KEEP Healthy - Free Kidney Health checks

Since kidneys clean the blood and make urine, blood and urine tests are good ways to check whether the kidneys are doing their job. If your blood or urine has high levels of substances the kidneys should filter out, something may be wrong. Knowing the names of your tests and what the results mean is a way for you to track your kidney function and see how you are doing over time. Here are the common kidney function tests .

Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product that forms each time you move a muscle. Healthy kidneys remove creatinine from the blood. A blood test can check your level—the more creatinine in your blood, the less work your kidneys are doing. When you know your level, you can find out your GFR on-line.

Albumin (protein)
Protein is a large molecule that is too big to fit through healthy kidney filters. If protein leaks into your urine, you may have a kidney problem. You may be able to see if you have large amounts of protein leaking—your urine may be bubbly or foamy. Smaller amounts (microalbuminuria) can be found with a dipstick or other test. If you are at risk for CKD, ask your doctor to test your urine for protein.

Urea
Urea is a waste product formed from the breakdown of proteins. Urea is usually passed out in the urine. A high blood level of urea ('uraemia') indicates that the kidneys may not be working properly, or that you are dehydrated (have a low body water content).

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) provides a guide to kidney function. Although the level of creatinine in the blood is a useful guide to kidney function, the eGFR is a more accurate measure. Blood creatinine can be used to estimate the eGFR using age, sex, and race. This is often calculated by computer and reported with the creatinine blood test. The normal value for eGFR is 90-120 ml/min. An eGFR below 60 ml/min suggests that some kidney damage has occurred. The value becomes lower with increasing severity of kidney damage.

Dissolved salts
Dissolved salts that are routinely measured are sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate. They are sometimes referred to as 'electrolytes'. Abnormal blood levels of any of these may be due to a kidney problem. (Some other conditions may also alter the salt balance in the blood.

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