24-Hour Urine Microalbumin-to-Creatinine Ratio
Measures urinary albumin relative to creatinine collected over 24 hours to assess how much albumin the kidneys are releasing.
["An elevated result may be an early sign of kidney damage, particularly in people with diabetes or high blood pressure."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 14958-3
- Short code
- Microalbumin/Creat 24h Ur
- Synonyms
- Microalbumin/Creat 24h Ur
- Category
- kidney
- Sample
- urine
- Container
- Sterile urine container
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 3.5
- Ref high
- 5
- Critical range
- 1.5 N/A – —
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- detection-limit-mg-l
- CPT
- 82040
- SNOMED
- 22383007
- Specimen volume
- 10 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 2h, Refrigerated: 24h, Frozen: 7d
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
This test measures small amounts of albumin in urine compared with the amount of creatinine. The 24-hour collection provides a measure of albumin excretion over a full day, while creatinine helps account for differences in urine concentration.
Why might I need this test?
It may be used to screen for early kidney damage, especially in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or other conditions that can affect the kidneys. It can also help monitor kidney function over time.
How is the test performed?
You collect all urine for 24 hours in the container provided by the laboratory. The urine is then analyzed to determine the amount of albumin relative to creatinine.
How do I prepare for the test?
Follow the laboratory's collection instructions, including the required start and end times. Do not leave urine in the container unrefrigerated for long periods, and tell the healthcare team if a collection is missed, spilled, or completed too quickly or slowly.
Reference range
Adult: 3.5-5.0 g/dLN/A
No special preparation required. Avoid fatty meals before the test if possible.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
An elevated microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio can indicate that the kidneys are allowing more albumin than usual into the urine. This may be an early sign of kidney disease and can be associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, or other kidney-related conditions. Results should be interpreted by a healthcare professional and may be repeated to confirm an abnormal finding.
Short name
24-Hour Urine Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio
Frequently asked questions
What does microalbumin mean?
Why is creatinine included in the test?
How do I collect a 24-hour urine sample?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 17, 2026. · Read our editorial policy