Healthy kidneys usually filter protein out of the blood and then absorb the protein back into the blood while other waste material is passed out of your body as urine. But when your kidneys aren't working the way they should, protein may not be absorbed back into the blood. It then leaves your body in your urine. Protein in your urine is a condition called proteinuria, albuminuria, or microalbuminuria.
Many different chronic diseases, including kidney disease and diabetes, can cause protein in your urine. During pregnancy, protein in your urine can mean a very dangerous condition called preeclampsia, or very high blood pressure. You may have this test after a dipstick urine protein test.
That test needs only 1 urine sample that's collected at your healthcare provider's office. If you are pregnant, you may have this test as part of routine prenatal care to screen for preeclampsia.
You may also have this test if your healthcare provider thinks that you have protein in your urine. Proteinuria may not cause symptoms in the early stage. But as kidney function gets worse, you may notice these symptoms:. You may also have a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio test. This measures the ratio of protein to waste in your urine. You may have an ultrasound of your kidneys.
And you may have other blood tests, such as antinuclear antibody or complement. These are done to check for conditions that cause kidney problems. Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, and other things. Your test results may be different depending on the lab used.
