1. What is 24 Hour Protein Excretion?

24-hour protein excretion measures the total amount of protein lost in urine over a full day. It's a key diagnostic test for kidney function and helps identify proteinuria, a marker of kidney damage.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following equation:

Where:

• Urine Protein Concentration — Protein level in urine (mg/dL)
• 24h Urine Volume — Total urine output over 24 hours (dL)

Explanation: The calculation converts the concentration measurement to total daily protein loss by accounting for the total urine volume.

3. Importance of Protein Excretion Measurement

Details: Measuring 24-hour protein excretion helps diagnose and monitor kidney diseases, assess nephrotic syndrome severity, and evaluate treatment effectiveness.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the urine protein concentration in mg/dL and the 24-hour urine volume in dL (1 dL = 100 mL). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a normal 24-hour protein excretion?
A: Normal is less than 150 mg/day. 150-500 mg/day is microalbuminuria, and >500 mg/day is macroalbuminuria.

Q2: How is the 24-hour urine collection performed?
A: Discard first morning urine, then collect all urine for next 24 hours including next morning's first void.

Q3: What factors can affect protein excretion?
A: Exercise, fever, stress, upright posture, and high protein intake can temporarily increase protein excretion.

Q4: When is a 24-hour collection preferred over spot urine?
A: For accurate quantification of proteinuria, especially when monitoring known kidney disease or nephrotic syndrome.

Q5: How does this relate to urine protein/creatinine ratio?
A: The protein/creatinine ratio from a spot urine sample can estimate 24-hour protein excretion but may be less accurate in some cases.