Measurement of microalbumin levels should be carried out by laboratories, or practices, which have been accredited to perform these tests by the National Association of Testing Authority.
Microalbumin is not detected by reagent strips for urinary proteins, and requires immunoassay.
As urinary albumin varies with posture and exercise it is important to collect the urine under very standard conditions; short-term (2 hours) during rest, overnight (approximately 8 hours) or an early morning sample. For screening purposes an early morning urine specimen is adequate.
Test for albuminuria by measuring microalbumin in timed or first morning urine sample.
The results considered elevated are:
spot urine 30 to 300mg/L; or
timed urine (24 hr collection) 20 to 200 ug/min.
Source and reference attributes
Submitting organisation:
National Diabetes Data Working Group
Origin:
National Diabetes Outcomes Quality Review Initiative (NDOQRIN) data dictionary
