Included in your membership
Urine Albumin: What Protein in Urine Can Signal
All NiaHealth tests are processed in Canadian-certified labs, which are highly trusted by the medical community for their accuracy and reliability. Blood and urine samples are collected by licensed medical professionals and processed using state-of-the-art equipment. NiaHealth is SOC2 Type 2 certified.
Urine albumin is a test for the presence of the protein albumin in urine, also called albuminuria. Urine albumin is measured on a spot urine sample along with creatinine, and the result is reported as the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR).
Included in membership
NiaHealth memberships include Urine Albumin testing twice a year, along with 60+ other biomarkers, at no additional cost.
Nurse Practitioner reviewed
Canadian-certified labs
SOC2 Type 2 certified
Why it matters
Detection of albumin in urine is important because albuminuria is often the first sign of kidney damage. In people with diabetes, for example, a rising urine albumin can signal the onset of diabetic nephropathy, allowing for early intervention. Moreover, albuminuria is not only a marker of renal disease but also a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease – higher urine albumin excretion is associated with greater risk of heart disease and mortality in people with and without diabetes. In other words, the greater the albumin leakage, the worse the cardiovascular and kidney prognosis. If urine albumin is too high, medications like ACE inhibitors and ARBs may be recommended to protect the kidneys and reduce cardiovascular risk.
Reference ranges
Albuminuria is detected using the ACR, which standardizes urinary albumin excretion with creatinine excretion. Urine albumin should not be used in isolation to guide clinical management.
This information is educational and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your health history.
