Urine Protein
Urine Protein (Proteinuria, dipstick)
This test checks for protein in your urine. Kidneys normally keep most protein in your blood. A positive dipstick is a screening finding that often needs a more precise follow-up test.
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What does a positive protein result mean?
Protein can appear temporarily after illness or strenuous exercise. If it persists, it may indicate kidney damage. A dipstick result does not show the cause or give the same information as a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, called uACR.
Read the result as a screening finding
- Negative
- No protein detected by this test; small amounts may still be missed
- Trace or positive
- Discuss confirmation with a quantitative urine test
Dipsticks may report negative, trace or a number of plus signs. These labels depend on the test and how concentrated the urine is. They cannot be converted directly into a kidney disease stage or a uACR category.
Sources: MedlinePlus (NIH)
What can change this result?
What can make it show up
- Strenuous exercise, fever or dehydration can cause a temporary finding.
- Diabetes or high blood pressure affecting the kidneys.
- Other kidney conditions that let protein leak into urine.
What can help if it persists
- Managing blood pressure and blood sugar when they are high.
- Kidney-protective treatment if your clinician recommends it.
- A urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio can help confirm and track the amount.
One positive dipstick does not establish lasting kidney damage. A repeat or quantitative test helps separate temporary changes from ongoing protein loss.
What should I do next?
- Ask whether a repeat sample and uACR are needed.
- Check your blood pressure and eGFR alongside the urine result.
- Tell your clinician about swelling, illness or a recent intense workout.
How this test works
Dipsticks detect some proteins more readily than others, especially albumin. uACR measures albumin relative to urine creatinine, which helps account for how concentrated the sample is.