What is a Protein (24 hrs) Urine test?
The 24-hour urine protein test measures the total amount of protein excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period.
Healthy kidneys normally prevent large amounts of protein from passing from the blood into the urine. When the kidneys' filtering system is damaged or affected, more protein may leak into the urine.
Collecting urine for a full 24 hours provides an estimate of the total daily protein loss through the kidneys.
What is the Protein (24 hrs) Urine test used for?
The test may be used to:
Detect and quantify proteinuria (excess protein in the urine).
Evaluate kidney function and possible kidney disease.
Investigate suspected glomerular kidney disease.
Monitor patients with known kidney disease.
Assess protein loss in certain systemic conditions.
Help evaluate significant proteinuria when a more complete measurement of daily protein excretion is needed.
The test may be requested together with serum creatinine, eGFR, urinalysis, urine albumin, and other kidney tests.
Why do I need a Protein (24 hrs) Urine test?
Your doctor may request this test if you have:
Protein detected on a routine urine test.
Swelling (edema), particularly around the legs or eyes.
Abnormal kidney function tests.
High blood pressure associated with possible kidney disease.
A condition that may affect the kidneys.
Persistent or significant proteinuria that requires quantification.
It may also be used to monitor the amount of protein being lost in the urine over time.
What happens during the test?
You will be given a suitable container for collecting all urine produced during a 24-hour period.
The collection usually follows these steps:
At the selected starting time, urinate into the toilet and do not collect this first urine. Record the starting time.
After that, collect all urine in the provided container for the next 24 hours.
Keep the container according to the laboratory's instructions, usually refrigerated or in a cool place during the collection.
Exactly 24 hours after the starting time, urinate one final time and include this urine in the collection.
Return the completed collection to the laboratory as instructed.
It is very important to collect every urine sample during the 24-hour period.
Will I need to do anything to prepare?
Usually, no fasting is required.
Before starting the collection:
Follow the laboratory's instructions carefully.
Ask your healthcare provider whether you should continue your usual diet and medications.
Avoid accidentally discarding any urine during the collection.
Keep the container properly stored during the collection.
Do not intentionally increase or decrease your fluid intake unless instructed by your healthcare provider.
If any urine is missed or discarded, tell the laboratory because the reported result may no longer accurately represent your total 24-hour protein excretion.
Are there any risks?
There are no significant medical risks associated with collecting urine.
The main concern is incomplete or incorrect collection, which can produce an inaccurate result.
What do the results mean?
The result is usually reported as the total amount of protein excreted in 24 hours, commonly in mg/24 hours or g/24 hours.
The laboratory's reference range should be used because reporting units and reference intervals may vary.
Increased Urine Protein
An increased amount of protein in a 24-hour urine collection is called proteinuria.
It may occur with:
Kidney diseases affecting the glomeruli
Diabetes-related kidney disease
High blood pressure
Glomerulonephritis
Nephrotic syndrome
Certain autoimmune or systemic diseases
Some infections or other medical conditions
Temporary increases can also occur with fever, strenuous exercise, dehydration, or acute illness.
The amount of protein and the type of protein present can provide additional information about the possible cause.
Normal Urine Protein
A result within the laboratory's expected range generally indicates that the kidneys are not excreting an abnormally large amount of protein over the 24-hour period.
However, a normal total protein result does not completely exclude kidney disease.
Other tests, including urinalysis, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), serum creatinine, and eGFR, may provide additional information about kidney health.
Important note about the results
The accuracy of a 24-hour urine protein test depends heavily on complete urine collection.
If one or more urine samples are missed, the calculated amount of protein excreted over 24 hours may be falsely low.
For many patients, a spot urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) or protein-to-creatinine ratio (PCR) can provide a convenient alternative without requiring a 24-hour collection. Your healthcare provider will choose the most appropriate test based on your clinical situation.
A high 24-hour urine protein result should be interpreted together with urinalysis, urine albumin, serum creatinine, eGFR, blood pressure, and other clinical findings.
Prefer to talk to someone first? Contact us to book.
