Background: It is thought that using a spot urine is more appropriate for microalbuminuria screening than 24 hours timed urine specimens due to collection and standardization difficulties. In this study, we examined the availability of spot urine as a screening test for the detection of microalbuminuria.

Material and Methods: The data of 39 adult patients with microalbuminuria albumine and creatinine levels determined in a randomised spot urine specimens in the same day drawn from the our hospital's laboratory information system were retrospectively analyzed. Spot urine albumine results and calculated albumine-creatinine ratios were compared with 24 hours timed urine albumine results.

Results: Statistically, significant, moderate and positive correlation was determined between 24 hours timed urine results and spot urine albumine results expressed as mg/mmol and mg/gr of calculated albumine-creatinine ratios. The highest diagnostic sensitivity is mg/mmol of calculated albuminecreatinine ratio (69.2%). Significant relation was determined between 24 hours timed urine results and mg/mmol of calculated albumine-creatinine ratios (p=0.014).

Conclusions: Using a spot urine is very important for microalbuminuria screening since 24 hours timed urine collection and standardisation are difficult. However spot urine collection, measurement methods of albumine and creatinine and evaluation of results should be standardized.