Iranian Journal of

 Background: Microalbominuria (MA) is early presentation of renal damage which acts as an independent factor of cardiovascular events in these patients. There are various methods for sampling and also different laboratory tests to measuring albominuria. The aim of this study was to compare of different urine collection methods for measuring albominuria using immunoturbidometry assay which has acceptable accuracy and sensitivity after HPLC (High Performance Lipid Chromathography).

Methods: Forty seven diabetic patients were selected for a cross-sectional study in 2006. For all patients 24-h urine sample were collected, also an overnight urine sample (8 hour long) and spot urine sample (morning time) was provided in the next day. The level of albumin in all samples were measured via immunoturbidometry assay. Then the results of agreement coefficient were accounted and comprised with each others.

Results: In this study 47 patients were selected which 46 of them were type 2 and one of them type 1 diabetic. Our results revealed significant correlation between all methods. In addition agreement coefficient (kappa) was accounted for all methods, time 24-h urine in comparison with 8 hours overnight urine, timed 24-h urine in comparison with spot urine and overnight urine samples in comparison with spot urine which were 0.876, 0.936 and 0.807 respectively.

Conclusion: Regarding significant agreement for screening of microalbominuria between different collecting methods, we suggest 8-h overnight or spot urine sampling carry out instead of 24-h urine collection.