Protein, Total, 24-Hour Urine with Creatinine

Preferred Specimen(s) 10 ml aliquot from a well-mixed, 24-hour collection

Instructions No preservatives. Record volume on test request form and aliquot bottle.

Note: The urinalysis transport tube (yellow-top, blue fill line, preservative tube) cannot be used for protein electrophoresis on urine. Please submit 25 mL aliquot of 24 hour urine (no preservatives).

Transport Container Plastic screw-cap container

Transport Temperature Refrigerated 7 days

Reject Criteria Acidified urine

Methodology Spectrophotometry, Colorimetric

Clinical Significance Proteinuria, mainly glomerular, is often a manifestation of primary renal disease although transient proteinuria may occur with fevers, thyroid disorders, and in heart disease. In the absence of renal disease, the degree of proteinuria is slight, usually amounting to less than 2 grams per day. In chronic glomerulonephritis and in the nephrotic syndrome including lipoid nephrosis and in some forms of hypertensive vascular disease, protein loss may vary from a few grams to as much as 30 g/day.