Random urine albumin:creatinine ratio measurements as a screening test for diabetic microalbuminuria--a five year follow up.

UNLABELLED: Serial random urine samples have been collected from 167 insulin treated diabetic patients attending the Waikato diabetes clinic from 1984 to 1989 and albumin/creatinine ratios measured as a screening test for diabetic microalbuminuria. The group ranged in age from 12 to 50 years and comprised 79 males and 88 females. Where the initial test was normal (less than 2.5), as found in 117 patients, 86.7% of all tests over the five year period (1032) remained normal. Of 50 patients with an initial elevated value, 39% of a total of 575 values taken over the five year period were subsequently normal. CONCLUSION: a random urine albumin measurement taken at yearly intervals is an adequate screening programme for patients with an initial normal value.