What is my UACR?
Enter the urine albumin and urine creatinine from one sample to see the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR, often just called ACR) and its KDIGO albuminuria category. For information only. This is not medical advice or a diagnosis. Do not use it to make treatment decisions without a clinician. No licensed clinician has reviewed this page.
- KDIGO albuminuria category
- A1: under 30 mg/g
Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio: 15.0 mg/g (1.7 mg/mmol), A1: under 30 mg/g.
- UACR (mg/g)
- 15.0
- UACR (mg/mmol)
- 1.7
KDIGO albuminuria category: A1: under 30 mg/g. Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio: 15.0 mg/g (1.7 mg/mmol), A1: under 30 mg/g.
UACR (mg/g)
This calculator gives general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor or other health care provider. Talk with a professional about your results. Terms of use
How to calculate
Divides urine albumin by urine creatinine to give the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in mg/g and mg/mmol, and places it in the KDIGO albuminuria categories A1 to A3.
Example with the default inputs (Units mg/dL and mg/dL, Urine albumin (mg/dL) 1.5, Urine creatinine (mg/dL) 100): Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio: 15.0 mg/g (1.7 mg/mmol), A1: under 30 mg/g.
Method: UACR (mg/g) = urine albumin (mg/dL) ÷ urine creatinine (mg/dL) × 1,000, or albumin (mg/L) ÷ creatinine (mg/dL) × 100; in SI units, UACR (mg/mmol) = albumin (mg/L) ÷ creatinine (mmol/L). Rounded once to 1 decimal, halves up; the category reads the rounded ratio in the unit typed. mg/mmol = mg/g × 0.113.
- Albumin and creatinine are measured in the same urine sample; an early morning sample is preferred (KDIGO 2012).
- The other unit uses the KDIGO factor 0.113 mg/mmol per mg/g, so the two categories can differ near a cut-off.
- One raised result is not a diagnosis: kidney damage needs a raised result that lasts more than 3 months.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Units mg/dL and mg/dL, Urine albumin (mg/dL) 1.5, Urine creatinine (mg/dL) 100 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A1: under 30 mg/g, UACR (mg/g) 15.0, UACR (mg/mmol) 1.7.Source: KDIGO 2012 CKD guideline, Chapter 1 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4089693/)
- Units mg/dL and mg/dL, Urine albumin (mg/dL) 6, Urine creatinine (mg/dL) 120 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A2: 30 to 300 mg/g, moderately increased, UACR (mg/g) 50.0, UACR (mg/mmol) 5.7.
- Units mg/dL and mg/dL, Urine albumin (mg/dL) 3, Urine creatinine (mg/dL) 100 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A2: 30 to 300 mg/g, moderately increased, UACR (mg/g) 30.0, UACR (mg/mmol) 3.4.
- Units mg/dL and mg/dL, Urine albumin (mg/dL) 30, Urine creatinine (mg/dL) 100 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A2: 30 to 300 mg/g, moderately increased, UACR (mg/g) 300.0, UACR (mg/mmol) 33.9.
- Units mg/L and mg/dL, Urine albumin (mg/L) 450, Urine creatinine (mg/dL) 75 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A3: over 300 mg/g, severely increased, UACR (mg/g) 600.0, UACR (mg/mmol) 67.8.
- Units SI (mg/L, mmol/L), Urine albumin (mg/L) 25, Urine creatinine (mmol/L) 8 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A2: 3 to 30 mg/mmol, moderately increased, UACR (mg/g) 27.7, UACR (mg/mmol) 3.1.
- Units SI (mg/L, mmol/L), Urine albumin (mg/L) 5, Urine creatinine (mmol/L) 10 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A1: under 3 mg/mmol, UACR (mg/g) 4.4, UACR (mg/mmol) 0.5.
- Units mg/dL and mg/dL, Urine albumin (mg/dL) 30.005, Urine creatinine (mg/dL) 100 gives KDIGO albuminuria category A3: over 300 mg/g, severely increased, UACR (mg/g) 300.1, UACR (mg/mmol) 33.9.
Medical disclaimer
This calculator is for information and education only. It is not medical advice, and its result is not a diagnosis. Do not use it to start, stop, or change a treatment without a clinician who knows your health history. No licensed clinician has reviewed this page. This site's editors checked the formulas and worked examples against published sources. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number.
When this does not apply. The categories are the KDIGO 2012 chronic kidney disease albuminuria categories for adults; KDIGO says children older than 2 can use the adult categories, with caveats, and gives further caveats for children under 2. One result is not a diagnosis: CKD needs signs of kidney damage that last more than 3 months, and KDIGO notes that a raised ratio can be short-lived, and that exercise, fever, and posture can change it. The ratio depends on how much creatinine a person makes, so the same cut-off can read differently in people with little or much muscle. Albumin outside 0 to 1,000 mg/dL (0 to 10,000 mg/L) or creatinine outside 1 to 1,000 mg/dL (0.1 to 90 mmol/L) gives no answer.
How it works
UACR is mg of albumin per g of creatinine (NIDDK; National Kidney Foundation), or mg per mmol in SI units. From the values typed:
| Units chosen | Ratio worked out |
|---|---|
| mg/dL and mg/dL | UACR (mg/g) = albumin (mg/dL) ÷ creatinine (mg/dL) × 1,000 |
| mg/L and mg/dL | UACR (mg/g) = albumin (mg/L) ÷ creatinine (mg/dL) × 100 |
| SI (mg/L, mmol/L) | UACR (mg/mmol) = albumin (mg/L) ÷ creatinine (mmol/L) |
The × 1,000 turns mg/dL of creatinine into g/dL; 10 mg/L of albumin is 1 mg/dL, so mg/L takes × 100. The other unit uses the KDIGO 2012 factor: mg/mmol = mg/g × 0.113, and mg/g = mg/mmol ÷ 0.113.
The page works with the exact typed values and rounds each ratio once to 1 decimal (halves up). The category reads the rounded ratio in the unit typed (mg/g for the first two options, mg/mmol for SI):
| Category | mg/g | mg/mmol | Page text |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | under 30 | under 3 | "A1: under 30 mg/g" or "A1: under 3 mg/mmol" |
| A2 | 30 to 300 | 3 to 30 | "A2: 30 to 300 mg/g, moderately increased" or "A2: 3 to 30 mg/mmol, moderately increased" |
| A3 | over 300 | over 30 | "A3: over 300 mg/g, severely increased" or "A3: over 30 mg/mmol, severely increased" |
KDIGO 2012 calls 30 mg/g (3 mg/mmol) or more increased, and A3 over 300 mg/g (over 30 mg/mmol); so 30 and 300 mg/g are both A2, and 3 and 30 mg/mmol are both A2. The names "moderately increased" and "severely increased" are the National Kidney Foundation's. Because KDIGO rounds 3.4 mg/mmol down to 3, a ratio near a cut-off can be in different categories in the two units: 3.1 mg/mmol (SI) is A2, though it is 27.7 mg/g.
Allowed input. Albumin 0 to 1,000 mg/dL or 0 to 10,000 mg/L; creatinine 1 to 1,000 mg/dL or 0.1 to 90 mmol/L. An empty box for the option chosen gives no answer.
Assumptions
- Albumin and creatinine come from the same urine sample. KDIGO 2012 prefers an early morning sample and confirms a raised random result with one.
- The results are for education. They are not medical advice.
Worked examples by hand
1.5 mg/dL albumin, 100 mg/dL creatinine (the page default). 1.5 ÷ 100 × 1,000 = 15.0 mg/g, A1. 15 × 0.113 = 1.695, shown as 1.7 mg/mmol.
6 mg/dL, 120 mg/dL. 6 ÷ 120 × 1,000 = 50.0 mg/g, A2. 50 × 0.113 = 5.65, shown as 5.7 mg/mmol (halves up).
3 mg/dL, 100 mg/dL. 30.0 mg/g, the lowest A2 value. 30 × 0.113 = 3.39, shown as 3.4 mg/mmol.
30 mg/dL, 100 mg/dL. 300.0 mg/g. A3 is over 300, so this is A2. 300 × 0.113 = 33.9 mg/mmol.
450 mg/L albumin, 75 mg/dL creatinine. 450 ÷ 75 × 100 = 600.0 mg/g, A3. 600 × 0.113 = 67.8 mg/mmol.
SI: 25 mg/L albumin, 8 mmol/L creatinine. 25 ÷ 8 = 3.125, shown as 3.1 mg/mmol, A2 (3 to 30). 3.125 ÷ 0.113 = 27.65, shown as 27.7 mg/g.
SI: 5 mg/L, 10 mmol/L. 5 ÷ 10 = 0.5 mg/mmol, A1. 0.5 ÷ 0.113 = 4.42, shown as 4.4 mg/g.
30.005 mg/dL, 100 mg/dL. 30.005 ÷ 100 × 1,000 = 300.05, an exact half, shown as 300.1 mg/g. The category reads the shown value: A3. 300.05 × 0.113 = 33.906, shown as 33.9 mg/mmol.
Other questions people ask
How is UACR calculated?
Divide the urine albumin in mg by the urine creatinine in g, both from the same sample. With both in mg/dL: albumin ÷ creatinine × 1,000. For 6 mg/dL of albumin and 120 mg/dL of creatinine: 6 ÷ 120 × 1,000 = 50 mg/g. In SI units the ratio is albumin (mg/L) ÷ creatinine (mmol/L), in mg/mmol.
What is a normal UACR?
Under 30 mg/g (under 3 mg/mmol), the KDIGO category A1. KDIGO 2012 calls 30 mg/g or more increased, about 3 times the normal value, and links it to a higher risk of complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
What do A1, A2, and A3 mean?
They are the KDIGO 2012 albuminuria categories. A1 is under 30 mg/g; A2 is 30 to 300 mg/g, which the National Kidney Foundation calls moderately increased albuminuria (once called microalbuminuria); A3 is over 300 mg/g, severely increased (once called macroalbuminuria). In mg/mmol the cut-offs are 3 and 30.
Does one high UACR mean kidney disease?
No. KDIGO 2012 defines CKD by kidney damage that lasts more than 3 months, and says a raised ratio can be short-lived and caused by other things. A raised result on a random sample is confirmed with an early morning sample; the National Kidney Foundation describes kidney damage as two positive tests over 3 or more months.
How do I convert mg/g to mg/mmol?
Multiply by 0.113, the factor KDIGO 2012 gives. So 30 mg/g is about 3.4 mg/mmol. KDIGO rounds the SI cut-off to 3 mg/mmol, so a ratio near a cut-off can fall in different categories in the two units. This page uses the cut-offs of the unit you typed.
My lab reports albumin in mg/L or µg/mL. Which option do I pick?
mg/L and µg/mL are the same. Pick "mg/L and mg/dL" if creatinine is in mg/dL, or "SI" if creatinine is in mmol/L. 10 mg/L of albumin is 1 mg/dL.
Why use a ratio rather than the albumin alone?
Urine can be dilute or concentrated. Dividing by creatinine corrects for that, so a spot sample stands in for a 24-hour collection: NIDDK notes that UACR in mg/g is about the albumin excreted in mg per day.