Can I Take The Test At Home
Very few options exist for a complete renal panel test that can be taken with an at-home test kit. Some at-home kidney tests involve taking a fingerstick blood sample at home and sending it to a lab for analysis, but these tests do not include all of the same measurements that are included in a typical renal panel test.
How Is The Sample Collected For Testing
A blood sample taken by a needle placed in a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch. The blood sample is collected in a tube, which is sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Vital Tests That Help Diagnose Ckd
Properly functioning kidneys clean up wastes and remove extra fluids from the blood. Conducting blood and urine tests help gauge how well your kidneys are filtering out wastes from your body.
Below are the common chronic kidney disease lab tests performed to assess kidney function .
Blood tests
1. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate – This test measures the rate of blood flow through the kidneys. You may look at this number as the percentage of your kidney function. eGFR is also used to identify which stage of CKD you may be in.
Below are the eGFR values based on every CKD stage:
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CKD STAGE |
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Stage 5 |
below 15 |
The eGFR is calculated from the serum creatinine level in your blood .
Standard eGFR can differ based on age. It decreases as people get older, even in people without kidney disease. The normal eGFR number for adults is 90 or higher. The chart below shows the average eGFR numbers per age range according to the National Kidney Foundation:
A filtration rate of 60 and below indicates that the kidneys are not working well. If a persons eGFR approaches 15 and lower, he must start looking for renal replacement therapy to replace the blood-filtering function of his kidneys. Treatments under RRT include kidney transplant and dialysis .
Most people with kidney disease develop anemia during the early stage of CKD. Anemia may worsen as kidney disease progresses and when the kidneys can no longer produce the hormone erythropoietin .
Urine tests
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A More Complete Picture To Help Patients Slow Ckd Progression
Once CKD is detected, you can help your patients slow disease progression. This includes better management of the chronic conditions that contribute to CKD lifestyle changes such as physical activity and a lower-protein diet and the avoidance of some medication where indicated. Quest offers testing solutions that can help, every step of the way.
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Contact our clinical education team |
What Are The Different Types Of Kidney Test
Your kidney function test will include a set of tests that will estimate your GFR or glomerular filtration test.
- Urinalysis: This kidney test tests for protein and blood in the urine.
- Serum creatinine test: This kidney blood test examines if creatinine is building up in your blood.
- Blood Urea nitrogen : This kidney blood test checks for waste products in your blood.
- Estimated GFR: Various factors are looked to see how well your kidneys are at filtering waste.
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Questions For Your Doctor About Test Results
When your test results are ready, you can learn more about their significance by discussing them with your doctor. Some questions that you can ask include:
- Were there any abnormal findings on my renal panel test? If so, what were they?
- For any abnormal findings, can you explain what might be the cause?
- Are there any follow-up tests that are warranted based on my renal panel test?
- Should I take this test again? If so, when?
Who Should Get The Kidney Profile
The people for whom CKD testing is recommended havent changedtheyre the same individuals who should have been getting annual kidney screenings all along. This includes people in specific high-risk groups for CKD, such as
- Anyone who is age 60 or older.
- Adults with diabetes and/or high blood pressurechronic conditions that increase risk for CKD.
- Adults of certain racial or ethnic backgrounds, including those of African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
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Reporting That Makes Detection And Referral Easier
Beyond testing, Quest provides access to clinical algorithms and other educational resources, as well as advanced expertise on kidney health, to help you navigate care along the complex cardiometabolic continuum.
With the Kidney Profile, you and your patients also benefit from a comprehensive results report. It maps follow-up testing frequency according to National Kidney Foundation recommendations.
Frequency of monitoring CKD based on risk of disease progression assessed using eGFR and uACR6,7
ACR, albumin-creatinine ratio eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate C, confirm using eGFR based on cystatin C or creatinine plus cystatin C R, refer to specialist This figure was adapted from references 6 and 7, and is provided for informational purposes only as a guide for using laboratory tests, and is not intended as medical advice. A physicians test selection and interpretation, diagnosis, and patient management decisions should be based on his/her education, clinical expertise, and assessment of the patient.
How Is A Renal Panel Test Different From A Creatinine Clearance Test
A creatinine clearance test includes both a blood and urine sample. The amount of creatinine is measured in each sample, and then the two figures are compared. This comparison provides a method for estimating the glomerular filtration rate and evaluating kidney function.
In contrast, a renal panel uses only a blood sample. While a standard renal panel measures creatinine in the blood, it does not include a urine collection or comparative measurement.
The renal panel also includes a more diverse set of measurements, including proteins, minerals, and electrolytes, than a creatinine clearance test.
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Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate
Normal Lab Value 90-120 ml/minute, 60 ml/minute or less indicates kidney damage may be present
Kidneys can filter up to 150 quarts of blood each day in the body of the average adult. The Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate is a way of estimating the ability of the kidneys to filter blood. Using a formula that includes creatinine level, a lab can estimate the number of liters of blood the kidneys are filtering.
What Is A Kidney Function Test
A kidney function test is a group of laboratory tests that helps detect problems or disorders in the kidneys. One of these tests is the analysis of urine, commonly known as urinalysis. Blood tests that are included in the kidney function test include measuring for creatinine and blood ureanitrogen . There is also the creatinine clearance test, which measures both blood and urine over a given time.
The kidneys are important body organs that eliminate waste from the blood and in the maintain fluid balance inside the body. When the kidneys are not functioning well due to injury or diseases, waste products can build up in the blood. Symptoms may then appear such as abdominal pain on the side of the affected kidney, weakness, swelling of the hands or feet, and shortness of breath. Some patients may not even present with symptoms when kidney disease affects only a small part of one or both kidneys. A nephrologist, doctor who specializes in kidney disorders, usually orders a kidney function test to evaluate and diagnose patients suspected of having kidney problems.
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Kidney Function Test Results
The abnormal results from a kidney function test indicate some form of kidney disorder. However, the KFT test alone can not determine the reason for the problem. Moreover, many a time, you may have an abnormal report due to the problem in some other organs.
However, some of the kidney problems are easily treatable and precautions can prevent some. Few lifestyle changes like higher water intake, lower consumption of salt, giving up on drugs & alcohol & maintaining an active lifestyle can positively impact the kidneys.
What Do Your Kidneys Do
Your kidneys are part of your urinary system. The two kidneys sit in the back of your abdomen just below your ribcage. They help your body filter waste materials and expel them as urine. Your kidneys are also vital for producing:
- Hormones that maintain blood pressure.
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body.
- Vitamin D, which maintains bone and muscle health.
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Tests Included In Kidney Function Test
The main function of the kidneys is to clear waste from our body. Thus kidney function profile includes such tests which are essential to kidney health.
Though the tests included in a kidney function test are not standardized and it may vary from one lab to another. However, certain important parameters are common. These following tests are commonly included:
Assess Kidney Function And Damage In Your At
Traditional serum creatinine testing may only reveal one side of the CKD story. For a more complete picture, guidelines recommend both the eGFR blood test and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio test to assess kidney function and damage.5 This combination enables early detection, essential to managing CKD progression.
The Kidney Profile from Quest includes both tests, enabling earlier detection with just one test code. Quest offers the guideline-based testing you need to help diagnose CKD, manage disease progression, and establish follow-up testing frequency. Youll also know when a referral to a nephrologist is recommended.
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How Is A Renal Panel Test Different From An Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Test
The renal panel is a broader test than an estimated glomerular filtration rate test, and in some cases, a renal panel involves eGFR.
The estimated glomerular filtration rate is a common method of evaluating kidney function. It can be calculated in several different ways and reflects how much blood is being filtered by the kidneys every minute.
The eGFR is usually determined with a mathematical formula based primarily on the amount of creatinine in the blood. Because creatinine is measured in most renal panels, the test report may also list eGFR. However, the renal panel also measures electrolytes, minerals, and other substances that can reflect the status of the kidneys.
Kft Test Cost In India
The KFT test cost in India varies depending on the lab and location. As most labs include different numbers of parameters in kidney function test, so this also becomes a factor for variable cost. However, in general, cost range from Rs 400 to Rs 1100. For example, KFT test cost Rs 780 in Lal path lab whereas it cost Rs 730 in SRL Diagnostics. Some labs also have packages wherein cost of LFT and KFT is combined to provide a discount on both the tests.
However, most of the time a doctor prescribe a number of tests related to different organs in the body. Many of these tests may also be part of some health package which can reduce the cost significantly. Thyrocare Aarogyam packages are one such example which can save a lot of healthcare cost.
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Why Kidney Function Tests Are Performed
Kidney function tests are performed for a variety of reasons, including something as simple as a yearly checkup, or a urinary tract infection is suspected. They may also be performed if an individual is ill and a diagnosis has not been made, as a screening test for a patient planning or recovering from surgery, or as a way to track kidney disease. Urinary tract infections are common after surgery, and some patients experience kidney dysfunction after a procedure, so these tests are frequently performed on patients recovering from surgery.
Kidney function tests are a reliable way of testing the kidneys, but it is important to remember that they can also change dramatically with illness or dehydration. Many individuals can have an acute problem with the kidneys that resolves after receiving fluids or other treatment.
Why Would I Need This Test
Kidney tests are very important for people who have kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. Your doctor might request these tests if:
- they suspect your kidneys are not working properly
- you have kidney disease and your treatment is being monitored
- your doctor is concerned about the levels of potassium or other minerals in your blood
- you are taking medication that might affect your kidneys
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Egfr Uacr And The Natural History Of Dkd
demonstrates the changes in eGFR and UACR with diabetes duration that occur in people with diabetes who are developing nephropathy. Early in the course of diabetes, there is an increase in GFR, termed hyperfiltration, associated with hyperglycemia . After a few years, the GFR starts to decline, although from an elevated level. At about the time the GFR reaches the pre-hyperglycemic level, which appears normal, urine albumin begins to increase . Thus, elevations of urine albumin are often the first clinical sign of DKD. Over subsequent years, as kidney disease progresses and GFR decreases, albuminuria increases. Albuminuria may start decreasing as GFR becomes severely reduced.
Natural history of diabetic nephropathy. Hyperfiltration associated with hyperglycemia may occur in early diabetes. With increasing damage to the kidneys, GFR starts to decline from the elevated hyperfiltration level. As GFR returns to the pre-hyperglycemic level, urine albumin begins to increase. Adapted from ref. .
Why Might I Need A Kidney Function Test
Some conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure , affect how well the kidneys work. If you have one of these conditions, your healthcare provider may use kidney function tests to help monitor these conditions.
You may also need a kidney function test if you have symptoms that indicate possible kidney problems. These symptoms might include:
- Blood in your urine .
- Problems with starting to pee.
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Why Does Kidney Function Matter And What Is The Risk Of The Contrast Material Causing Kidney Damage
For both MRI and CT contrast agents, once injected they are cleared from your body by your kidneys. If your kidney function is below normal then two things happen. First, the contrast agents are cleared more slowly from your body. If kidney function is very poor this prolonged exposure can lead to a change in the injected MRI agents chemical composition and create a small risk of developing NSF. For MRI contrast agents there is no risk of developing the skin disease of concern if the eGFR is > 30. For CT contrast materials, where a larger volume of the contrast agent is used than for MRI, the functioning kidney is exposed to contrast material for a longer time than in people who have completely normal kidneys and can clear it more rapidly. This prolonged exposure is thought to increase the risk of developing kidney damage. The risk is very low, about 1% unless the patients eGFR is < 30, then the risk goes up slightly. Even when kidney damage occurs, it is almost always temporary and will resolve without treatment.
Blood Urea Nitrogen Test
The blood urea nitrogen test checks for other waste products in the blood, such as urea nitrogen.
Urea nitrogen occurs as proteins from food break down, and elevated levels may be a sign that the kidney is not filtering these waste products effectively.
A typical BUN level falls between 7 and 20 milligrams per deciliter. Higher values could be a sign of an underlying condition affecting the kidneys.
With that said, many other things can affect BUN levels, such as medications or antibiotics. A diet that is very high in protein diet may also affect levels.
Doctors will typically compare these results to the results of a creatine test to get a better understanding of how well the kidney is filtering this waste.
Imaging tests may help doctors identify any physical changes to the kidneys, such as injuries or kidney stones.
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Will These Screening Tests Determine Exactly What The Underlying Cause Of The Kidney Disease Is
Occasionally, specific changes in these screening tests will point to an infectious, inflammatory, or toxic cause for the kidney disease.
However, because there are many underlying causes of kidney disease, and because the kidneys are able to compensate for damage so well, testing may not tell your veterinarian the exact reasons why the kidneys are malfunctioning. A reduction in kidney function characterized by either a decreased urinary concentrating ability, or an increase in serum BUN and creatinine, is not measurable until two thirds to three quarters of the kidney function is already lost. By this time, many kidney diseases have progressed to a chronic phase and the original cause can no longer be determined. This is one reason why the SDMA test described earlier is important, as it is able to detect subtle kidney disease much sooner.
Nevertheless, it is still important to evaluate your pet using these tests. Not only will they allow your veterinarian to confirm that the cause of your pet’s clinical symptoms is kidney disease, but they will also allow your veterinarian to choose the most appropriate course of treatment and may indicate if further testing is required.