Urine Tests and Albumin Levels

Albumin is a protein that is produced by the human liver. The human body would have a difficult time maintaining the right fluid balance without a protein like this one, but having excessive quantities of albumin in the body can still be a severe issue that points to other severe issues. People will have different quantities of albumin in their urine. Some people might have to get albumin tests when their primary care physicians suspect that they have health problems of some kind. When physicians request an albumin test, in many cases, they are trying to rule out the possibility that the patient in question has diabetes or a kidney ailment.

Some lab tests will have some health risks attached, but this is not the case with tests that focus on the albumin level in someone’s urine. As such, from a medical ethics standpoint, it’s a good idea to get a test like this to be on the safe side. The test also has the advantage of being very simple to perform, which sets it apart from a good portion of the other lab tests that are administered in order to test for kidney issues or diabetes. It’s possible that an albumin test might point to some other issues as well, making it an especially valuable test for everyone involved.

For the most part, albumin tests are very accurate. However, people do have to take into account some of the variables that will potentially influence the final results of an albumin test. People who have urinary tract infections might run into problems with these tests. People who already have other chronic conditions might get strange results as well, especially if those conditions include bladder cancer, high blood pressure, or diseases that cause fevers. Some doctors might want to perform an albumin test several times in order to make sure that the patient in question does have consistently high albumin levels. It’s always better to be cautious.