What is the best indicator of kidney function?
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Show Learn about kidney tests that can help doctors find kidney disease early, such as blood tests, urine tests, kidney ultrasound and kidney biopsy. 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. Blood test: eGFReGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) is a measure of how well your kidneys are working. Your eGFR is a number based on a blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product in your blood. It is also based on your age, sex, weight and race. The stages of kidney disease are based on the eGFR number. Stage 1eGFR 90 or higher, normal range with some signs of kidney damage, such as protein in urine (pee) or physical damage to the kidneys Stage 2eGFR 60-89, normal range with mild loss of kidney function and signs of kidney damage, such as protein in urine or physical damage to the kidneys Stage 3eGFR 30-59, moderate kidney damage, sometimes with symptoms such as swelling in hands and feet or back pain Stage 4eGFR 15-29, severe kidney damage and other health problems such as high blood pressure or anemia Stage 5eGFR less than 15, the kidneys are close to failure or have already failed – this is life-threatening without treatment Blood test: Serum creatinine testA serum creatinine test measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product in your blood. When your kidneys are not working well, your serum creatinine level goes up. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) testYour blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is based on a blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood. Urea nitrogen is a waste product that your body makes after it breaks down protein. Urine testA urine test is when a doctor examines a small amount of your urine (pee) to check for signs of kidney disease and other health problems. When your kidneys are damaged, they may let protein leak into your urine. This can be one of the earliest signs of kidney disease. Learn more about the two types of urine tests Kidney ultrasoundOne way your doctor can look at your kidneys is by doing a kidney ultrasound. A kidney ultrasound (also called a renal ultrasound) is a safe and painless imaging test that uses sound waves to make pictures of your kidneys. Learn more about kidney ultrasound Kidney biopsyOne way your doctor can see if your kidneys are damaged is to do a kidney biopsy. A kidney biopsy is a procedure where doctors take a small piece of tissue from your kidneys to look at it under a microscope. Learn more about kidney biopsy What is the most accurate test for kidney function?Urine Tests
A 24-hour urine test shows how much urine your kidneys produce, can give an more accurate measurement of how well your kidney are working and how much protein leaks from the kidney into the urine in one day.
Is creatinine a good indicator of kidney function?Creatinine is found in serum, plasma, and urine and is excreted by glomerular filtration at a constant rate and in the same concentration as in plasma. Creatinine is a more reliable indicator of renal function than BUN because it is less influenced by other factors such as diet and hydration.
What is a kidney function indicator?What are kidney function tests? Kidney function tests are urine or blood tests that evaluate how well your kidneys are working. Most of these tests measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR assesses how efficiently your kidneys clear waste from your system.
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