Protein (total) - urine
Last updated: Saturday, 20, March, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Random urine specimen or 24 hour urine collection. |
| Method | Spectrophotometry. |
| Reference Interval | <150 mg/24 hours; pregnancy: <250 mg/24 hours. |
| Application | Assessment of renal disease. Some methods will not detect light chain proteinuria; see Protein electrophoresis - urine. |
| Interpretation | Protein loss in the urine is most commonly due to renal glomerular disease, esp if >2 g/24 hours. Proteinuria of >3 g/24 hours is required to establish the diagnosis of the nephrotic syndrome. In renal tubular disease, light chain proteinuria, orthostatic proteinuria and myoglobinuria, protein loss is usually <1 g/24 hours. See also Urinalysis. |
| Reference | Beetham R and Cattell WR. Ann Clin Biochem 1993; 30: 425-434. |