Test ID: RBP24
Retinol-Binding Protein, 24 Hour, Urine

Assessing renal tubular injury or dysfunction

Screening for other tubular abnormalities

Detecting chronic asymptomatic renal tubular dysfunction (2)

• Urine Preservatives

Immunonephelometry

Container/Tube: Plastic, 6-mL tube (Supply T465)

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect urine for 24 hours.

2. No preservative.

3. Mix well before taking 5-mL aliquot.

Additional Information:

1. 24-Hour volume is required.

2. See Urine Preservatives in Special Instructions for multiple collections.

Urine Preservative Collection Options

Retinol-binding protein is a low-molecular-weight protein of 21 kDa that transports retinol (vitamin A alcohol) from the liver to peripheral tissues.(1) Retinol-binding protein is most often found bound to transthyretin, but a small, unbound fraction (<10%) passes freely through glomerular membranes and is reabsorbed by renal proximal tubules cells where it is catabolized. Due to extensive tubular reabsorption, under normal conditions very little of the filtered retinol-binding protein appears in the final excreted urine. Therefore, an increase in the urinary excretion of retinol-binding protein indicates proximal tubule injury and/or impaired proximal tubular function.(1) Measurement of retinol-binding protein in urine is, therefore, a useful aid in the monitoring and/or diagnosis of kidney disease.

Elevated excretion rates can indicate tubular damage associated with renal tubulointerstitial nephritis or tubular toxicity from heavy metal or nephrotoxic drug exposure. Glomerulonephropathies and renal vasculopathies also are often associated with coexisting tubular injury and so may result in elevated retinol-binding protein excretion. Measurement of urinary excretion of alpha-1-microglobulin, another low-molecular-weight protein, is an alternative to the measurement of retinol-binding protein. To date, there are no convincing studies to indicate that one test has better clinical utility than the other.

Urinary excretion of retinol-binding protein can be determined from either a 24-hour collection or from a random urine collection. The 24-hour collection is traditionally considered the gold standard. For random or spot collections, the concentration of retinol-binding protein is divided by the urinary creatinine concentration. This corrected value adjusts retinol-binding protein for variabilities in urine concentration.

<163 mcg/24 hours

Retinol-binding protein above the reference values may be indicative of a proximal tubular dysfunction.

Since this is a nephelometric assay, turbidity and particles (eg, cells, crystals) in the specimen can interfere with the test. Therefore, all urine specimens should be centrifuged at ambient temperature prior to assay.

1. Kirsztajn GM, Nishida SK, Silva MS, et al:  Urinary retinol-binding protein as a prognostic marker in glomerulopathies. Nephron 2002 Apr;90(4):424-431

2, Norden AG, Scheinman SJ, Deschodt-Lanckman MM, et al: Tubular proteinuria defined by a study of Dent's (CLCN5 mutation) and other tubular diseases. Kidney Int 2000 Jan;57(1):240-249

In an immunochemical reaction, urinary retinol-binding protein forms immune complexes with anti-retinol-binding protein-specific antibodies coated onto polystyrene latex particles. The resulting latex bead-antigen-antibody complexes have enhanced light-scattering ability, which is detected with a nephelometer when a beam of light is passed through the sample. The intensity of the scattered light is proportional to the concentration of retinol-binding protein in the sample. The result is evaluated by comparison with a standard of known retinol-binding protein concentration. (Package insert: Binding Site Human Urine Retinol Binding Protein Nephelometric Kit for use on the Dade-Behring BNII Analyzer)

Varies; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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