Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine)
Private urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio testing in London for £100, measuring one kidney protein-loss marker with results in around 4 hours.
Turnaround time
1 business day
Biomarkers count
1
Book your test
Choose Service Type
Professional phlebotomist comes to you
+ £{{ home_visit_fee }}
Visit our clinic for your test
{{ clinic_visit_fee > 0 ? '+ £' + clinic_visit_fee : 'Free' }}
Home Visit Details
Home visits require at least 24 hours notice.
Select a clinic: Sorting by distance…
{{ clinicAddress(clinic) }}
{{ clinicAddress(selectedClinic) }}
Select a date
Select an hour
Available time slots: {{ timeSlots.length}}
Overview of the Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) Test
The Protein/Creatinine Ratio urine test measures urinary protein relative to urinary Creatinine, providing an estimate of protein loss without requiring a complete 24-hour urine collection.
The test assesses 1 renal biomarker: Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine).
Healthy kidneys normally prevent significant quantities of larger proteins from passing from the blood into urine.
When the glomerular filtration barrier is damaged, increased amounts of protein can leak into the urine.
Proteinuria can therefore be an important marker of kidney disease.
A simple urine protein concentration can be difficult to interpret because urine becomes more or less concentrated depending on hydration.
Dividing urinary protein by Creatinine helps correct for this variation.
The Protein/Creatinine Ratio, commonly abbreviated to PCR or UPCR, therefore provides a practical estimate of daily urinary protein excretion.
It can be useful in chronic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, diabetes, hypertension and other renal disorders.
PCR measures total urinary protein.
This differs from an Albumin/Creatinine Ratio, which specifically measures Albumin and is commonly used for early diabetic and chronic kidney disease screening.
Marked proteinuria can occur without obvious symptoms.
When substantial, it can sometimes cause foamy urine or contribute to swelling because protein is being lost from the bloodstream.
Temporary increases can occur with fever, strenuous exercise and acute illness.
Persistent abnormal protein loss is more clinically important and can require repeat testing and kidney assessment.
What Does the Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) Test Check?
The test measures urinary protein relative to Creatinine to estimate protein loss from the kidneys. This test measures 1 biomarker.
Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine)
Compares total urinary protein with Creatinine concentration, providing an estimate of protein excretion while reducing the effect of urine dilution.
Who May Benefit From the Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) Test?
UPCR testing can be useful for detecting or monitoring significant urinary protein loss.
People with protein detected on a urine dipstick - PCR can quantify the amount more accurately.
People with chronic kidney disease - Protein loss is an important marker of renal damage and prognosis.
People with diabetes and significant proteinuria - Kidney involvement can increase urinary protein excretion.
People with high blood pressure and kidney concerns - Hypertension can contribute to renal damage.
People with glomerulonephritis or autoimmune kidney disease - PCR is frequently used to monitor protein loss.
People with unexplained ankle or leg swelling - Significant protein loss is one possible cause.
People with previous high urinary protein results - Repeat testing can monitor change over time.
People undergoing nephrology assessment - Proteinuria is an important component of kidney evaluation.
How to Prepare
A 24-hour urine collection is usually not required for this test.
A correctly collected spot urine specimen is sufficient for the Protein/Creatinine Ratio.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) Test
Proteinuria often produces no symptoms until kidney disease or protein loss becomes more significant.
Foamy or persistently frothy urine - High protein concentrations can sometimes alter urine appearance.
Swelling of the ankles or legs - Significant protein loss can contribute to oedema.
Known chronic kidney disease - PCR can help monitor renal protein loss.
Protein detected during routine urine testing - Quantitative assessment can clarify the degree of proteinuria.
High blood pressure with kidney concerns - Hypertension and renal disease frequently coexist.
Diabetes with abnormal kidney screening - Additional protein measurements can help characterise renal involvement.
Previous abnormal PCR result - Repeat testing can assess persistence or treatment response.
Very low urine output, significant swelling, severe breathlessness or rapidly worsening kidney function requires medical assessment.
One abnormal urine result should usually be confirmed and interpreted with eGFR, Creatinine and clinical context.
How to Book Your Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) Test
The urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio can be booked privately for quantitative assessment of protein loss.
Choose the Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine)
Select the individual urine PCR test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose clinic collection or arrange the appropriate urine-sample pathway according to your booking.
Provide your urine sample
Collect the specimen in the laboratory-approved container while avoiding contamination.
Laboratory analysis
The laboratory measures urinary Protein and Creatinine and calculates the Protein/Creatinine Ratio.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside kidney function and other urinary markers.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current London Blood Tests page lists results for Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) as available approximately 4 hours after arrival at the laboratory.
Laboratory receipt and processing time are separate from transport from the collection location.
A clinician's interpretation report, if separately requested, may be delivered later.
Understanding Your Results
A low or normal PCR indicates little total protein loss relative to urinary Creatinine.
A raised PCR indicates increased urinary protein excretion.
The degree of elevation helps determine clinical significance.
Temporary increases can occur after strenuous exercise, fever or acute illness.
Persistent elevation is more suggestive of kidney disease and can require further investigation.
The test measures total protein rather than Albumin alone.
For early diabetic kidney disease and many routine CKD assessments, Albumin/Creatinine Ratio can provide complementary information.
Very high protein loss can occur with glomerular diseases and nephrotic-range proteinuria.
The result should therefore be interpreted with serum Creatinine, eGFR, blood pressure and urinalysis.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private urine PCR testing for quantitative kidney protein assessment.
Quantifies urinary protein loss - The ratio provides more useful information than a simple positive dipstick.
Corrects for urine concentration - Creatinine helps account for dilute or concentrated urine.
Avoids a 24-hour collection - A spot urine specimen can estimate daily protein loss.
Relevant to chronic kidney disease - Proteinuria is an important marker of kidney damage.
Useful for renal monitoring - Repeat results can track change over time.
Rapid laboratory processing - The current page lists results around 4 hours after laboratory arrival.
Simple urine specimen - No blood draw is required for the ratio itself.
Clear pricing - The Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) test costs £100.
Private Protein/Creatinine Ratio (Urine) Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio testing for people requiring assessment of urinary protein loss.
The test costs £100 and measures 1 renal biomarker.
Results are currently listed as available approximately 4 hours after the specimen arrives at the laboratory.
Persistent elevation should be interpreted alongside Creatinine, eGFR and the wider kidney assessment.