Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio
Reviewed
A urine test that compares albumin and creatinine levels to screen for early kidney disease, especially in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or other risk factors. It is also used to monitor kidney function in those with diagnosed kidney disease.
Preparation and collection
You may need to avoid intense exercise and eating meat for a day before the test. Ask your provider about any medicines or supplements that could affect results.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Temporary increases in albumin can occur due to intense exercise, fever, certain medicines, or inflammation, which may cause false-positive results.
- A single abnormal result is not diagnostic; two out of three tests over 3–6 months are needed to suggest early-stage kidney disease.
- Smaller amounts of albumin do not always rule out kidney disease, and results can be affected by muscle density, diet, age, and race.
What to do next
If your result is abnormal, your healthcare provider will likely order additional tests, such as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) blood test, and may repeat the urine test two more times over the next 3–6 months to confirm findings.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio