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Test/Monitor Kidney Function
  Kidney Function, Test/Monitor
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The purpose of the kidneys is to remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood. Tests exist to check whether the kidneys are working properly: Blood tests can indicate whether the kidneys are failing to remove wastes; urine tests can show how quickly bodily wastes are being removed, and whether the kidneys are leaking abnormal amounts of protein. Function


BLOOD TESTS

Serum creatinine. Creatinine is a waste product that comes from the metabolizing of meat protein in the diet, and from the normal wear and tear on muscles of the body. Higher levels may be a sign that the kidneys are not working properly. As kidney disease progresses, the level of creatinine in the blood increases.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Urea nitrogen also results from the breakdown of food protein. As kidney function decreases, the BUN level increases.

URINE TESTS

Some urine tests require only a few ounces of urine, and others require the collection of all urine produced over a 24-hour period. A 24-hour urine test shows how much urine the kidneys produce in one day, and can be used to measure how much protein leaks from the kidneys into the urine. Protein leakage can also be accurately determined in a small sample of urine by measuring its protein and creatinine concentrations.

A creatinine clearance test compares the creatinine in a 24-hour sample of urine to the creatinine level in the blood, to show how much blood the kidneys are filtering each minute. The creatinine clearance can also be estimated accurately from the serum creatinine alone using well-established prediction equations.





Test/Monitor Kidney Function can help with the following:
Lab Values  Hypoalbuminemia (A low albumin level)
 Simple kidney tests like BUN and creatinine are usually done at the same time as serum albumin.


KEY
Likely to help


GLOSSARY

Kidneys (Kidney, Renal)
Bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines, each day handling about 50 gallons of blood to sift out about half a gallon of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The actual filtering occurs in tiny units inside the kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a million nephrons. In a nephron, a glomerulus -- which is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary -- intertwines with a tiny urine-collecting tube called a tubule. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system. The kidneys recycle chemicals such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium and thus regulate their levels. Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys.

Metabolism (Metabolic, Metabolize, Metabolizes, Metabolizing)
The chemical processes of living cells in which energy is produced in order to replace and repair tissues and maintain a healthy body. Responsible for the production of energy, biosynthesis of important substances, and degradation of various compounds. Also defined as the sum total of changes in an organism in order to achieve a balance (homeostasis): Catabolic burns up, anabolic stores and builds up; the sum of their work is metabolism.

Ounce (Ounces, oz)
Approximately 28 grams.

Protein (Proteins)
Compounds composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen present in the body and in foods that form complex combinations of amino acids. Protein is essential for life and is used for growth and repair. Foods that supply the body with protein include animal products, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Proteins from animal sources contain the essential amino acids. Proteins are changed to amino acids in the body.

Serum
The cell-free fluid of the bloodstream. It appears in a test tube after the blood clots and is often used in expressions relating to the levels of certain compounds in the blood stream.




Last updated: May 11, 2008
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