Kidney Damage Test

How does a Kidney Damage Test work?

This test measures the level of creatinine and albumin in your urine. Albumin in urine can indicate that the kidneys are not filtering correctly. This can be a sign of either short-term or long-term (chronic) kidney damage.

How do I collect a urine sample from home?

Your Homed-IQ Kidney Function Test comes with everything you need to collect a urine sample from home. After collecting your sample, mail it back to our lab in a prepaid return-envelope. The lab will share your results with you within a few working days.

Who should use this test?

Routine creatinine/albumin ratio tests are recommended if you are at increased risk for chronic kidney disease. For example, if you have diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease. The benefits of population-level ACR screening to detect early-stage kidney damage in people without specific risk factors are currently being studied. Homed-IQ’s Kidney Damage test allows anyone interested in checking their kidney health to test themselves from home.

Would you like to check other markers of kidney and liver health? Try the Liver and Kidney Function Test.

What is the albumin/creatinine ratio?

The albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) is a measurement that quantifies the amount of albumin in urine relative to the amount of creatinine. It’s expressed in milligrams of albumin per gram of creatinine (mg/g). This ratio is used to assess kidney function, specifically the kidney’s ability to filter albumin. 

What is albumin?

Albumin is a protein found in the bloodstream. Healthy kidneys typically filter out waste products while retaining important substances like albumin. However, if kidneys are damaged, they may allow albumin to pass into the urine, leading to increased levels in the urine. 

What is creatinine?

Creatinine is a waste product from the breakdown of creatine, a molecule important for muscle energy storage. Creatinine is routinely excreted in urine. Since its excretion rate is relatively stable in most individuals, it serves as a useful reference point for urine concentration. The ACR helps standardize the measurement of albumin in urine by taking into account the concentration of urine, which can be influenced by hydration status and other factors. Relating the albumin level to the creatinine level allows for a more consistent and reliable measure of kidney filtration function, regardless of urine concentration.

What are the symptoms of albuminuria?

Most people with albuminuria do not notice any symptoms. This is why it is so important to get regular checkups for kidney damage, especially if you have any risk factors for albuminuria or kidney disease. 

If symptoms are present, they may include: 

• Foamy urine 
• Frequent urination (peeing more often than usual)
• Puffiness around the eyes (especially in the morning)
• Swelling of your feet, ankles, belly, or face

What are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease?

The symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop over time as kidney damage progresses. Depending on the severity, loss of kidney function can cause:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue and weakness 
• Urinating more or less
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep problems 
• Muscle cramps 
• Swelling of feet and ankles 
• High blood pressure (hypertension) 
• Shortness of breath or chest pain 

What does the Kidney Damage Test result mean?

A normal amount of albumin in your urine is less than 30 mg/g. Anything above 30 mg/g may mean you have kidney disease. Albuminuria can be short-term or long-term (chronic). Some of the most common causes of temporary (short-term) albuminuria include: 

• Dehydration
• High-intensity exercise 
• Fever or infection 
• Heart failure exacerbation 

Some of the most common causes of chronic albuminuria include: 

• Diabetes (especially if your blood sugar is higher than your target range) 
• Hypertension 
• Heart disease and/or heart failure 
• Glomerular disease (such as IgA nephropathy, lupus nephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), or glomerulonephritis)

If you have an elevated level of albumin in your urine, contact your doctor for follow-up testing and treatment. 

How soon will I receive my test results? 

Once you have collected your sample and then mailed it to our laboratory, it generally takes a few working days before you receive the test result. As soon as your test sample arrives at the laboratory you will receive a notification by email. Once your test result is ready, you will receive a text message and an email from us with a link to your test result. We will therefore keep you well informed throughout the entire testing process!