Cardiovascular Atlas
About
Menu

Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)

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.

Also called UACR · Microalbumin creatinine ratio · Albumin-creatinine ratio · ACR

  • Biomarker
  • In this atlas

Overview

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 FIDELIO-DKD, FLOW, DAPA-CKD and EMPA-KIDNEY; the thresholds differ by trial and are given on each trial record.

What is measured

Measure
The ratio of the protein albumin to creatinine in a urine sample.
Assay context
A single urine sample or a timed sample; the page read describes random, early-morning and 24-hour collection.

Interpretation

  • Description Evidence stage not applicable Certainty not assessed

    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.

    Applies to Adult
    • Adults with chronic kidney disease, or at higher risk of it, for example because of diabetes or high blood pressure.
    • Not stated; patient information pages
    • Not stated; United States federal health agencies
    • Adults
    Follow-up Not applicable (descriptive page)
    Certainty method
    Not assessed
    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
    Next evidence check due
    Not scheduled
    Sources and citations (3)

    1. Supports MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio

      Webpage · U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · Edition MedlinePlus page fetched 2026-10-14; the page footer says last updated May 27, 2025.

      Locator
      What is a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 1
      How it applies
      What the test measures and what abnormal amounts may mean.
      Retrieved
      Source effective date
      Not reported
      Source state
      Current
      Snapshot hash
      8d0469477df4f4a7b48be545bfeaaf678f1d4efd064e52babb40c5ba521c000d
      Reuse basis
      The MedlinePlus page on using its content (fetched 2026-10-14 as ch-medlineplus-usingcontent.html, sha256 31267ce9db01, hash only) says works produced by the federal government are not copyrighted, and lists summaries on health topic pages and medical test information as public domain; A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia articles are copyrighted, and this atlas cites none. Please acknowledge MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, as the source. The raw page is committed at research/snapshots/ch-medlineplus-uacr-test.html.

    2. Supports MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio

      Webpage · U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · Edition MedlinePlus page fetched 2026-10-14; the page footer says last updated May 27, 2025.

      Locator
      What is it used for?, para 1; What is it used for?, list; What is it used for?, para 3
      How it applies
      Who is tested and for what.
      Retrieved
      Source effective date
      Not reported
      Source state
      Current
      Snapshot hash
      8d0469477df4f4a7b48be545bfeaaf678f1d4efd064e52babb40c5ba521c000d
      Reuse basis
      The MedlinePlus page on using its content (fetched 2026-10-14 as ch-medlineplus-usingcontent.html, sha256 31267ce9db01, hash only) says works produced by the federal government are not copyrighted, and lists summaries on health topic pages and medical test information as public domain; A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia articles are copyrighted, and this atlas cites none. Please acknowledge MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, as the source. The raw page is committed at research/snapshots/ch-medlineplus-uacr-test.html.

    3. Supports MedlinePlus medical test: Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio

      Webpage · U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · Edition MedlinePlus page fetched 2026-10-14; the page footer says last updated May 27, 2025.

      Locator
      Why do I need a microalbumin creatinine ratio test?, para 2
      How it applies
      Yearly testing for people with diabetes.
      Retrieved
      Source effective date
      Not reported
      Source state
      Current
      Snapshot hash
      8d0469477df4f4a7b48be545bfeaaf678f1d4efd064e52babb40c5ba521c000d
      Reuse basis
      The MedlinePlus page on using its content (fetched 2026-10-14 as ch-medlineplus-usingcontent.html, sha256 31267ce9db01, hash only) says works produced by the federal government are not copyrighted, and lists summaries on health topic pages and medical test information as public domain; A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia articles are copyrighted, and this atlas cites none. Please acknowledge MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, as the source. The raw page is committed at research/snapshots/ch-medlineplus-uacr-test.html.

Clinical links

Each link reports what one cited claim says about one population. "Evaluated for" means studied, not shown to work. These links do not show that anything is effective or right for you.

Record details

Record id
cardio:uacr
Content hash
e3b3c775f9cf7128d2df3709fbd2070f716971be9e53671d0cc46e44b040d386