The albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) is a simple urine test that can help detect kidney disease, especially in people with diabetes. It measures the amount of a protein called albumin in your urine compared to the amount of creatinine, which is a waste product.
To Calculate Your ACR:
- Get your urine albumin and creatinine values from your latest lab report. Albumin is usually measured in mg/L or μg/mL. Creatinine is measured in mg/dL or μmol/L.
- Divide your urine albumin by your urine creatinine using the same units.
For example, if your albumin was 30 mg/L and your creatinine was 100 mg/dL (0.1 g/dL), you would calculate:
ACR = 30 mg/L ÷ 0.1 g/dL = 300 mg/g check
Albumin Creatinine Ratio (ACR) = Albumin in mg/dL / Creatinine in g/dL
Interpret your ACR result:
- Under 30 mg/g is considered normal or only mildly elevated
- Between 30-300 mg/g indicates moderately increased albumin levels
- Over 300 mg/g is severely increased and may signify kidney disease
The higher your ACR, the more albumin is spilling into your urine. This can be a sign of kidney damage allowing albumin to leak through.