the urinary tract. About one-third of the protein is comprised of urine albumin , about one-third small globulins, and about one-third is Tamm-Horsfall protein (a glycoprotein that is secreted by distal tubular cells). Most of the filtered proteins are normally reabsorbed by the proximal tubular cells; so little or no protein normally appears in the urine. |
| Normal Values | normal: less than 30 mg/day ( total protein secreted) microalbuminuria: 30 to 200 mg/day Note: mg/day = milligrams per day |
| What abnormal results mean | Proteins in the urine, including urine albumin , indicate problems with kidney function. Albuminuria is a typical finding of disorders such as diabetic nephropathy . |
| What the risks are | There are no risks. |
| Special considerations | Healthy people may exceed normal levels after strenuous exercise or with dehydration . |
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