Question

A nurse is collecting a urine specimen prior to measuring the albumin level in a client’s urine. A colleague states, "I thought albumin was related to liver function, not the kidney." How can the nurse best respond to this statement?

Answer 1

Albumin levels in the urine are used for diagnosing diabetic kidney disease

Step-by-step explanation:

The kidneys are a very important organ in the body. They filter waste products out of the blood stream and build up urine which is stored in the bladder.

However, in some instances, the kidneys function incorrectly. This means that they sometimes allow other substances (which are often important to the body) to be released into the bladder to be excreted. One such substance is known as albumin. Albumin is a protein made by the liver, and while the colleague is correct in saying that albumin is related to the liver, and not the kidneys, if albumin is present in the urine, then it can be used to diagnose a kidney disease known as Diabetic Kidney Disease.