Total protein ,urine
(UTP)

Sample type

24-hour urine

Random urine

Uses

-Evaluation of proteinuria (e.g., following urinalysis in which proteinuria is detected).

-Evaluation of renal diseases, including proteinuria complicating DM and the nephrotic syndrom.

-Workup of other renal diseases, including malignant hypertension, GN, TTP, collagen diseases, toxemia of pregnancy, drug nephrotoxicity, hypersensitivity reactions, and allergic reactions and renal tubular lesions.

-Management of myeloma and evaluation of hypoproteinemia.

Precautions

No specific precautions needed but if the sample is 24-hour urine sample the patient must follow the instructions for collecting a 24-hour urine sample.

24-hour urine sample collection instructions

• On day 1, urinate into the toilet when you get up in the morning.

• Afterward, collect all urine in a special container for the next 24 hours.

• On day 2, urinate into the container when you get up in the morning.

• Cap the container. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period.

• Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed.

Interfering factors

Highly alkaline urine produces false-negative results.

Not reliable to quantify urinary immunoglobulin light chains.

Pre-analytical errors

1-If the sample was not collected with the correct instructions.

2-The container in which the sample was collected is unlabeled.

The corrective actions

1-The sample must be rejected and the patient taught the correct method for collecting the sample,and another sample should be requested.

2-The sample should be rejected and another sample requested

Post-analytical errors

1-Writing a wrong result or wrong name in the report

2-report were sent to incorrect patient

The corrective actions

1- If the report is not delivered to the patient and this error is discovered, the correct result or the correct name must be written, but if the report is delivered to the patient, you must communicate with the patient, apologise to him, and tell him that an error has occurred and replace it with the correct report.

2-Communicate with patient ,apologizing for the error, and providing him with the correct report.

Reference range

Twenty-four–hour urine: <150 mg/day

Random urine: <200 mg/g creatinine