Specimen Collection

SPECIMEN: Recommended specimen is a f irst morning spot urine in a plain container (albumin / creatinine ratio). A random spot urine or a 24h urine collection are also acceptable. No preservative.

NOTE: If requesting an albumin / creatinine ratio please do not abbreviate this test name to ACR on the request form - it may be confused with other tests which have similar abbreviations.

Sample stability:

• 7 days at 15-25 ^o C
• 1 month at 2-8 ^o C
• 6 months at -20 ^o C

Reference Intervals

Reference ranges

Units: mg/L

Urine Albumin

< 30

Albumin : Creatinine Ratio

Units: mg/mmol

	men	women
normal	<2.5	<3.5
microalbuminuria	2.5 - 25	3.5 - 35
macroalbuminuria	>25	>35

Uncertainty of Measurement: 5%

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Urine albumin is more sensitive than urine total protein for detecting early proteinuria.

"Microalbumin" is simply normal albumin present at low concentration in the urine .

The preferred method for assessment of albuminuria in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients is urinary albumin / creatinine ratio (UACR) measurement in a first morning spot urine specimen. Where a first morning specimen is not possible or practical, a random spot urine specimen for UACR is acceptable.

Adults with one or more risk factors for CKD should be assessed using UACR and estimated GFR every 1?2 years, depending on their risk-factor profile.

References

Johnson, D. W., G. R. Jones, et al. (2012). "Chronic kidney disease and measurement of albuminuria or proteinuria: a position statement." Med J Aust 197 (4): 224-225.

Contact Information

Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

After-hours : contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.

Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402

Dr Cam Kyle: CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052

Dr Weldon Chiu: WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Campbell Heron: CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025