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What Test Checks Kidney Function

What Is A Creatinine Test

Kidney Function Tests, Animation

A creatinine blood test measures creatinine levels in your blood to see if your kidneys are working well. High creatinine levels in blood indicate that kidneys are not filtering waste like they should.

A creatinine urine test, or creatinine clearance test, measures creatinine in your urine. Both tests are sometimes used together to assess kidney health.

Your healthcare provider may order creatinine tests if you have:

  • Diabetes
  • Kidney disease
  • An illness that could affect a kidney

What Tests Do Doctors Use To Diagnose And Monitor Kidney Disease

To check for kidney disease, health care providers use

  • a blood test that checks how well your kidneys are filtering your blood, called GFR. GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate.
  • a urine test to check for albumin. Albumin is a protein that can pass into the urine when the kidneys are damaged.

If you have kidney disease, your health care provider will use the same two tests to help monitor your kidney disease and make sure your treatment plan is working.

Know Your Kidney Numbers: Two Simple Tests

Did you know one in three American adults is at risk for kidney disease? Anyone can get kidney disease at any time. If kidney disease is found and treated early, you can help slow or even stop it from getting worse. Most people with early kidney disease do not have symptoms. That is why it is important to be tested. Know your kidney numbers!

Your kidney numbers include 2 tests: ACR and GFR . GFR is a measure of kidney function and is performed through a blood test. Your GFR will determine what stage of kidney disease you have there are 5 stages. Know your stage.ACR is a urine test to see how much albumin is in your urine. Too much albumin in your urine is an early sign of kidney damage.

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How Do You Know If Something Is Wrong With Your Kidneys

If you would simply like to check in on your kidney function, one of the most reliable ways to find out more is through a test this can be done with your local doctor or from home with LetsGetCheckeds at-home lab test.

Constant fatigue, difficulty sleeping and poor appetite, as well as the signs mentioned above, can also be indicators that your kidney isnt functioning how it should. If you are concerned about your kidney health, its important to reach out to your doctor or a medical professional to find out more.

The best way to check your kidney function from home is with a home test kit. The process is simple:

  • The test is shipped directly to you by next day delivery
  • Activate your test and answer a few health-related questions
  • Your health record will be reviewed by a medical team member and should you need any support services, they will be provided
  • Collect your sample at a time that suits you
  • Send your sample back to our laboratory using the pre-paid shipping label provided
  • Your sample will be processed in an anonymous and timely manner
  • Your results will be reviewed by our team of doctors. A member of our nursing team will contact you to deliver your results, discuss any next steps and offer prescriptions in some cases
  • You should consider taking the LetsGetChecked Kidney Function Test if

    What To Watch For

    What, Why, and How of a Kidney Function Test

    Kidney disease gets worse over time as waste and fluid build up in your body. Here are the warning signs:

    • Changes in your urine. You might pee more or less than normal. Or you could notice a change in color or that your pee is foamy. This means that protein is seeping out of your kidneys. Blood in the urine is another sign.
    • Dry and itchy skin. This can happen when your kidneys are no longer able to balance the minerals and nutrients in your blood.
    • Swelling. Your kidneys help even out the amount of sodium in your body. When theyâre not working well, your body hangs on to extra salt. This can cause puffy skin around your ankles and feet. You may also notice it in your hands or around your eyes.
    • Upset stomach. Built-up waste in your blood can cause nausea and loss of appetite.
    • Fatigue. Your kidneys produce a hormone that tells your body to make red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body. If theyâre not working right, this doesnât get done, and you can have a health problem called anemia. You may feel tired, even after you rest. Your sleep quality may suffer, too.

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    Blood Tests For Diagnosing Kidney Disease

    Following are a variety of blood tests that help determine whether or not you have kidney disease:

    • CBC complete blood count of your red blood cells, white blood cells, and plateletslow CBC level can mean kidney function is reduced.
    • Creatinine waste product of muscles that is normally eliminated by the kidneys, may be elevated when kidney function is reduced.
    • Creatinine clearance measure of how well creatinine is removed by the kidneys over a 24-hour period of urine collection. When kidney function is reduced, clearance may be low.
    • Blood electrolyte tests also known as chemistries. Electrolytes are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. Abnormal levels may indicate reduced kidney function.
    • Hemoglobin A1C measures how well blood sugar is controlled during three months before testing. Elevation indicates blood sugar is not well-controlled and may be causing reduced kidney function.
    • Blood urea nitrogen also a waste product that is eliminated by the kidneys. BUN is elevated when kidney function is reduced.
    • Glomerular filtration rate the best measure of kidney function and also determines the stage or progression of the disease. The higher the numbers of the GFR, the better the kidneys are working.

    Tests For Kidney Disease

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    The only way to know how well your kidneys are working is to get tested. Kidney disease often has no symptoms until your kidneys are badly damaged. Testing is especially important if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease.

    Ask your doctor about these kidney tests. Finding and treating kidney disease early can help you slow or stop damage to your kidneys.

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    How Is A Cmp Done

    Most blood tests take a small amount of blood from a vein. To do that, a health professional will:

    • clean the skin
    • put an elastic band above the area to get the veins to swell with blood
    • insert a needle into a vein
    • pull the blood sample into a vial or syringe
    • take off the elastic band and remove the needle from the vein

    In babies, blood draws are sometimes done as a “heel stick collection.” After cleaning the area, the health professional will prick your baby’s heel with a tiny needle to collect a small sample of blood.

    Collecting a sample of blood is only temporarily uncomfortable and can feel like a quick pinprick.

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    What Might These Tests Indicate If My Pet Has Kidney Disease

    Kidney Function Tests and Interpretation of Results.

    A) A complete blood count involves the evaluation of the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelet components of a single blood sample. A hematology analyzer will provide your veterinarian with the total numbers of these cells, and evaluation of a blood smear will allow a look at the physical characteristics of these cells.

    The kidneys produce a substance called erythropoietin that is necessary for proper red blood cell production within the bone marrow. With kidney disease, the amount of erythropoietin produced may be decreased, causing a decrease in red blood cell production. This shows up in the CBC as anemia.

    The white blood cell numbers may be increased if the underlying cause of the kidney disease is due to an infection or inflammation.

    Rarely, platelet numbers may be reduced if a clotting problem has occurred as a result of the underlying kidney disease.

    B) The serum biochemistry profile requires a separate blood sample from which the serum is separated from the cellular portion of blood. Serum contains many substances including enzymes, proteins, lipids , glucose and metabolic waste products.

    Of most importance in the diagnosis of kidney disease are the determination of the levels of two substances, namely blood urea nitrogen and creatinine.

    Increases in BUN and creatinine may be seen with kidney disease, as well as with dehydration and other causes of reduced blood flow to the kidneys.

    “Severe increases in potassium may cause cardiac arrhythmias.”

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    What Happens If You Have Kidney Disease

    Kidney disease can be treated. The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the sooner you can get treatment to help delay or prevent kidney failure. Treating kidney disease may also help prevent heart disease.

    Treatment goals are to:

    • If you smoke, take steps to quit.
    • Take medicines the way your provider tells you to.

    Can I Stay With My Child During A Cmp

    Parents usually can stay with their child during a blood test. Encourage your child to relax and stay still because tensing muscles can make it harder to draw blood. Your child might want to look away when the needle is inserted and the blood is collected. Encourage your child to relax by taking slow deep breaths or singing a favorite song.

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    How Do I Know If My Kidney Health Is Getting Worse

    You can keep track of your test results over time. You can tell that your treatments are working if your:

    • GFR stays the same
    • Urine albumin stays the same or goes down

    Your health care provider or Care Team will work with you to manage your kidney disease.

    MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

    Why Is Ckd Hard To Detect

    Get familiar kidney health by kidney function test
    • Early-stage CKD does not have any significant symptoms
    • CKD in the early stages is usually detected by accident when patients visit the physician for other health issues. Diabetes and CKD are closely related, so patients who get diagnosed with diabetes are often tested for kidney diseases as well. Persistent high blood pressure levels are also a cause of CKD.
    • If CKD is not detected early, it develops into full-blown kidney failure- which requires kidney transplant and dialysis. Kidney failure can also be fatal in many cases
    • Blood and urine tests from medical laboratories are the most accurate method to test kidney function. But due to financial or social constraints, many people are unable to get tested regularly.
    • So now, some companies have developed at-home kits which can be used to test kidney function. If any discrepancies are noticed, patients can visit the doctor immediately and treat the disease at an early stage.

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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.

    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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    Which Blood Tests Show Liver And Kidney Function

    Blood Test: Metabolic Detailed Panel .

    What Is a Metabolic Detailed Panel ?

    The Detailed Metabolic Panel is a blood examination that provides physicians with information on the fluid balance of the body, electrolyte levels such as sodium and potassium, and how well the kidneys and liver function.

    Why are metabolic panels performed comprehensively?

    A CMP is carried out to learn knowledge of the levels of :

    • Glucose, a form of sugar used for energy by the body. Diabetes can be demonstrated by high glucose levels.

    • Electrolytes

    • Calcium, which plays a major role in the functioning of muscles and nerves.

    • Sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide, and chloride, which help regulate the fluid levels of the body and the balance of its acid-base. Normal levels of these electrolytes help ensure the functioning of cells in the body as they should.

    • Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, waste products filtered by the kidneys from the blood. These levels reveal how well the kidneys function.

    • To build and maintain muscles, bones, blood, and organ tissue, albumin and total protein are required. With liver or kidney disease, or dietary concerns, low levels can be seen.

    Liver tests: alkaline phosphatase , aminotransferase alanine , aminotransferase aspartate , and bilirubin. It can be a sign of a problem with the liver when these levels are high.

    How is it done with a CMP?

    A small amount of blood is drawn from a vein in the majority of blood tests. A health professional will do that:

    What Happens During A Kidney Urine Test

    Are You Filtering? | Test Your Kidney Function At Home

    You complete 24-hour urine tests at home. For a 24-hour urine test, your provider will give you a container to collect urine. On the day of the test:

  • Urinate into the toilet as usual after you first wake up.
  • For the rest of the day, urinate into the container.
  • On day two, urinate into the container when you first wake up.
  • Complete the test by dropping your sample off at the healthcare providers office or laboratory.
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    Kidney Biopsy To Check For Damage And Disease

    A biopsy is a test involves removing a small sample of kidney tissue small through a thin needle to check for damage and signs of certain diseases. The tissue is examined under a microscope to determine the exact cause of the kidney disease, and the biopsy findings may also help us determine the best treatment for your kidney disease.

    Diagnosing Kidney Disease In Adults

    At NYU Langone, specialists called nephrologists diagnose and manage kidney disease. In this chronic condition, the kidneys slowly lose their ability to filter waste from the blood. If this condition isnt managed, it can lead to kidney failure, in which one or both kidneys no longer function. Some people may experience acute kidney failure, in which the organs fail in less than two days.

    The kidneys are small, bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, located under the rib cage in the back. They have several important functions, including removing digested food, chemicals, medication, and other waste products from the blood. These are then excreted in urine.

    The kidneys also balance the bodys levels of fluids and electrolytes, such as phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. These are essential for the proper functioning of the heart, muscles, and other structures. The kidneys also make hormones that help regulate blood pressure, stimulate the production of red blood cells, and strengthen bones.

    When the kidneys are not able to function properly, the body retains toxins and excess fluid and can fail to make enough red blood cells, which carry oxygen to organs and tissue.

    Some people with chronic kidney disease experience no symptoms. They may receive a diagnosis only after having blood or urine testing for another condition.

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    What Is Kidney Disease

    The kidneys filter all the blood in your body every 30 minutes, and kidney disease impacts the ability of your body to filter out excess fluids. Kidney failure happens when these filters don’t do their job and fluids and other substanceselectrolytes and minerals like potassium and other waste productsbuild up to dangerous levels in the body.

    An imbalance in fluids can cause swelling, blood pressure problems, irregular heart rhythms, confusion, and more.

    How Much Do At

    Check Your Kidney Function With At Home Test

    At-home kidney tests range in cost from about $20 to several hundred dollars. More affordable tests typically have limited results and use a fingerstick or urine sample. The renal system is complicated, so the more accurate tests require larger blood samples, and you may have to supplement a urine sample with a trip to a lab. These tests are usually more expensive, but you can still have them done without seeing your doctor and still have your tests interpreted by a clinician and receive comprehensive information about your kidney function.

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    How Is A Renal Panel Different From A Comprehensive Or Basic Metabolic Panel

    There is considerable overlap between the measurements on a renal panel, basic metabolic panel , and comprehensive metabolic panel .

    The BMP has 8 components, all of which are included in the CMP, which has a total of 14 measurements. The components of the BMP and CMP are more standardized than the renal panel, which can vary between laboratories.

    The BMP, CMP, and most renal panels include measurements of glucose, electrolytes, calcium, and the waste products creatinine and urea nitrogen. The CMP and many renal panels also include measurement of albumin.

    An important difference for the comprehensive metabolic panel is its inclusion of tests that help assess the condition of the liver. These are tests found on a typical liver panel test.

    Because it is not as standardized, a renal panel test may include measurements, such as phosphorus or the anion gap, that are not found on the BMP or CMP.

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