Citrate Test: Booking, Price, and Results
About Citrate Test
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Urinary Citrate Test, Citric Acid Urine Test, 24-Hour Urine Citrate, Urine Citrate Excretion |
| Sample Type | Urine (24-hour collection) |
| Fasting Required | No, maintain your normal diet during the collection period |
| Report Time | 3 days |
| Recommended For | All genders and ages; commonly ordered for adults with recurrent kidney stones |
| Price | Starting at ₹700 |
What Is a Citrate Test?
The citrate test measures the amount of citrate excreted in urine over a 24-hour period. Citrate is a naturally occurring substance that helps prevent kidney stones from forming. Doctors order this test to understand why stones keep recurring and to monitor the response to treatment. It is also known as the urinary citrate test or the citric acid urine test, and uses a urine sample rather than blood.
What Does a Citrate Test Measure?
This test analyses a single key marker in your urine. The table below explains what it is and why it matters.
| Parameter | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Urinary citrate | The amount of citrate your kidneys release into urine each day |
Citrate binds to calcium in urine and stops calcium crystals from forming. When citrate levels are too low, the risk of calcium-based kidney stones increases. The test also acts as an indicator of how acidic your urine is, since low citrate often goes hand in hand with high urine acidity.
Why Is a Citrate Test Done?
A citrate test is ordered when a doctor wants to understand the cause of kidney stones or to check how well treatment is working.
Common Symptoms That May Require This Test
Your doctor may request this test if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Sharp pain in your lower back, side, or belly (flank pain)
- Pain that spreads towards the groin
- Nausea or vomiting alongside pain episodes
- Blood in the urine
- Pain or burning when passing urine
Conditions This Test Can Help Detect
The urinary citrate test can help identify several underlying conditions. These include:
- Hypocitraturia (abnormally low citrate in urine), a common and treatable cause of kidney stones
- Metabolic acidosis, where the body has too much acid, including renal tubular acidosis (a condition where the kidneys cannot properly balance acid levels)
- Low potassium (hypokalaemia) or low magnesium (hypomagnesaemia), both of which reduce urinary citrate
- Idiopathic calcium urolithiasis (calcium kidney stones with no identified cause)
- Enteric hyperoxaluria, where the bowel absorbs excess oxalate
Citrate Test for Chronic Disease Monitoring
The citric acid urine test is used to track treatment progress in people with calcium kidney stones or renal tubular acidosis. Urine citrate levels are typically checked at two to three months after starting therapy to help fine-tune the dose. Once levels are stable, repeat testing is usually carried out every four to six months and then annually.
How to Prepare and What to Expect
Understanding the collection process in advance makes it much easier. Here is what you need to know.
Do You Need to Fast?
No. Fasting is not required for this test. You should continue eating and drinking normally throughout the 24-hour collection period, as results reflect your typical daily diet.
Practical Tips Before Your Test
A few simple steps will help ensure an accurate result:
- Bring a detailed clinical history including your symptoms, previous test results, and any relevant medical records, as this is required for the test.
- Tell your doctor about all medications you take, particularly thiazide diuretics, topiramate, acetazolamide, or laxatives, as these can affect your result.
- Avoid laxatives for at least 24 hours before starting the collection.
- Keep the collection container refrigerated throughout the process.
- Stay well hydrated with your usual fluid intake.
Step-by-Step Procedure
The citrate test procedure involves collecting all the urine you produce over a full 24-hour period. Follow these steps carefully:
- On the morning you begin, discard your very first urine of the day and note the time.
- For the next 24 hours, collect every pass of urine in the sterile container provided.
- Keep the container in the refrigerator between collections to preserve the sample.
- The following morning, collect your first urine of the day to complete the 24-hour period.
- Write the total volume and collection times on the container label as instructed.
- Hand over the sample to your Lupin Diagnostics collection point or phlebotomist promptly.
Factors That Can Affect Accuracy
Several factors can influence your result. Let your doctor know about any of the following:
- Certain medications (thiazides, topiramate, acetazolamide) that alter urine or blood pH
- An incomplete 24-hour collection (missing one or more passes of urine)
- A diet very high in animal protein or very low in fruit and vegetables
- Low potassium or magnesium levels in the body
- Dehydration or unusually high fluid intake
Understanding Your Citrate Test Results
Results should always be reviewed alongside your clinical history and other investigations. The table below shows the reference ranges used as general guides.
| Parameter | Normal Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 24-hour urinary citrate | 320 to 1,240 | mg/24 hours |
| Hypocitraturia threshold | Below 320 | mg/24 hours |
| Mean excretion (healthy adults) | With an average of 640 | mg/day |
| Children (5 to 18 years) citrate/creatinine ratio | 0.176 or above | mg citrate/mg creatinine |
These ranges are general guidelines. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your age, health history, and other factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical advice.
Results During Special Conditions
Certain conditions and medications can change your result significantly. Metabolic acidosis, hypokalaemia (low potassium), and hypomagnesaemia (low magnesium) all reduce the amount of citrate your kidneys put into urine. This can produce a low reading even if your kidney stone risk has not changed. Conditions such as distal renal tubular acidosis, chronic diarrhoea, and a ketogenic diet are also commonly linked with low citrate values.
How to Maintain Healthy Levels
These general lifestyle tips support normal urinary citrate levels:
- Aim to drink enough fluid to produce at least 2 litres of urine each day.
- Include citrus fruits, particularly lemons, in your diet. Lemon juice is a naturally rich source of citrate and can help raise excretion levels.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to support adequate potassium and magnesium intake.
Lupin Diagnostics Citrate Price and Home Collection
The citrate test is available at Lupin Diagnostics starting at ₹700, with home sample collection available across cities. The table below shows approximate prices by city.
| City | Approximate Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| BHOPAL | 700 |
| CHENNAI | 700 |
| HYDERABAD | 700 |
| KOLKATA | 700 |
| NAVI MUMBAI | 700 |
| PUNE | 700 |
Prices are indicative and may vary by location. Please confirm the current price at the time of booking.
How to Book
Booking your citrate test online is straightforward:
- Select the test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
- Choose your city and preferred time slot.
- Opt for home sample collection by a certified phlebotomist, or visit your nearest Lupin Diagnostics centre.
- Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within the stipulated turnaround time.
Home Collection
Citrate test home collection is available across cities. A trained phlebotomist will visit your home, provide the sterile collection container, and walk you through the 24-hour urine collection steps. Your sample is then processed in a NABL-accredited Lupin Diagnostics laboratory, and your digital report is delivered to you once ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
The citrate test measures how much citrate your kidneys release into urine over 24 hours. It is mainly used to investigate recurrent kidney stones and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for related metabolic conditions.
Citrate binds to calcium in urine and stops calcium crystals from clumping together into stones. When citrate levels are low, this protective effect is reduced and the risk of calcium-based kidney stones increases.
A low result (below 320 mg per 24 hours) suggests hypocitraturia, which raises the risk of new or growing kidney stones. Very low levels (below 150 mg per 24 hours) may prompt your doctor to investigate conditions such as renal tubular acidosis. Your doctor will advise on next steps.
Yes. A diet rich in animal protein or low in fruits and vegetables can reduce urinary citrate. Conversely, increasing citrus fruit intake and overall fluid consumption can raise citrate levels. This is why the test is done on a normal, everyday diet rather than a special one.
You collect every pass of urine over a full 24-hour period in a provided sterile container. The first urine of the morning is discarded, and the collection ends with the first urine the following morning. The container must be kept refrigerated throughout.
During active treatment for kidney stones or renal tubular acidosis, repeat testing is typically done at two to three months to assess the response, then every four to six months, and annually once stable. Your doctor will set the right schedule for your situation.
Yes. You can complete the citrate test online booking through the Lupin Diagnostics website. A phlebotomist will visit your home with the collection container and guide you through the process. Your sample is refrigerated and sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Citrate Test: Booking, Price, and Results
