Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio (ACR) Test in Kathmandu

About this test

The Albumin/Creatinine Ratio looks for tiny amounts of the protein albumin leaking into the urine — quantities far too small for an ordinary dipstick to catch. Healthy kidneys hold albumin back in the bloodstream, so when even small traces appear in urine it is one of the earliest warning signs that the filtering units of the kidney are under strain. Because urine concentration varies through the day, the lab measures albumin against creatinine in the same spot sample; this ratio corrects for how dilute the urine is and gives a reliable figure without needing a cumbersome 24-hour collection. A result above roughly 30 mg/g (3 mg/mmol) is generally regarded as raised. The test is ordered most often for people living with diabetes and high blood pressure, the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease, and current guidance recommends it at least once a year for every diabetic patient. This matters greatly in Nepal, where diabetes and hypertension are rising steeply and kidney disease is frequently caught only at a late, dialysis-dependent stage. Catching microalbuminuria early gives a genuine window to protect the kidneys, often with simple blood-pressure and blood-sugar control or specific medicines, before lasting damage sets in. Your doctor will interpret the ratio alongside your blood pressure, blood sugar or HbA1c, and the eGFR derived from serum creatinine. Because a single high reading can be triggered by fever, infection, or exercise, a raised value is usually confirmed by repeating the test on two further occasions over a few weeks.

Sample type

Urine (random spot sample)

Preparation

No fasting needed. A first-morning or random spot sample is fine. Avoid the test during a urinary infection, menstruation, or within 24 hours of heavy exercise, as these can falsely raise the result.

Turnaround time

Reports for Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio (ACR) are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other urine tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio (ACR) or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.