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Blood and lab tests

What Does Protein in Urine Mean? Urine Test Explained

Urine Protein · say it: YOOR-in PROH-teenAlso written: proteinuria, protein in urine, PRO, urine total protein, PCR

Short answer

Urine protein measures how much protein is passing into your urine; healthy kidneys normally let very little through.

What it means

The kidneys filter waste out of the blood but keep useful proteins in. When protein appears in the urine in larger amounts, it is called proteinuria, and it can be a sign the kidney filters are under strain.

Many temporary things can cause a little protein in urine, including fever, hard exercise, dehydration, standing for long periods and urinary infections. Doctors therefore usually repeat the test before drawing conclusions.

A dipstick shows results as negative, trace or plus signs. A more precise lab test may report a protein-to-creatinine ratio (PCR), and a separate test looks specifically for albumin.

Where you may see it

Urinalysis or urine dipstick reports
Kidney function tests
Pregnancy check-ups

📄 How it looks on a report

Protein (urine dipstick) 1+

🙅 What it does not mean

Protein in one urine sample does not confirm kidney disease; temporary causes are common.
A dipstick result is a rough guide, not a precise measurement.
Protein in urine is not caused by eating too much protein in your diet.

🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor

Should my urine protein test be repeated?
Could exercise, infection or anything else have caused this?
Do I need a more precise test, such as an albumin or protein ratio?
How do my blood kidney tests look?

🧾 Reports where you will see “Urine Protein”

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🔗 Read more from trusted sources

“Urine Protein” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “proteinuria”
MedlinePlus lab test guides ↗
US National Library of Medicine

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More words: blood and lab tests

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)Bilirubin CRP (C-Reactive Protein)Electrolytes ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)Fasting Sample Ferritin HbA1c HDL Cholesterol Hematocrit Hemoglobin All medical words →

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