Diagnostic tests & labs

Question 1

What test can detect Kidney disease / failure?

Answer 1

Blood tests measuring BUN, creatinine levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR)., BP or CMP.

Question 2

What is a BUN?

Answer 2

Blood urea nitrogen - determines how well the kidney functions. It measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. urea nitrogen is a byproduct that’s created in the liver when the body breaks down proteins.

Question 3

What is creatinine?

Answer 3

breakdown byproduct of creatine phosphate that passes through the kidneys (in the blood) to be filtered and eliminated urine. It is a byproduct of normal muscle function.

more muscle - more creatinine.

Creatinine clearance rate (CCr or CrCl) is the volume of blood plasma that is cleared of creatinine per unit time and is a useful measure for approximating the GFR.

Question 4

Define glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

Answer 4

Does not diagnose any kidney disease, but tests how well they are working. It is the flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidney.

Creatinine clearance rate (CCr or CrCl) is the volume of blood plasma that is cleared of creatinine per unit time and is a useful measure for approximating the GFR.

90 ml/min/1.73m2 is normal.