Urine Protein Test

What is Urine Protein Test?

Urine protein test may be used to check the health of your kidneys and to detect damage to or disease of your kidneys. The test may be done as part of a normal screening or if you have a condition that affects your kidneys, such as:

  • Diabetes.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension).
  • Urinary tract infection.
  • Complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia.

Your health care provider may also do this test if you have symptoms of kidney disease. These can include:

  • Fluid retention (edema).
  • Fatigue.
  • Nausea.

What is being tested?

This test measures the amount of protein in your urine. Your blood contains proteins. When your blood is filtered by your kidneys, most of the proteins should be returned to your blood, and there should be no or very little protein in your urine. Therefore, if you have a large amount of protein in your urine (proteinuria), this could mean that your kidneys are not working as well as they should be.

What kind of sample is taken?

This test requires a urine sample. Two methods may be used for the test:

  • A dipstick test is often the first step in a urine protein test. After you urinate into a germ-free (sterile) cup, your health care provider dips a test strip into your sample. The health care provider can tell right away if there is protein in your urine.
  • If the dipstick test indicates that there is a large amount of protein in your urine, your health care provider may do a 24-hour urine test. This test measures the amount of protein that is released in your urine over a 24-hour period.

You may also have other tests to find out the types of proteins you have in your urine.

How do I collect samples at home?

If your health care provider wants to do a 24-hour urine test, you may be asked to collect urine samples at home over a 24-hour period. Follow instructions from a health care provider about how to collect the samples.

When collecting a urine sample at home, make sure you:

  • Use supplies and instructions that you received from the lab.
  • Collect urine only in the sterile cup that you received from the lab.
  • Do not let any toilet paper or stool (feces) get into the cup.
  • Refrigerate the sample until you can return it to the lab.
  • Return the samples to the lab as instructed.

Tell a health care provider about:

  • All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
  • Any medical conditions you have. Some conditions can cause you to have protein in your urine.
  • Whether you have had a radiology scan with contrast dye.
  • Whether you have exercised heavily in the last few days.

How are the results reported?

The result of the urine dipstick test for proteins will be reported as either positive or negative.

  • A negative result means no protein or a small amount of protein was found in your urine.
  • A positive result means a large amount of protein was found in your urine.

The result of the 24-hour urine test will be reported as a value that indicates the amount of protein in your urine. Your health care provider will compare your results to normal ranges that were established after testing a large group of people (reference ranges). Reference ranges may vary among labs and hospitals. For this test, a common reference range is less than 150 mg per 24 hours.

What do the results mean?

Many conditions can cause a level of protein in your urine that is higher than normal. Some causes of proteinuria include:

  • Dehydration.
  • Vigorous exercise.
  • Urinary tract infection.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Kidney disease.
  • Diabetes.
  • Bladder cancer.
  • Heart failure.
  • Preeclampsia in pregnant women.

Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.

Questions to ask your health care provider

Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:

  • When will my results be ready?
  • How will I get my results?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • What other tests do I need?
  • What are my next steps?

Summary

  • The urine protein test is often used to screen for kidney disease.
  • This test measures the amount of protein in your urine. If you have a large amount of protein in your urine (proteinuria), this could mean that your kidneys are not working as well as they should be.
  • If the dipstick test indicates that there is a large amount of protein in your urine, your health care provider may do a 24-hour urine test.
  • Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.

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