Kidney Function Testing
The kidneys play a vital role in maintaining health with the main function being to filter waste materials from the blood and expel them from the body as urine. The kidneys also help control the levels of water and various essential minerals in the body. In addition, they’re critical to the production of vitamin D, red blood cells and hormones that regulate blood pressure.
Kidney function blood and urine tests may be performed to identify problems with the kidneys or to monitor other conditions that can harm the kidneys, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Applications
Serum Creatinine Test
Creatinine is a waste product that comes from the normal wear and tear on muscles of the body. The kidneys usually completely filter creatinine from the blood. A high level of creatinine suggests a kidney problem.
According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), a creatinine level higher than 1.2 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL) for women and 1.4 mg/dL for men is a sign of a kidney problem.
Albumin Test
Albumin is the most abundant of the plasma proteins and maintains osmotic pressure by stopping fluid from leaking out of blood vessels.
Decreased albumin levels can also occur in nephrotic syndrome, severe inflammation, or shock. The blood albumin concentration increases when a person is dehydrated.