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Updated: May 16, 2026
09:16
Assessment of Kidney Function in Mouse Models of Glomerular Disease
Published on: June 30, 2018
A reference system for urinary albumin: current status.
John C Lieske1, Olga Bondar, W Greg Miller
1Mayo Clinic Renal Function Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Lieske.John@mayo.edu
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
|December 18, 2012
Summary
Standardizing urinary albumin and creatinine measurements is crucial for assessing kidney damage. New reference materials and measurement procedures are being developed to improve accuracy and consistency in clinical diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Laboratory Medicine
- Nephrology
Background:
- Elevated urinary albumin indicates kidney damage and predicts renal and cardiovascular disease progression.
- Significant variability exists in current albumin and creatinine measurements, impacting the accuracy of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio.
- Lack of independent reference measurement procedures and reference materials hinders accurate urinary albumin and creatinine quantification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the need for standardization in urinary albumin and creatinine measurements.
- To develop and validate reference measurement procedures and materials for urinary albumin and creatinine.
Main Methods:
- Joint projects initiated by the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) Laboratory Working Group and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC).
- Development of a candidate liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) reference measurement procedure for urinary albumin.
- Creation of candidate reference materials for both urinary albumin and creatinine.
Main Results:
- A candidate LC-MS/MS reference measurement procedure for urinary albumin has been successfully developed.
- Candidate reference materials for urinary albumin and creatinine are available.
- Validation status of these critical reference system components is reported.
Conclusions:
- Development of certified reference materials for urinary albumin is essential for standardization.
- Establishment of reference measurement procedures for urinary albumin will improve measurement accuracy.
- Standardization of urinary albumin measurement will enhance its utility as a biomarker for kidney disease.
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