Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR)
- SampleUrine sample
- FastingNot needed
- Cash price$55 to $94
A urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) test checks your urine for albumin, a protein that can leak into urine when the kidneys are damaged. It is used to screen for early kidney disease in people at higher risk, including people with diabetes (MedlinePlus). The American Diabetes Association recommends it at least yearly for everyone with type 2 diabetes (ADA Standards of Care 2026, Section 11, recommendation 11.1a). It uses a urine sample, not blood. Cash prices ran $55 to $94 as of September 23, 2026.
What does a UACR test measure?
Albumin is a common protein in the blood, not a waste product. In healthy kidneys, only a trace of it gets through the filters into urine. When kidneys are damaged, more albumin can pass into urine. The test compares albumin in a urine sample with creatinine, a waste product the kidneys usually remove at a steady rate. That ratio helps show whether the body is losing albumin faster than normal (MedlinePlus).
You may see it called a microalbumin test, a microalbumin creatinine ratio, an ACR, or a urine albumin test (MedlinePlus).
Why is a UACR test ordered in the GLP-1 context?
It depends on whether the person has diabetes:
- People with diabetes. The ADA lists a spot urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio in the initial evaluation and annual follow-up for people with diabetes (ADA Standards of Care 2026, Section 4, Table 4.1). It recommends checking UACR and eGFR at least once a year in all people with type 2 diabetes, whatever their treatment (ADA Standards of Care 2026, Section 11, recommendation 11.1a). Some GLP-1 medications are prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, so this test often shows up on their lab lists.
- People without diabetes. Neither the drug labels nor the guidelines we cite list UACR as a routine test before starting a GLP-1 for weight management. The prescriber decides whether it is needed.
The drug labels discuss kidney function in a different way. They report acute kidney injury in some patients after vomiting, diarrhea, or other dehydrating side effects, and say to monitor kidney function in those patients (Wegovy prescribing information, section 5.5) (Zepbound prescribing information, section 5.3). Blood tests such as creatinine, part of a comprehensive metabolic panel, check kidney health from the blood side (MedlinePlus). The UACR looks at the urine side.
How do I prepare for a UACR test?
Fasting is not needed. MedlinePlus says to avoid intense exercise and meat for a day before the test, because both can temporarily change results, and to tell your provider about any medicines you take (MedlinePlus). The lab may ask for a random sample or an early morning sample. Follow the instructions from whoever orders the test.
How much does a UACR test cost without insurance?
| Where | Test price | Required fee | Total | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-In Lab | $49 | $6 | $55 | View at Walk-In Lab |
| Personalabs | $94 | None listed | $94 | View at Personalabs |
| Private MD Labs | $62 | None listed | $62 | View at Private MD Labs |
Prices last checked September 23, 2026 on each company's own website. Prices change often, and sales come and go, so confirm the price at checkout. "All five" is the five tests ordered separately in one order, including one required fee. Not checked: Labcorp OnDemand (site unavailable on the check date). HealthLabs.com sells a "Random Microalbumin" urine test ($59), but its page does not say whether it includes the creatinine ratio, so it is not listed. Quest's consumer site offers kidney testing only inside larger kidney profile bundles.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a UACR test a blood test?
- No. It uses a urine sample, usually a random or early morning sample. The ADA pairs it with eGFR, a kidney measure calculated from a blood test such as a metabolic panel.
- Does everyone starting a GLP-1 need a UACR test?
- No. The ADA recommends it at least once a year for all people with type 2 diabetes, and lists it in the initial evaluation for people with diabetes. For others, the prescriber decides whether it is needed.
- How do I prepare for a UACR test?
- MedlinePlus says to avoid intense exercise and meat for a day before the test, since both can temporarily affect results, and to tell your provider about any medicines you take. Fasting is not required.
- How much does a UACR test cost without insurance?
- Among the online providers we checked that sell it as a standalone test, a UACR cost between $55 and $94 including any required fee. See the dated price table on this page.
Sources
- Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Checked September 23, 2026.
- 4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026 (Table 4.1). American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Care 2026;49(Suppl 1):S61 to S88. Checked September 23, 2026.
- 11. Chronic Kidney Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026. American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Care 2026;49(Suppl 1). Checked September 23, 2026.
- WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets, Prescribing Information (revised 06/2026). Novo Nordisk / U.S. FDA. Checked September 23, 2026.
- ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) injection, Prescribing Information (revised 08/2026). Eli Lilly / U.S. FDA. Checked September 23, 2026.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP). MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Checked September 23, 2026.