Albumin/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) (ACR)

What is Albumin/Creatinine Ratio (Urine)?

The albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) is a kidney damage screening test that measures the amount of albumin protein relative to creatinine in your urine. This ratio accounts for urine concentration, making it more accurate than measuring albumin alone.

Why is it Tested?

Doctors order ACR to detect early kidney damage, especially in people with diabetes or high blood pressure. It’s a sensitive test that can identify kidney problems before symptoms appear and helps monitor kidney function over time.

Normal Ranges

Reference ranges for adults:

Normal: Less than 30 mg/dL
Moderately increased: 30–300 mg/dL (microalbuminuria)
Severely increased: Greater than 300 mg/dL (macroalbuminuria)

Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.

What do Abnormal Results Mean?

Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.

Moderately Increased ACR (30-300 mg/dL)

This level indicates microalbuminuria and may suggest:

Early diabetic kidney disease
Hypertensive nephropathy
Early chronic kidney disease
Cardiovascular disease risk

Severely Increased ACR (>300 mg/dL)

This level indicates macroalbuminuria and often points to:

Advanced diabetic nephropathy
Significant kidney damage
Progressive chronic kidney disease
Need for immediate medical attention

How to Track Over Time

Monitoring ACR trends helps detect kidney disease progression before major symptoms develop. Rising levels over months indicate worsening kidney function, while stable or improving ratios suggest good disease management or treatment response.

Albumin/Creatinine Ratio (Urine)