Specimen Collection
For random urines, request
protein / creatinine ratio
Sample stability:
-
1 day at 15-25
o
C
-
7 days at 2-8
o
C
-
1 month at -20
o
C
If only urine protein/ creatinine ratio is requested - Do not use the abbreviation PCR to request this test.
Urine
24hr Urine
-
No preservatives
(Thymol is
not
acceptable)
5mL Urine (Random)
Reference Intervals
24h urine protein
Units:
g/d
Reference range:
< 0.15
Protein / creatinine ratio
Units:
mg protein /mmol creatinine
Reference ranges:
|
Adults (non-pregnant)
|
< 23
|
|
Pregnancy
|
< 30
|
Uncertainty of Measurement:
6%
Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Assay Method
Principle:
Immunoturbidometric assay
Reagents:
Roche TPUC3 kit
Analyser:
Cobas c702
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
-
Screening/monitoring
- A random urine may be sufficient as a screening test for proteinuria, or to monitor a patient with serial measurements. Please request "protein/creatinine ratio". Urine albumin/creatinine ratio is a more sensitive test for early renal disease.
-
Nephrotic syndrome
- Nephrotic range proteinuria is defined as protein loss of >3 g/24h (or >400 mg/mmol creatinine).
-
Pregnancy
- A random (spot) urine protein/creatinine ratio collected during normal daytime activity provides an accurate and rapid quantitation of proteinuria in pregnant women with systemic arterial hypertension and increased risk of pre-eclampsia.
-
Differentiating urine proteins
- For assessment of the selectivity of proteinuria, and classification into glomerular and tubular proteinuria, see Protein electrophoresis - urine.
-
Bence Jones Protein
- For detection of urine light chains and paraproteins see Protein electrophoresis - urine.
Also see:
References:
1. Gunsberg et al. Use of a single voided urine to estimate quantitative proteinuria. New Eng J Med. 309 (1983) 1543-6.
2. Cade TJ, Gilbert SA, Polyakov A, Hotchin A. The accuracy of spot urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio in confirming proteinuria in pre-eclampsia. The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology 2012;52(2):179-82.
Contact Information
The chemical pathology team
can be reached via email:
chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz
or via Lablink (09) 307 4949 ext 22000 or 09-3078995
Emails will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist. Include the patients NHI.
After-hours: contact
Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours
.