What is an abnormal protein value in urine?

An abnormal protein value in urine occurs when the concentration of protein exceeds normal levels, indicating a potential health issue, such as kidney disease or systemic conditions affecting renal function. The presence of protein can be quantified in a urine test; values greater than trace amounts indicate increasing severity.

Specifically, a urine protein level of trace to greater than 4+ signifies a significant deviation from normal and indicates that proteinuria is present. Normal urine should exhibit either no detectable protein or a very minimal trace, which means there should be little to no protein in a healthy individual's urine.

When interpreting urine tests, any result indicating protein levels above trace suggests that further investigation is necessary to determine the underlying cause, making this value distinctly abnormal when compared to typical norms.