Kidneys, electrolytes and minerals
Urine ACR test: what a raised result means
What a urine ACR (albumin to creatinine ratio) test measures, what a raised result can mean, and what to ask your doctor.
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Explain my results → Available on web, iOS & Android.What is urine ACR?
The ACR test checks a urine sample for albumin, a protein that healthy kidneys normally keep in the blood. The amount of albumin is compared with creatinine in the same sample, which corrects for how concentrated the urine is. A raised ACR can be an early sign of kidney damage, sometimes before your eGFR changes. In the US it may be called the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR) or microalbumin test.
Why is this test done?
- To check the kidneys in people with diabetes or high blood pressure, usually once a year
- To assess chronic kidney disease alongside eGFR
- To monitor kidney treatment
- When protein shows up on a urine dipstick
What does a raised urine ACR mean?
A raised ACR means more albumin than usual is leaking into your urine. Doctors usually confirm it with a repeat test before drawing conclusions.
Possible reasons include:
- Kidney damage from diabetes or high blood pressure
- Other kidney conditions
- A urine infection
- Hard exercise in the day or so before the test
- A recent illness with fever
- Menstrual blood in the sample
Why we don't list a "normal range". Reference ranges differ between laboratories and can depend on your age, sex and whether you are pregnant. The range printed next to your result on your own report is the one that applies to you, so use that, and talk to your doctor about what your result means for you.
What can affect your urine ACR result?
- Hard exercise before the test
- A urine infection or period
- Testing urine taken later in the day, as upright posture and physical movement can naturally cause minor, benign protein leakage (orthostatic proteinuria); an early-morning sample avoids this
- Very high blood sugar or blood pressure at the time
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Results are easier to understand together. Patiently AI explains your report as a whole and writes personalised questions for your next appointment.
Try it with your own results → Paste, upload or photograph your results.Questions to ask your doctor
- Does my ACR need to be repeated to confirm it?
- What does it mean for my kidneys when combined with my eGFR?
- Should my blood pressure or diabetes treatment be adjusted?
- Are there medicines that could help protect my kidneys?
Frequently asked questions
Why is a urine test used to check my kidneys?
Healthy kidneys keep albumin in the blood. Finding albumin in urine is one of the earliest signs that the kidney filters are being damaged, often before blood tests change.
Why do I need a first morning sample?
Early morning urine is more consistent, which makes results easier to compare over time. Your doctor will tell you if they need this.
Can a raised ACR go back down?
Sometimes. A raised ACR caused by infection or exercise often returns to normal. For kidney damage, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar and using some medicines can reduce albumin leakage.
Can Patiently AI explain my urine ACR result?
Yes. Paste your results, or upload a photo, PDF or Word file, and Patiently AI explains them in plain English, sticking to the numbers and ranges on your own report rather than adding its own, and suggests questions to ask your doctor. It is free, needs no account, and removes identifying details on your device first.