ALBUMIN, TIMED URINE

Clinical Significance
Albumin, Timed Urine - Albumin excreted in the urine (Microalbumin) is a sensitive marker of nephropathy. It is used to screen for early renal disease in diabetic patients.
Collection Instructions
Specify total volume and duration of collection on container and test requisition.

Note: Exercise within 24 hours, infection, fever, congestive heart failure, marked hyperglycemia, and marked hypertension may elevate urinary albumin excretion over baseline values.

Transport Temperature
Room temperature

Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 6 months
Setup Schedule, Preferred Specimen(s), Alternative Specimen(s), Minimum Volume, Transport Container, Reject Criteria

Methodology
Turbidometric

Reference Range(s)
Albumin, Excretion Rate    <20 mcg/min 
The ADA defines abnormalities in albumin excretion as follows:

Category    Result (mcg/min)
Normal    <20
Microalbuminuria    20-199
Clinical albuminuria    ≥200
The ADA recommends that at least two of three specimens collected within a 3-6 month period be abnormal before considering a patient to be within a diagnostic category.