A creatinine clearance test measures the level of creatinine in blood and urine to test kidney function. High levels may indicate kidney problems, and the test can be done on those with symptoms or pre-diagnosed kidney disease. The test involves a blood test and a 24-hour urine sample. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be calculated to test kidney health. Treatment may include medication or dialysis.
A creatinine clearance test is done to test how well the kidneys filter wastes from the blood. This type of test measures the level of creatinine in your blood and urine. Creatinine is a type of waste found in the body in small amounts. It is a breakdown of creatine, which is used by the muscles. There are structures in the kidneys known as glomeruli, which filter excess waste products, such as excessive creatinine, from the bloodstream through urine.
If creatinine levels become very high, this could mean that there is a problem with a person’s kidney function. The problem could range from a kidney infection to early kidney failure. A creatinine clearance test can be done on a person who has symptoms of a kidney problem. Symptoms may include flank pain, frequent urination, swelling, and fatigue. If an individual has pre-diagnosed kidney disease, they may have this test to check for disease progression.
The first part of a creatinine clearance test usually involves a blood test. To do this, the patient can go to a hospital or a laboratory for blood sampling. Your blood will be analyzed carefully and the amount of creatinine present will be calculated and recorded. For most individuals, inserting the needle to draw blood is the most uncomfortable part of this stage of creatinine clearance. In some cases, the blood test may be repeated after the second stage of the test.
For the second part of the creatinine clearance, a urine sample is collected over the course of 24 hours. During this portion of the test, an individual will be asked to collect their urine privately over the course of a full day. Because creatinine levels can change over the course of a day, a full day analysis should provide an acceptable average of the amount of creatinine in urine. Usually, the healthcare professional will provide a special container to the patient and will inform him if he needs to follow any special instructions when collecting samples. This can include noting the tempo at certain intervals during the sample.
When performing a creatinine clearance test, some existing health conditions may be taken into consideration. For example, some health disorders can change the amount of creatinine a person has in their blood. This can include existing kidney disease, diabetes, an infection or high blood pressure. Additionally, an abnormality in the glomeruli or filtering structures of the kidney can also alter creatinine levels.
Upon completion of a creatinine clearance test, a healthcare professional will be able to calculate an individual’s glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This is the rate at which the glomeruli clear waste creatinine from the blood. The rate can be used to test the health of the kidneys and, in particular, their ability to filter blood adequately. When the levels of creatinine in the blood and urine are extremely out of balance, the person may be prescribed medication. If the levels are so high that the person is at risk of going into kidney failure, a more invasive treatment such as dialysis may be given.
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