Albumin (24 hour urine)

General Information

Albumin - Non-glycated protein, is an important component of blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine.

Normally, the glomerular membrane of the kidney prevents the passage of albumin from the blood to the glomerular filtrate, causing very small amounts of albumin to be found in the urine. However, abnormal loss of urinary albumin occurs in patients with kidney disease.

For several reasons, to assess renal impairment in adults, the determination of albuminuria over proteinuria (total protein content in urine) is preferred:

• Albumin is a major component of total protein in urine in most kidney diseases;
• Urine total protein tests generally have low sensitivity and accuracy at low protein concentrations in the urine, whereas a noticeable (measurable) increase in urinary albumin levels may occur without a noticeable (measurable) increase in urinary total protein;
• Recent epidemiological data from international studies have shown a close correlation between urinary albumin levels, renal failure, and risk of cardiovascular disease.