What is the Difference Between Protein Creatinine Ratio and Albumin Creatinine Ratio

The main difference between protein creatinine ratio and albumin creatinine ratio is that the protein creatinine ratio measures the total amount of proteins, including albumin and other proteins, whereas the albumin creatinine ratio only measures the amount of albumin in the urine.

Urine tests (urinalysis) are simple tests that analyze a small sample of your urine. These tests help to detect various health problems that need treatment. These urine tests can even help you identify some serious diseases, such as liver diseases or diabetes. Moreover, a urine test can include three parts: visual exam, microscopic exam, and a dipstick test. A dipstick test can examine substances and parameters like bilirubin, glucose, white blood cells, proteins, acidity (pH), and blood. Protein creatinine ratio (PCR) and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) are both urine tests that measure the amount of protein in the urine. But there are several differences between the two tests.

Key Areas Covered 

1. What is Protein Creatinine Ratio
     – Definition, Features, Use
2. What is Albumin Creatinine Ratio
     – Definition, Features, Use
3. Similarities – Protein Creatinine Ratio and Albumin Creatinine Ratio
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Protein Creatinine Ratio and Albumin Creatinine Ratio
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Albumin Creatinine Ratio, ACR, Protein Creatinine Ratio, PCR, Urine

What is Protein Creatinine Ratio?

A protein creatinine ratio test is a urine test that measures the amount of protein in the urine. In this test, the amount of protein in the urine is compared with the amount of creatinine as a ratio. Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscles and excreted by kidneys. When the kidneys work, they filter out the waste products, such as creatinine, out of the body. This creatinine is then excreted out of the body with urine.

This test gives important information about the health status of your kidneys. The results of this test help to diagnose any condition that can cause kidney damage. Another use of this test is the ability to know how well the treatments for such a disease are working. The results may decide further treatments or tests for the disease conditions, if there are any.

Protein creatinine ratio tests are performed at routine physical examinations to screen for high levels of proteins in the urine (we call this proteinuria) or during pregnancy if there are signs of preeclampsia.

What is Albumin Creatinine Ratio

The albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) is a medical test that measures the levels of albumin and creatinine in a person’s urine. The albumin-creatinine ratio is a measure of the amount of albumin present in the urine compared to the amount of creatinine. This test helps to detect and monitor kidney diseases in individuals who are at risk for developing kidney problems. The liver produces the protein albumin. It is also present in the blood. But when there is damage to the kidneys, the kidneys do not filter albumin properly from the blood. As a result, one could observe the presence of albumin in the urine.

This test requires a small urine sample of the patient. The analysis of the sample helps to detect the amount of albumin and creatinine. The results indicate whether the person has normal kidneys or if there is a risk of developing a kidney-related disease. This test is used if a person indicates symptoms related to kidney diseases, such as swelling, fatigue, and increased frequency of urination.

If the level of the albumin creatinine ratio is higher than the recommended levels, further tests are necessary to find the cause of the deviated result.

Similarities Between Protein Creatinine Ratio and Albumin Creatinine Ratio

• Both protein creatinine ratio and albumin creatinine ratio tests help in determining the health of the kidneys.
• They are useful in the early detection of the development of kidney disease/kidney damage.

Difference Between Protein Creatinine Ratio and Albumin Creatinine Ratio

Definition

A protein creatinine ratio test is a urine test that measures the amount of protein in the urine, while an albumin creatinine ratio is a medical test that measures the levels of albumin and creatinine in a person’s urine.

Measuring

The protein-creatinine ratio measures the total amount of protein, including albumin and other proteins, whereas the albumin-creatinine ratio measures only the amount of albumin in the urine.

Sensitivity

Albumin creatinine ratios are considered to be more sensitive tests for detecting early kidney damage than protein creatinine ratio tests.

Use

Albumin creatinine ratio tests are more common in use than protein creatinine ratios for monitoring and screening the functioning of the kidneys of individuals with conditions that increase the risk of developing kidney disease.

Conclusion

Urine tests (urinalysis) are simple tests that analyze a small sample of urine. Protein creatinine ratio (PCR) and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) are both urine tests that measure the amount of protein in the urine. The main difference between protein creatinine ratio and albumin creatinine ratio is that the protein creatinine ratio measures the total amount of proteins, including albumin and other proteins, whereas the albumin creatinine ratio only measures the amount of albumin in the urine.

Reference:

1. “Diagnostic utility of protein to creatinine ratio (P/C ratio) in spot urine sample within routine clinical practice.” National Library of Medicine.
2. “Kidney Failure Risk Factor: Urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (uACR)” National Kidney Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Infected urine sample” By LabLit (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr