What is being tested?
Albumin is a protein that is present in large amounts in the blood. When kidneys are functioning properly, only tiny amounts of albumin are allowed to leak through into the urine. In kidney failure (the last stage of a slow process of decline in kidney function), large amounts of protein are spilled into the urine. A long time before this amount of damage happens, small changes in the blood-filtering parts of the kidney allow very small but abnormal amounts of albumin to leak through, usually as a result of having diabetes. This condition is called microalbuminuria, and the test that measures this very small amount of albumin is called microalbumin.

How is the sample collected for testing?
You will be asked to collect either an early morning sample of urine, or you may be requested to collect a complete 24-hour urine sample. Your doctor or the laboratory will give you a large container and instructions for properly collecting a 24-hour sample.