Kidney Damage Test

What is an albumin/creatinine ratio test?

An albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) test checks for kidney disease by measuring the amount of albumin and creatinine in a urine sample. 

• Albumin is a protein that is usually found in the blood. When the kidneys are working properly, albumin is typically not present in the urine in significant amounts because the glomeruli (the kidney’s filtration units) do not allow large molecules like albumin to pass through. However, if the kidneys are damaged, these filters can become leaky, allowing albumin to escape into the urine. 
• Creatinine is a waste product that is produced during the normal breakdown of protein from food and muscle tissue. It is removed from the body through the kidneys and is expected to be found in the urine if the kidneys are healthy.

An ACR test measures the amount of albumin in urine relative to the amount of creatinine. Elevated amounts of albumin (protein) in the urine is called albuminuria or proteinuria, and is a sign of kidney damage. This test can be used by people living with chronic conditions that increase their risk for kidney damage, as well as anyone who would like to assess their risk of kidney disease.

What is albuminuria?

Also called proteinuria, albuminuria means that you have too much protein in your urine. A healthy kidney does not let protein pass from the blood to the urine. Protein in your urine is a sign that the kidneys are not filtering correctly and may be damaged.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing in prevalence globally and is expected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040 (Kovedsky, 2022). Albuminuria can be an early sign of CKD and is one of the strongest risk factors for CKD that progresses to kidney failure with time.

How common is kidney disease?

Kidney disease has been referred to as a “silent epidemic”, as it has few symptoms in early stages, is not widely known, and an increasing number of people are at risk for it. It is estimated that 100 million adults in the EU currently live with CKD, with millions more at risk of developing CKD in the future. Many people with CKD are unaware they have the disease, particularly in early stages. This means they may not receive timely treatment that can prevent CKD from progressing to kidney failure. An albumin/creatinine ratio test is a simple way to check for early signs of CKD from home.