Protein, Total, 24 Hours Urine
This test quantifies total protein excreted over 24 hours — the gold standard for measuring kidney protein loss. It helps diagnose and classify kidney diseases like nephrotic syndrome.
1 day
Turnaround
24-Hour Urine
Sample
What the Protein, Total, 24 Hours Urine test tells you
This test collects all the urine passed over a full day and measures the total quantity of protein in it. It is a kidney test, not a blood test: it is asking how much protein is escaping into the urine, which is an entirely different question from the total protein circulating in the bloodstream. Healthy kidneys return almost all filtered protein to the blood, so urine normally contains only traces.
Measuring a whole day's output removes the effect of how much you drank and when, and gives the most exact figure available for how much protein the kidneys are letting go. The size of that loss is one of the central measurements in kidney medicine. It separates a mild, incidental finding from the heavy loss that causes visible swelling and a raised risk of clots and infection. The pattern also carries information: loss dominated by albumin points towards the filtering units, a mixture of smaller proteins points towards the tubules, and unusual proteins can suggest a bone-marrow disorder.
Because it is precise but demanding, the full-day collection is usually reserved for situations where the exact figure changes what happens next: establishing a diagnosis, deciding whether a kidney biopsy is warranted, or judging the response to immune-suppressing treatment. For routine monitoring, most clinicians now use the protein-to-creatinine ratio from a single sample instead. Whichever is used, your doctor interprets the result with blood tests, blood pressure and the clinical picture rather than on its own.
Gold standard for quantifying proteinuria, diagnosing nephrotic syndrome, and monitoring treatment response in kidney diseases.
Measuring a whole day's urine gives the firmest figure for protein loss, unaffected by fluid intake or the timing of the sample.
The amount lost separates a minor, incidental finding from heavy loss that needs prompt specialist attention.
Kidney specialists use it when the exact figure influences a biopsy or a change in immune-suppressing treatment.
Repeat collections show whether protein loss is genuinely falling on therapy or continuing to rise.
Reasons your doctor may request the Protein, Total, 24 Hours Urine test
Your doctor may order this test for any of the reasons below. Some are routine checks, others follow specific symptoms or an earlier result.
When an exact figure is needed
Protein has been found on a dipstick or a spot ratio and an exact figure is now needed.
A spot protein-to-creatinine ratio has given borderline or inconsistent results.
Suspected nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome is suspected because of swelling and abnormal blood protein results.
Treatment decisions & systemic disease
A kidney biopsy or immune-suppressing treatment is being considered.
Response to treatment for glomerular disease needs to be measured accurately.
Kidney involvement in a systemic disease such as lupus or amyloidosis is being assessed.
No fasting window — pick any slot that suits you, online or on WhatsApp.
A DHA-licensed nurse collects your sample at home or in the office — free home collection.
A physician-reviewed, easy-to-read report lands securely by WhatsApp and email.
Total protein in a 24-hour urine collection.
Ranges are a guide — your physician interprets your result alongside your symptoms and history.
What a higher result can point to
- Glomerular disease, where the filtering membranes leak protein into the urine.
- Diabetic kidney disease that has progressed beyond its earliest stage.
- Pre-eclampsia during pregnancy.
- Tubular disease, in which small proteins are no longer reabsorbed.
- Abnormal protein production in a bone-marrow disorder such as myeloma.
- Infection, fever or heavy exertion during the collection period.
These are possibilities, not diagnoses. A single value outside the reference range is interpreted alongside your symptoms, history and other tests — your doctor decides what it means for you.
What this test cannot tell you
- Accuracy depends entirely on a complete collection, and a single missed passing of urine understates the result without anyone being able to tell.
- The test measures how much protein is lost, not which protein or why, so further testing is usually needed.
- Temporary rises from fever, infection or heavy exercise can be mistaken for kidney disease if the collection is not repeated.
- A low result carries no meaning of its own; it simply indicates no significant loss during that day.
Risks of the blood draw
- Mild bruising or brief soreness where the needle went in.
- Occasional lightheadedness, which settles after a few minutes of rest.
- Bleeding or infection at the site, which is rare with sterile single-use equipment.
- 1This measures protein leaving the body in urine, which is a kidney question, not the protein circulating in blood.
- 2The collection covers a full day, and that is precisely what makes the figure exact.
- 3Heavy protein loss is a different clinical situation from a small, incidental one.
- 4It is generally a confirmatory or specialist test rather than a first-line screen.
- 5An incomplete collection is the commonest reason for a misleading result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Protein, Total, 24 Hours Urine test. Can't find what you're looking for?
Talk to our team→No, and the two answer different questions. The blood test measures protein circulating in the bloodstream, while this measures protein escaping into the urine, which reflects how well the kidney filters are holding protein back.
The total will read low and the result may look better than the truth. Tell the laboratory, as it is usually best to start the collection again on another day.
Urine left warm allows bacteria to grow and some components to break down, which distorts the measurement. A closed, cool container preserves the sample across the collection period.
The ratio is an estimate. When the exact amount influences a decision such as a biopsy or a change in immune-suppressing treatment, the full-day measurement is preferred.
This test quantifies total protein excreted over 24 hours — the gold standard for measuring kidney protein loss. It helps diagnose and classify kidney diseases like nephrotic syndrome.
Gold standard for quantifying proteinuria, diagnosing nephrotic syndrome, and monitoring treatment response in kidney diseases.
No, fasting is not required for the 24-Hr Urine Protein test, so you can eat and drink normally beforehand.
The 24-Hr Urine Protein test uses a 24-hour urine sample, collected quickly by our DHA-licensed phlebotomist with minimal discomfort.
Results for the 24-Hr Urine Protein test are typically ready within 1 day. You will receive a secure digital report, and your Smart Report highlights anything outside the normal range.
The 24-Hr Urine Protein test is AED 75, which includes free home sample collection and a physician-reviewed report. You can also build a custom panel and pay only for the markers you choose.
Yes. A DHA-licensed phlebotomist can collect your sample at home or the office anywhere in Dubai at no extra cost, 7 days a week. See how it works.
It is commonly chosen by all ages. If you are not sure it is right for you, our care team is happy to advise.
Add the 24-Hr Urine Protein test to your cart and complete the short booking wizard, choosing home collection or a lab visit. Guest checkout lets you book without creating an account.
Yes. It is processed at our EIAC-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189:2022) under DHA license 0046381 and verified by board-certified pathologists.
Every report includes reference ranges and plain-language notes. If you have questions, our care team can arrange a clinician review — just get in touch.
Absolutely. Add it to a curated health package or bundle it with any of our 160+ biomarkers, often from a single sample in one visit.