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To Learn More:
Blood & Urine Tests
Staying Healthy with Stage 3 CKD Learn how to stay healthy and care for your kidneys.
(http://lifeoptions.org/assets/pdfs/ckd_booklet_pricing_info.pdf)
Living the Life You Want with Stages 4 & 5 CKD You can have a good life with kidney disease—even if your kidneys fail.
(http://lifeoptions.org/assets/pdfs/ckd_booklet_pricing_info.pdf)
Kidney School Module 7 Understanding Kidney Lab Tests (http://www.kidneyschool.org/m07/)
Testing your blood and urine can let you and your healthcare team see how your body is working. Tracking your test results over time can show you how your kidneys are doing. Here are some common tests that are done when you have CKD:
Kidney Function Measures of Kidney Function
Normal Levels
Serum Creatinine Creatinine (cree-A-ti-neen) is a waste you make each time you move a muscle. Those with more muscle
The normal serum creatinine
make more creatinine. Healthy kidneys remove creatinine from your blood. This means that a high serum
range is 0.6–1.1 mg/dL in women
(blood) level may be due to kidney damage. If your level is high, your doctor should recheck it. If two or
and 0.7–1.3 mg/dL in men.
more levels are high, you may have kidney disease. Normal creatinine clearance is
Creatinine Clearance
88–128 mL/min for healthy
This test compares creatinine in your blood and urine. The difference shows how well your kidneys work.
women and 97–137 mL/min for
You may need to collect your urine for 24 hours in a jug.
healthy men. Healthy adults have a GFR of about 140*; normal is greater
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) GFR is a formula that uses your creatinine, age, race, and sex. The result is about the same as your percent kidney function. So, a GFR of 60 means you may have function that is 60% of normal. GFR is used to divide chronic kidney disease into five stages. (/learn-about-kidney-disease/causes-and-stages/)
than 90. Children and seniors tend to have lower GFRs. A GFR less than 15 is kidney failure. *GFR is reported in mL/min/1.73 m2. A normal level is from 0 to about
Urine Albumin
8 mg/dL.
Healthy kidneys have filters (nephrons). These remove wastes but keep in large cells, like red blood cells and proteins. Albumin is one type of protein. When the filters are damaged, they may leak protein into your
Rising levels in the urine can
urine. Albumin levels can go up if you exercise a lot or have high blood sugar, too. Bladder infections can
show a kidney problem. It is vital
also make the levels go up.
to know if your urine has protein in it!
Urine Microalbumin
Less that 30 mg is normal. 30–
Damaged kidneys can leak microscopic amounts of protein. These are too small to be found with standard
300 mg may mean early CKD.
tests—but can be an early warning sign. Special dipsticks or tests can find the protein. If you have diabetes,
More than 300 mg may mean a
you are at a higher risk for kidney disease. Have a urine test for microalbumin at least once a year.
later stage of CKD.
Albumin to Creatinine Ratio. Urine protein divided by creatinine gives a good sense of how much protein may leak out of your kidneys in a day. This test is not changed by how much water is in your urine.
A normal level is less that 30 mg per gram.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) BUN is a measure of a waste (urea) in the blood. Your body makes urea when it breaks down protein. A low BUN may mean you are not eating enough protein. A high BUN may mean kidney function that is less than normal. Other factors may affect a BUN, too. Bleeding in the gut, heart failure, and some medicines may cause the BUN to go up. As BUN rises, you may have symptoms of kidney disease, such as a bad taste in
The normal BUN level for healthy adults (and children) is 7–20 mg/dL.
your mouth, poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
Anemia Measures of Anemia
Normal levels
Hematocrit (Hct) Hct is the percent of blood that is made up of red blood cells. This test can be used to check for anemia (/glossary/#anemia).
The normal Hct level is 36–44% for healthy women and 40–50% for healthy men.
Hemoglobin (Hgb) Hgb is the iron protein that carries oxygen and gives red blood cells their red color. Hgb is also used to test for anemia.
The normal Hgb level is 12–16 g/dL for healthy women and 14–18 g/dL for healthy men.
Diabetes Control Measures of Diabetes Control
Target Levels
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) HbA1c is a 3-month average of your blood sugar level. If you have diabetes, have your HbA1c tested at least every 6 months.
Your doctor will tell you what your goal should be. It will be between 6.5% and 8%, based on your health and age. Normal (fasting) glucose levels are
Glucose Glucose is a sugar. Your blood sugar level is tested to see if your body can use sugar in a normal way.
less than 100 mg/dL.
High levels are most often found in people with diabetes. Some medicines can also raise blood
In those with diabetes, the goal before
glucose levels. If your fasting blood glucose level is higher than 126 mg/dL, you have diabetes.
eating is 80–130 mg/dL. After eating, the goal is less than 180 mg/dL.
As you can see, there is a big job for you as someone with CKD: You can ask questions of your healthcare team. You can track your lab test results. You are the only one who can pay attention to how you feel. You are the only one who can take your medicines, follow a meal plan, and report your symptoms. There is a lot you can do to try to slow your CKD and feel your best. The more you know, the better you can help yourself.
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Work with Your Doctor
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