Microalbuminuria Test

Urinary microalbumin test is used to measure the minute amount of albumin present in your urine. This test may help to diagnose kidney dysfunction or kidney damage. It also helps in finding out whether diabetes has affected your kidneys.

What is Albumin?

Albumin is a kind of protein required for tissue growth and healing. It is usually present in the blood. Kidneys are responsible for removing waste products in blood and regulating water fluid levels in the body. It restores nutrients and proteins required for the body especially albumin. During kidney dysfunction or kidney damage albumin is not restored and leaked into the urine. A significant amount of albumin in urine may indicate kidney damage. The presence of albumin in urine is called albuminuria.

Several types of urine microalbumin tests are available:

• Random urine test: This test is done randomly at any time of the day.
• Timed urine test: This test is done early in the morning or after four hours of not urinating.
• 24- hour urine test: This test is done by collecting your urine for a 24-hour period. A special container is provided to collect urine and must be stored in a refrigerator. Once the urine is collected for 24 hours give the sample to the technician or your healthcare provider for analysis.

Why this test is performed?

This test may be recommended to you if you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, to make sure you are controlling your blood glucose levels to avoid kidney damage or if you have high blood pressure cause high blood pressure is also a reason for kidney damage. This test is also recommended to you if you experience certain symptoms of kidney damage like foamy urine, swelling of face, abdomen, hands, and feet.

Frequency:

The frequency of urine microalbumin test varies on the following conditions:

• High blood pressure: This test may be recommended for individuals with high blood pressure more regularly.
• Type 1 diabetes: This test may be recommended for individuals with type 1 diabetes once a year beginning from five years after your diagnosis.
• Type 2 diabetes: This test may be recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes once a year beginning immediately after your diagnosis.

Precautions:

Some factors may interfere with the test results and increases the levels, like fever, urinary tract infections, blood in urine, dehydration, strenuous exercise before test and some medications also affect test results such as antibiotics like cephalosporins, penicillin, aminoglycosides, polymyxin B, sulfonamides, etc, antifungal medications like griseofulvin, amphotericin B, etc, tolbutamide, phenazopyridine, penicillamine, lithium, and some NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen,etc. Hence inform your doctor or technician about all your current medications and medical conditions prior to the test.

The normal test results may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.

If your urine microalbumin test results are moderately higher than the normal range it may indicate early stages of kidney disease, if it is higher than the normal range it may indicate the advanced kidney disease or sometimes risk of heart disease.

If your test results are lower than the normal range repeat the test using a 24-hour urine sample to confirm the results.

If you get abnormal test results, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend other tests depending on your results.