What is the most important blood test for kidney function?
Specific kidney tests include: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) – one of the most common blood tests to check for chronic kidney disease. It tells how well your kidneys are filtering. Creatinine blood and urine tests – check the levels of creatinine, a waste product that your kidneys remove from your blood.
How do you tell if kidneys are functioning properly?
“That usually involves simple laboratory tests: a urine test to look for kidney damage, and a blood test to measure how well the kidneys are working.” The urine test checks for a protein called albumin, which isn’t routinely detected when your kidneys are healthy.
Is a 3.2 creatinine level bad?
But sometimes, routine blood or urine tests can reveal low (or high) levels of creatinine. Normal levels vary according to your body size and muscle mass. For example, a normal range for men is between 0.6 and 1.2 mg/dl and a normal range for women is between 0.5 and 1.1 mg/dl.
What causes low GFR in kidneys?
A decrease or decline in the GFR implies progression of underlying kidney disease or the occurrence of a superimposed insult to the kidneys. This is most commonly due to problems such as dehydration and volume loss. An improvement in the GFR may indicate that the kidneys are recovering some of their function.
What are the first signs of kidney disease?
What are the Symptoms of Kidney Disease?
- Changes in urination. Healthy kidneys help filter blood to create urine.
- Fatigue.
- Itching.
- Swelling in your hands, legs, or feet.
- Shortness of breath.
- Pain in the small of your back.
- Decreased appetite.
- Puffiness around your eyes.
Should I worry if my GFR is 56?
A GFR of 60 or higher is in the normal range. A GFR below 60 may mean kidney disease. A GFR of 15 or lower may mean kidney failure.