Urine Albumin
Urine albumin measures leakage of the serum protein albumin through the glomerular filter. Small elevations (microalbuminuria, 30 to 300 mg/g creatinine) are an early sign of diabetic and hypertensive kidney damage and independently predict cardiovascular events. Larger elevations (macroalbuminuria) indicate established kidney disease and warrant aggressive blood pressure and glucose control.
Optimal range: who says what
Institutions, researchers and practitioners draw the line in different places. Each position is listed with who holds it and, where a document states it, a link. How we verify ranges.
- Institution or study<10 mg/g creatinineCKD Prognosis Consortium meta-analysis (Matsushita et al. 2010, Lancet; 105,872 adults in 14 cohorts)An albumin-creatinine ratio of 10 mg/g or more independently predicted all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; risk rose steadily with ACR, with no threshold
- Institution or study<30 mg/g creatinineKDIGO standard normal cutoffBelow 30 is normal to mildly increased; the CKD Prognosis Consortium found mortality risk rising from 10 mg/g
- Lab reference interval<30 mg/g creatinineWhat a lab report flags against. A lab interval is not an optimal target.
3 providers include this
Urinalysis
Why Urine Albumin matters
Elevated urine albumin (microalbuminuria) is an early marker of kidney damage, especially in diabetes and hypertension. Early detection allows intervention before significant kidney function loss.
Reading a Urine Albumin result
Urine albumin is usually reported as the albumin-to-creatinine ratio, which corrects for how concentrated the sample is. MedlinePlus: below 30 mg/g is normal, 30 mg/g or more is microalbuminuria, and 300 mg/g or more is macroalbuminuria. In early kidney disease, blood tests of kidney function are usually still normal.
Common causes of a high result
- Diabetes, the most common cause
- High blood pressure
- Immune and inflammatory disorders affecting the kidney
- A narrowed kidney artery
- Inflammation throughout the body
- Fever, exercise or dehydration, which can raise it temporarily
What to check next
- A repeat test to confirm a high result (MedlinePlus)
- Serum creatinine and eGFR; ARUP also recommends cystatin C to confirm GFR
- HbA1c or fasting glucose if diabetes status is unknown
Sources: MedlinePlus: Microalbuminuria test; ARUP Consult: Acute kidney injury and CKD. Checked against these sources 2026-09-23. General information, not medical advice; your lab's reference interval and your clinician's reading take precedence.
Which Providers Test Urine Albumin?
Mito Health is both the cheapest ($297/year) and the most comprehensive (100+ biomarkers) panel that includes Urine Albumin.
3 panels that include it, cheapest first
| Provider | Annual Cost | Total Biomarkers | $/Biomarker |
|---|---|---|---|
| $297 | 100+ | $2.97 | |
| $365 | 100+ | $3.65 | |
| $499 | 100+ | $4.99 |
$/Biomarker is annual cost divided by the panel's advertised biomarker count, not the price of this one test. We track 23 blood test providers (32 plans); 21 of those plans are itemized marker by marker. Compare all of them.
18 itemized panels do not include Urine Albumin
Superpower · WHOOP Advanced Labs · Labcorp OnDemand · Life Extension Elite · Everlywell · InsideTracker · Function Health · Marek Health Base · Marek Health Comprehensive · Marek Health Complete · Marek Health Executive · Empirical Health · Oura Health Panels · SiPhox Health · Hims Labs · Healthspan · Vitality Blueprint Standard · Vitality Blueprint Elite
11 providers not itemized in our matrix
We have not itemized these marker by marker (some sell tests one at a time), so this page cannot say whether they offer Urine Albumin. Check with them directly.
Life Extension Standard · Quest Health · Ultrahuman Blood Vision · Lifeforce · Hundred Health · Personalabs · Walk-In Lab · HealthLabs · WHOOP Specialized Panels · Marek Health Essential · Vitality Blueprint Upload
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for Urine Albumin?
Published positions differ: <10 mg/g creatinine (CKD Prognosis Consortium meta-analysis (Matsushita et al. 2010, Lancet; 105,872 adults in 14 cohorts)); <30 mg/g creatinine (KDIGO standard normal cutoff). Lab reference interval: <30 mg/g creatinine. That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include Urine Albumin?
3 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include Urine Albumin in their panels. This biomarker has limited availability.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Last reviewed Aug 26, 2026 · First published Mar 5, 2026