Creatinine

Why it's done Your doctor or other health care provider may order a creatinine test for the following reasons: • To make a diagnosis if you have signs or symptoms of kidney disease • To screen for kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or other conditions that increase the risk of kidney disease • To monitor kidney disease treatment or progression • To monitor for side effects of drugs that may include kidney damage or altered kidney function • To monitor the function of a transplanted kidney • • • How you prepare A standard blood test is used to measure creatinine levels in your blood (serum creatinine). Your doctor may ask you not to eat (fast) overnight before the test. For a creatinine urine test, you may need to collect urine over 24 hours in containers provided by the clinic. For either test, you may need to avoid eating meat for a certain period before the test. If you take a creatine supplement, you'll likely need to stop use. What you can expect For a serum creatinine test, a member of your health care team takes a blood sample by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. For a urine test, you’ll need to provide a single sample in the clinic or collect samples at home over 24 hours and return them to the clinic. Results Results from creatinine in blood or urine are measured and interpreted in many ways, including the following: Serum creatinine level Creatinine usually enters your bloodstream and is filtered from the bloodstream at a generally ...

A creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product that forms when creatine, which is found in your muscle, breaks down. This test tells your doctor how well your kidneys are working. Each Creatinine is one of the substances that your kidneys normally eliminate from the body. Doctors measure the level of creatinine in the blood to check Creatinine blood tests are usually performed along with several other laboratory tests, including a Your doctor may order a creatinine blood test to assess your creatinine levels if you show signs of • • • swelling in the • • changes in urine • • • Kidney problems can be related to different diseases or conditions, including: • • • prostate disease, such as an • • decreased blood flow to the kidneys, which may be caused by • the death of kidney cells as a result of • streptococcal infections, such as Aminoglycoside medications, such as gentamicin (Garamycin, Gentasol), can also cause kidney damage in some people. If you’re taking this type of medication, your doctor may order regular creatinine blood tests to make sure your kidneys remain healthy. A creatinine blood test doesn’t require much preparation. Fasting isn’t necessary. You can and should eat and drink the same as you do normally to get an accurate result. However, it’s important to tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications you’re currently taking. Some drugs may increase your creatinine levels wi...

Some health conditions, including those affecting the kidneys, can affect how much creatinine is excreted in your urine. Creatinine is a chemical waste product produced by muscle metabolism. When your kidneys are functioning normally, they filter creatinine and other waste products out of your blood. These waste products are removed from your body through urination. A creatinine urine test measures the amount of creatinine in your urine. The test can help your doctor evaluate how well your Your doctor may use a random The 24-hour volume test is noninvasive and involves only the collection of urine. You’ll be given one or more containers for collecting and storing urine. Since this test involves collecting and storing urine for a 24-hour period, you may want to consider scheduling the test for a day when you’re at home. Before the test, you should do the following: • Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or think you may be pregnant. • Tell your doctor about any supplements or prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking. Some supplements and drugs can interfere with the test results. Your doctor can tell you which ones to avoid. • Avoid certain foods or beverages if advised by your doctor. • Ask your doctor if you need to begin the test at a particular time of day. • Make sure you understand when and where you should return the container of urine. To perform the test, you’ll use a special container to The test should begin at a specific time and end at the sam...

Most people have two kidneys, each about the size of an adult fist, located on either side of the spine just below the rib cage. Although they are small, your kidneys do many • Removing natural waste products and extra water from your body • Helping make red blood cells • Balancing important minerals in your body • Helping maintain your blood pressure • Keeping your bones healthy Your healthcare provider will order tests every so often to check on your kidney health. The specific test(s) they order depends on any symptoms you may have and other factors. The information below serves as a quick guide to the different tests that your healthcare provider might order to check your kidney health. Serum creatinine lower number is better. High creatinine levels can be a sign of Cystatin C For this test, a lower number is better. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) The higher number is better. In general, an eGFR value lower than 60 is a sign that the kidneys may not be working properly. An eGFR lower than 15 is a marker of kidney failure. In less common situations where a more accurate measure of your kidney function is needed, your healthcare provider may order a Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) Urea nitrogen is a waste product in your blood that comes from the breakdown of protein in the foods you eat. It is removed from the body through the kidneys. A “normal” BUN level varies, and usually increases as you get older. Checking your BUN level is usually not very helpful by itsel...

Blood creatinine levels are checked to assess kidney function. Creatinine is a waste product in your blood that comes from normal muscle wear and tear. The kidneys are responsible for the removal of creatinine from the blood, so if your kidney function declines, creatinine levels in the blood rise. Creatinine levels are checked to assess kidney function. They are usually checked with another kidney function marker called BUN, or blood urea nitrogen. These tests used together give an indication of overall kidney function, but the best way to know if your kidneys are working properly is to measure the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). • GFR is a calculation that takes into account creatinine levels, along with age, gender, race, and weight. • The GFR can be an indicator of • A GFR below 60 for three months or above 60 with signs of kidney damage (for example, protein in the urine is a sign of kidney damage) may be a sign of Your normal blood creatinine level will vary based on many factors. Normal blood creatinine levels vary and depend on age, race, gender, and body size. Normal serum creatinine ranges are: • 0.6–1.1 mg/dL in women and adolescents aged 16 and older • 0.8–1.3 mg/dL in men and adolescents aged 16 and older • 0.2 or more in infants, depending on muscle development Serum creatinine ranges are lower for women because women have less muscle mass and, thus, a lower rate of creatinine formation and excretion. Normal blood creatinine levels also vary by race. • For ...

Overview A creatinine test is a measure of how well your kidneys are performing their job of filtering waste from your blood. Creatinine is a chemical compound left over from energy-producing processes in your muscles. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood. Creatinine exits your body as a waste product in urine. A measurement of creatinine in your blood or urine provides clues to help your doctor determine how well the kidneys are working. Why it's done Your doctor or other health care provider may order a creatinine test for the following reasons: • To make a diagnosis if you have signs or symptoms of kidney disease • To screen for kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or other conditions that increase the risk of kidney disease • To monitor kidney disease treatment or progression • To monitor for side effects of drugs that may include kidney damage or altered kidney function • To monitor the function of a transplanted kidney How you prepare A standard blood test is used to measure creatinine levels in your blood (serum creatinine). Your doctor may ask you not to eat (fast) overnight before the test. For a creatinine urine test, you may need to collect urine over 24 hours in containers provided by the clinic. For either test, you may need to avoid eating meat for a certain period before the test. If you take a creatine supplement, you'll likely need to stop use. What you can expect For a serum creatinine test, a member of your health care t...