Urinalysis: Proteinuria

Urine protein-creatinine ratio (aka UPCR, PCR, UPC)

• Normal values:

  • Children <6 months: no reference value

  • Children 6-24 months: <0.5 mg/mg Cr

  • Children >24 months: <0.2 mg/mg Cr

• Nephrotic values:

  • All age groups: >2 mg/mg Cr

24-hour urine protein measurement

• Normal values:

  • Children <6 months: <240 mg/m²/day

  • Older children: <150 mg/m²/day

• Nephrotic range:

  • All age groups: >3 g/1.73 m²/day

Urine albumin/creatinine (UAC) ratio

• Normal: <30 mg/g (<3 mg/mmol) Cr

• Moderately increased: 30-300 mg/g (3-30 mg/mmol) Cr

• Severely increased: >300 mg/g (>30 mg/mmol) Cr

• UAC is generally preferred in adults, whereas UPC is generally preferred in children

Dipstick urinalysis

• Results are expressed semiquantitatively, and varies somewhat by manufacturer

  • Negative: 0 to <15 mg/dL

  • Trace: 15 to <30 mg/dL

  • 1+ ("small"): 30 to <100 mg/dL

  • 2+ ("moderate"): 100 to <300 mg/dL

  • 3+ ("large"): 300 to <1000 mg/dL (or 300 to <2000 mg/dL)

  • 4+: ≥1000 mg/dL (or ≥2000 mg/dL)

[[Chart of urine dipstick (1+, 2+) vs UPC/24 hour]]