Home › Biomarkers › Urine protein
Urine protein measures how much protein is in your urine. Normally that is very little. A large amount can point to a problem with your kidneys.[1]
On this page you can read what urine protein is, what the guidelines say about a value that is too low or too high, what affects your value and which other values are best read alongside it.
Also known as: urine protein, total protein in urine, protein by urine dipstick. At the lab: USTX.
Proteins are large molecules your body needs to work properly. They give you energy, help rebuild your muscles and support your immune system. You find protein in every part of your body, including your blood.[1]
Your kidneys filter extra water and waste from your blood and turn it into urine. Tiny filters in your kidneys hold back the large proteins, so they do not leave your body through your urine.[1]
If your kidneys are not working properly, protein can leak into your urine. The test measures how much protein is in your urine and is often part of a broader urine test.[1]
With some kidney conditions, you notice nothing for a long time. Symptoms sometimes only appear late, such as tiredness, swollen hands and feet or foamy urine.[1]
Protein in your urine can be an early sign of a problem with your kidneys, even before you have symptoms. This means the test can help find kidney damage early.[1]
Your chance of a kidney condition is higher if it runs in your family, if you have high blood pressure or if you have a heart condition. Discuss your risk with your healthcare provider.[1]
The lab (Labplusarts) gives no numerical limit for urine protein: it is a qualitative test. The lab calls a value within the limits normal.[2]
| Result | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Negative[1] | Your urine did not contain too much protein at the time of the test | Everyone who takes the test |
| High once[1] | Not always a medical problem; can also be briefly high due to exercise, too little fluid, diet, stress or pregnancy | Everyone who takes the test |
| Persistently high[1] | Can point to a kidney condition or kidney damage; more tests needed | Anyone whose level stays high on repeated tests |
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. General explanation of the result for adults, without numerical cut-offs.[1]
Normally there is very little protein in your urine. If your result is negative, your urine did not contain too much protein at the time of the test.[1]
A lot of protein in your urine does not always mean there is a medical problem. Your healthcare provider may have your urine tested again later. If your level stays high, it can point to a kidney condition. The more protein there is, the more damage to your kidneys there may be. Finding the cause takes more tests.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
After strenuous exercise or if your body has too little fluid, your value can be briefly high.[1]
Your diet, stress and pregnancy can also briefly raise your value.[1]
Some medicines, including those without a prescription, can damage your kidneys. Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and naproxen can do this if you take them for a long time. Talk about it with your healthcare provider.[1]
The amount of protein in your urine can vary over the day. That is why a healthcare provider sometimes asks you to collect all your urine over 24 hours.[1]
Urine protein is included in BioProfile 77, 98, 121 and 150.[3]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 9 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 9 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to review this page; after that review, the expert's name and the date of the review will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal value with your GP.
