Microalbumin:Creatinine Ratio, Urine

This is a sensitive test that can be performed to pick up early renal failure or kidney damage and can be used as a screening tool in the clinical setting for people with diabetes and high blood pressure who are prone to getting kidney issues.

Albumin is a type of protein which acts a binding molecule to carry substances like hormones around the body. Albumin gets filtered out by the kidneys and land up in the urine, only if there is kidney disease. Creatinine is a waste product from muscle energy metabolism that is filtered out by the kidney. Because there is a fluctuation in the amount of albumin that ends up in the urine throughout the day, a microalbumin:creatinine ratio urine test is a more accurate test to measure kidney function.

This test is performed in following conditions such as:

• Swelling or puffiness
• Urine that is foamy, bloody, or coffee-colored
• A decrease in the amount of urine
• Problems urinating, such as a burning feeling or abnormal discharge during urination, or a change in the frequency of urination
• Mid-back pain, below the ribs
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure

Also Known As: Albumin:Creatinine Ratio