Platform
Company
Urinalysis
Review status
Currently under review
Pending specialist review and validation.
The 24 hour urine protein test measures the total amount of protein your kidneys release into urine over a full day. You collect every void in a provided container during the specified collection period, and the laboratory measures the combined protein from the entire collection.
This test helps your clinician assess how well the kidney filters are working and whether there is ongoing leakage of proteins such as albumin. Because it uses a timed collection, it can provide a more complete picture when precise daily protein excretion is needed.
Protein in urine can be a sign of kidney damage from conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or glomerular diseases, and it can be linked to a higher risk of kidney function decline and heart disease. A timed urine protein test may be ordered when protein is found on a dipstick, when swelling, foamy urine, or abnormal blood tests raise concern, or to confirm and quantify protein loss seen on a spot urine test.
It is also used to monitor response to treatment and to help guide care in certain kidney conditions or, when needed, during pregnancy. The test is noninvasive; the main challenge is carefully following collection instructions so the result truly reflects a full day’s urine.
Your healthcare professional will interpret your result in the context of your medical history, blood pressure, other blood and urine tests, and how the sample was collected. Small amounts of protein can occur transiently, while sustained or higher amounts can suggest injury to the kidney filters or inflammation. Very high levels may be associated with syndromes that cause low blood protein and swelling.
If results are higher than expected, your clinician may repeat the timed collection or use a spot urine protein-to-creatinine or albumin-to-creatinine ratio, check kidney function and electrolytes, evaluate for infection or blood in urine, and review medications. Accurate timing and complete collection are critical; if you missed voids, overcollected, or had a spill, tell your care team so interpretation can be adjusted.
Reference intervals vary by laboratory, analyzer, methodology, population, and units. The ranges shown here are for education only. Always interpret your results against the reference interval printed on your own lab report.
Missing any urine during the collection period or collecting for too long or too short can falsely lower or raise the total protein. Follow start and end times exactly and include all voids.
Strenuous activity, high fever, or acute infections can temporarily increase urine protein. Avoid heavy exercise before and during the collection when possible, or tell your clinician.
Dehydration concentrates urine and may make protein appear higher, while very high fluid intake can dilute urine. Aim for your usual fluid intake during the collection.
Some drugs lower proteinuria (for example, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, SGLT2 inhibitors), while others may increase it or affect kidneys (for example, NSAIDs). Provide a complete medication list.
A urinary tract infection, visible blood in urine, or menstrual blood can add protein and confound results. If present, your clinician may treat or repeat testing after resolution.
In some people, being upright increases protein leakage compared with overnight. A timed collection averages this effect, but your clinician may consider posture when interpreting results.
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