Content provided by National Kidney Foundation.
What is a urine protein (albumin) test? It is a test that looks for the presence of albumin in your urine. Albumin is a type of protein that is normally found in the blood. Your body needs protein. It is an important nutrient that helps build muscle, repair tissue, and fight infection. But protein should be in your blood, not your urine.
What’s wrong with having albumin (protein) in my urine? One of the main jobs of your kidneys is to filter your blood. When your kidneys are healthy, they keep important things your body needs inside your blood, like protein. They also remove things your body doesn’t need, like waste products and extra water. If your kidneys are damaged, protein can “leak” out of the kidneys into your urine. Having protein in your urine is called “albuminuria” or “proteinuria.”
