First morning voids are more reliable than spot urine samples to assess microalbuminuria.

Measurement of urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in a 24-h collection is the gold standard method to determine the presence of microalbuminuria. We sought to compare more practical alternatives--measurement of urinary albumin concentration (UAC) or albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR)--in a first morning void or in a spot urine sample with this gold standard. We asked 241 participants of a prospective cohort study to make three 24-h urine collections, a first morning void, and a spot urine sample.

Screening and monitoring for albuminuria: the performance of the HemoCue point-of-care system.

Obtaining immediate results makes testing for albuminuria at the point of care far superior to central laboratory assays. Here we determined if a quantitative desk-top system could identify and monitor patients with microalbuminuria. Urinary albumin excretion was measured in 259 patients of a population cohort study where they collected 24-h urines and first morning void samples prior to three clinic visits at three week intervals.