Microalbuminuria, Spot Urine

Microalbuminuria is the presence of small amounts of albumin in the urine that cannot be detected using urine dipsticks. Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio is recommended for the assessment of microalbuminuria because it is an index that can be measured in untimed spot urine samples. This index can be calculated with use of the urinary concentration of albumin and creatinine without information on the duration and volume of urine collected. See Also Microalbuminuria, 24 Hrs Urine

The moderate elevation in urinary albumin excretion defined as microalbuminuria should be considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Microalbuminuria has been recognised as a powerful and largely independent marker of vascular risk in diabetes. In insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), microalbuminuria is an early pointer to progressive renal disease and cardiovascular mortality. Microalbuminuria also predicts the development of clinical albuminuria in non-IDDM but its major prognostic implication is the approximately doubled risk of mortality, largely from cardiovascular disease. However, caution should be taken when interpreting results of persons with low muscle mass since an elevated albumin / creatinine ratio could reflect low urinary creatinine more than microalbuminuria and cardiovascular disease.

5 ml of Urine Stability: 7 Days at 15-25 °C 1 Month at 2-8 °C 6 Months at (-15)-(-25) °C

< 20 mg/L