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Protein - urine
Definition:
A urine albumin test measures the amount of protein in urine. Alternative Names:
Urine protein; Albumin - urine; Urine albumin; Proteinuria; Albuminuria Text Continues Below
How the test is performed:
Urine protein is tested by one of these methods: - To quickly see whether or not protein is present in urine, a "spot test" is used. In this test, a chemically treated stick is dipped into a random sample of urine, simply to see if protein is detectable.
- To actually measure how much protein is being excreted in the urine, a 24-hour urine sample is required.
The health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test. The procedure for collecting urine over 24 hours is as follows: - On day 1, urinate into the toilet when you get up in the morning.
- Afterwards, collect all urine in a special container for the next 24 hours.
- On day 2, urinate into the container when you get up in the morning.
- Cap the container. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed.
In infants, thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on the infant. For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For girls, the bag is placed over the labia. Diaper as usual over the secured bag. This procedure may take a couple of attempts -- lively infants can displace the bag. The infant should be checked frequently and the bag changed after the infant has urinated into the bag. The urine is drained into the container for transport to the laboratory.
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