Blood Tests To Measure Kidney Function

Healthy kidneys remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood. Blood and urine tests show how well the kidneys are doing their job. Urine tests can show how quickly body wastes are being removed and whether the kidneys are leaking abnormal amounts of protein. Here's a quick guide to the tests used to measure kidney function.
Serum CreatinineCreatinine (kree-AT-uh-nin)
It is a waste product that comes from the normal wear and tear on muscles of the body. Creatinine levels in the blood can vary depending on age, race and body size. A creatinine level of greater than 1.2 for women and greater than 1.4 for men may be an early sign that the kidneys are not working properly. The level of creatinine in the blood rises, if kidney disease progresses.
Glomerular Filtration Rate(GFR)
This test is a measure of how well the kidneys are removing wastes and excess fluid from the blood. It may be calculated from the serum creatinine level using your age, weight, gender and body size. Normal GFR can vary according to age (as you get older it can decrease). The normal value for GFR is 90 or above. A GFR below 60 is a sign that the kidneys are not working properly. A GFR below 15 indicates that a treatment for kidney failure, such as dialysis or a kidney transplant, will be needed.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Urea nitrogen (yoo-REE-uh NY-truh-jen) comes from the breakdown of protein in the foods you eat. A normal BUN level is between 7 and 20. As kidney function decreases, the BUN level rises.

Blood test is only one of the methods for measuring kidney function. In addition, there are also Image Tests including Ultrasound and CT Scan, Kidney Biopsy, Urine Tests including Urinalysis, Urine Protein, Microalbuminuria and creatinine Clearance. If you suspect you suffering from kidney damage, you should do a comprehensive tests to make a definite diagnosis. Since there is limited space here, we cannot explain them one by one. If you would like more information, please contact us.