Specimen: Urine, 24 Hour
Special Instructions: Urine jug to be picked up at lab.
Results: 4-5 Business Days
Description:
An early indicator of kidney failure. It measures the tiny amounts of albumin that the body begins to release into the urine several years before significant kidney damage becomes apparent. Albumin is a protein that is produced in the liver. It is present in high concentrations in the blood, but when the kidneys are functioning properly, virtually no albumin is allowed to leak through into the urine. If a person’s kidneys become damaged or diseased, however, they begin to lose their ability to filter proteins out of the urine. This is frequently seen in chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, with increasing amounts of protein in the urine reflecting increasing kidney failure.
Methodology
Turbidimetric
Clinical Significance
Microalbumin is albumin excreted in the urine and is a sensitive marker of nephropathy. It is used to screen for early renal diseases in diabetic patients.
Collection Instructions
Specify 24-hour total volume on container and test requisition.
Note: Exercise within 24 hours, infection, fever, congestive heart failure, marked hyperglycemia, and marked hypertension may elevate urinary albumin excretion over baseline values.
Note: Result turn around times are an estimate and are not guaranteed. Our reference lab may need additional time due to weather, holidays, confirmation/repeat testing, or equipment maintenance.