What it means
Healthy kidneys keep almost all albuminal-BYOO-minThe main protein in blood plasma, made by the liver, which holds fluid inside the blood vessels and carries drugs and hormones.Full entry in the blood. Small amounts in the urine are one of the earliest signs of kidney damage, often before the blood creatinine changes, especially in diabetes and high blood pressure. Comparing albumin with creatinine in one spot urine sample corrects for how concentrated the urine is.
For the nurse
Clients with diabetes are tested at least once a year. Heavy exercise, fever and infection can raise it for a short time, so abnormal results are repeated.
At a glance
| Normal range | Albumin-to-creatinine ratio below 30 mg/g [below 3 mg/mmol] |
|---|---|
| Also written | urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, microalbuminuria test, urine microalbumin, UACR |
Related terms
diabetes mellitus
A long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.
chronic kidney disease
Kidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.
creatinine
A waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.
albumin
The main protein in blood plasma, made by the liver, which holds fluid inside the blood vessels and carries drugs and hormones.