# Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)

Biomarker · id `cardio:uacr` · Cardiovascular Atlas · release `f6f6f1b6f50379ed` (public)

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Also called: UACR; Microalbumin creatinine ratio; Albumin-creatinine ratio; ACR

Browse, organ or system: Kidneys  
Browse, condition area: Kidney connections  

## In plain language

A urine test that compares the amount of the protein albumin with creatinine. Healthy kidneys let only a trace of albumin into the urine, so more than that can be an early sign of kidney damage.

## Technical summary

Used with eGFR to find and follow chronic kidney disease. A urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio threshold is part of the entry criteria of four kidney-outcome trials in this atlas; the thresholds differ by trial and are given on each trial record.

## Claims, with the population each applies to

## Context: Adults with chronic kidney disease or at risk of it (NIDDK and MedlinePlus patient pages)

Recipient: Adult; Population: Adults with chronic kidney disease, or at higher risk of it, for example because of diabetes or high blood pressure.; Care setting: Not stated; patient information pages; Geography: Not stated; United States federal health agencies; Life stage: Adults; Follow-up: Not applicable (descriptive page)

### MedlinePlus says a microalbumin creatinine ratio urine test checks the level of the protein albumin in the urine, and that abnormal amounts may be an early sign of kidney disease. It is most often used to look for signs of kidney disease in people who have a high risk of developing it but no symptoms, for example people with diabetes or high blood pressure. It may also be used to monitor the kidneys of people who have been diagnosed with kidney disease. The page says that anyone with diabetes should be tested for kidney disease every year.

- Category: Description
- Evidence stage: Evidence stage not applicable
- Certainty: Certainty not assessed
- Applies to: Recipient: Adult; Population: Adults with chronic kidney disease, or at higher risk of it, for example because of diabetes or high blood pressure.; Care setting: Not stated; patient information pages; Geography: Not stated; United States federal health agencies; Life stage: Adults; Follow-up: Not applicable (descriptive page)
- Limitations: A patient-information page from the National Library of Medicine. The passages read give no ratio thresholds, so this atlas gives none. The threshold used for entry differs between trials and is given on each trial record.
- Last checked: 2026-10-14
- Sources:
  1. Supports: MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, edition MedlinePlus page fetched 2026-10-14; the page footer says last updated May 27, 2025.) <https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/microalbumin-creatinine-ratio/>
     Locator: What is a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 1. Retrieved 2026-10-14T18:30:06Z. Source state: Current. Snapshot hash: 8d0469477df4f4a7b48be545bfeaaf678f1d4efd064e52babb40c5ba521c000d.
     How it applies: What the test measures and what abnormal amounts may mean.
  2. Supports: MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, edition MedlinePlus page fetched 2026-10-14; the page footer says last updated May 27, 2025.) <https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/microalbumin-creatinine-ratio/>
     Locator: What is it used for?, para 1; What is it used for?, list; What is it used for?, para 3. Retrieved 2026-10-14T18:30:06Z. Source state: Current. Snapshot hash: 8d0469477df4f4a7b48be545bfeaaf678f1d4efd064e52babb40c5ba521c000d.
     How it applies: Who is tested and for what.
  3. Supports: MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (Webpage, edition MedlinePlus page fetched 2026-10-14; the page footer says last updated May 27, 2025.) <https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/microalbumin-creatinine-ratio/>
     Locator: Why do I need a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 2. Retrieved 2026-10-14T18:30:06Z. Source state: Current. Snapshot hash: 8d0469477df4f4a7b48be545bfeaaf678f1d4efd064e52babb40c5ba521c000d.
     How it applies: Yearly testing for people with diabetes.

## Connected pages

- Used to look for early signs of kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) (`cardio:chronic-kidney-disease`) [a claim, not a settled fact; see claim `cardio:claim-uacr-use` and its context]
- Related to: MedlinePlus (`core:medlineplus`)

## Provenance

Content hash: 1557cd77946bfec0845643c9c08d85381651e95ac4097105d46deb0f2689dab6
Last substantive edit: 2026-10-15
Evidence last checked: Not recorded