Protein Total 24 Hour Urine

Protein Total - 24-hour Urine test is used to measure the amount of protein released per 24 hours in the urine from a 24-hour urine sample. This test is the gold standard to detect the presence of urine protein loss.

What are Proteins?

Proteins are essential for the proper functioning and growth of the body’s cells and tissues. Normally, healthy kidneys do not allow the proteins to pass through it and into the urine. But in damaged or diseased kidneys the proteins start to get filter through and appear in the urine. Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood. Due to its small molecular size, it gets easily filtered through the kidney if it is damaged. The condition of an excess amount of protein in the urine is known as proteinuria.

Why this test is performed?

This test is one among many tests performed to evaluate kidney damage and monitor kidney function. Your doctor may ask to perform this test if you have an existing kidney disorder or if you experience any signs and symptoms of kidney damage such as poor appetite, foamy or dark-colored urine, fatigue, swollen abdomen, decreased urination or change in the frequency of urination, back pain, high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes etc. Your doctor may also recommend this test in individuals who had shown a previous positive protein urine test as part of a follow-up. However, in case of a positive protein urine test, your doctor may recommend a few more additional tests to detect the exact cause of the protein loss.

If you have a family history of kidney problems, your doctor may ask you to perform this test on a 6-monthly basis or a yearly basis. Patients with kidney disorders should perform this test on a regular basis, as instructed by the doctor.

If the test results fall in the normal reference range generally no medical intervention is necessary.

If the test result shows a positive urine protein test ( high protein levels in the urine), it may indicate a problem with kidney function. Increased levels of protein may also be seen in conditions such as bladder cancer tumors, diabetes, congestive heart failure, urinary tract infection, amyloidosis (presence of amyloid proteins in tissues and organs), increased blood pressure, an inflammatory autoimmune disease; lupus, heavy metal poisoning, multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells), pre-eclampsia in pregnant women (a condition of increased blood pressure), or due to use of medicines that may cause kidney damage.

High levels of protein are also seen in individuals with stress or who do excess exercises. Abnormally increased levels of protein in urine indicate kidney damage or disease. Signs and symptoms of kidney damage are poor appetites, foamy or dark-colored urine, fatigue, swollen abdomen, decreased urination or change in the frequency of urination, back pain, high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes etc. However, your doctor may recommend a few more additional tests to detect the exact cause of the protein loss.

A negative urine protein test indicates that there are no detectable levels of protein in the urine sample.

If you have higher levels of proteins in urine consult your doctor for further instructions. Based on the test results, your doctor may advise appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests.