Urine protein
What it measures, and what changes the number.
This test checks for protein in a single urine sample. Healthy kidneys keep most protein in the blood, so the test looks at how much is passing into urine. It is usually a dipstick reading within a routine urinalysis, sometimes confirmed with a laboratory measurement.
It is often read alongside a timed 24 hour urine protein, urine or blood creatinine, eGFR and blood albumin. Dividing urine protein by urine creatinine in the same sample is a common way to adjust for how concentrated the urine is.
Dipsticks respond mainly to albumin and are less sensitive to other proteins. Very concentrated or dilute urine, very alkaline urine, recent intense exercise, fever and body position can all shift the reading. Results may be graded or given as a concentration. Reports may simply say Proteínas under the urine section.
Often read alongside: Urine protein (24h), Creatinine, Albumin, eGFR (CKD-EPI), Urine specific gravity