Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio
Understanding Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio
What is Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio?
The Microalbumin/Creatinine ratio urine test involves measuring the amount of albumin in the urine and then comparing it with creatinine produced. Microalbumin/Creatinine ratio is thus a very useful laboratory test to detect early kidney damage in people who are at risk of developing kidney disease.
What is Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio used for?
The microalbumin/creatinine ratio is done:
To detect early kidney disease in patients with diabetes or other risk factors, such as high blood pressure (hypertension)
As routine health checkup for patients of hypertension and type 1 or 2 diabetes
What does Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio measure?
Usually, albumin and creatinine tests are done randomly (not timed) on a urine sample, and the results are used to calculate an albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR). This test gives a more accurate indication of how much albumin is being released into the urine.
The healthy kidneys keep healthy components such as albumin and filter waste from the blood. In case of kidney damage, albumin can leak through the kidneys and exit the body through urine.
In case of any damage caused to the kidney, albumin is one of the first proteins to leak through the kidney. This test is recommended in those patients who are at increased risk of kidney disease or damage such as patients with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism. Normally, it is released into the urine at a constant rate. The level of creatinine in the urine is an indication of the urine concentration. Thus, creatinine measurement can be used to indicate correct urine concentration when measuring albumin in a random urine sample.
The presence of a small amount of albumin in the urine can be an early indicator of kidney disease. The term ‘microalbuminuria’ is referred to a condition in which a small amount of albumin is present in the urine, while the term ‘albuminuria’ refers to a condition where there is presence of any amount of rise in albumin levels in the urine.
Interpreting Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio results
Interpretations
Gender | Creatinine value in mg/dl |
Male | 39-259 |
Female | 28-217 |
The results are interpreted as microalbumin:creatinine ratio in mg/g
Category | Reference range in mg/g creatinine |
Normal / Non-diabetic | < 30 |
Microalbuminuria | 30 - 300 |
Clinical albuminuria | > 300 |
Reference range may vary from lab to lab*
Three samples should be collected within 3-6 months, from which at least two should be abnormal to consider for diagnosis.
Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio
Frequently Asked Questions about Microalbumin / Creatinine Ratio
Q. How is the urine sample collected?
Q. Which factors can cause higher than expected urinary microalbumin results?
Q. What is microalbuminuria?
Q. What are the risk factors which can lead to microalbuminuria?
Q. What are the symptoms of microalbuminuria?
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