You have two kidneys, each about the size of a human fist, one on each side of your spine. They are under your ribcage and behind your abdomen. The kidneys perform many crucial tasks in maintaining your health. Filtering waste from the blood and removing it from the body in the form of urine is one of its most crucial tasks. The levels of different vital minerals and water in the body are also controlled by the kidneys. Vitamin D hormones that control blood pressure red blood cells. Renal function tests are a series of investigations to detect diseases that affect the organ.
Symptoms of kidney problems
You may experience the following signs of kidney problems: bloody urine due to high blood pressure, difficulty starting to urinate, frequent urination, unpleasant urination, swelling of the hands and feet caused by fluid retention in the body. A single symptom may not be a serious sign. These signs, however, point to a problem with the kidneys when they appear simultaneously. Kidney function tests can help identify the cause.
Types of kidney function tests
Your doctor will prescribe a series of tests to determine your glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in order to assess the health of your kidneys. How quickly your kidneys remove waste from your body is indicated by your GFR to your doctor.
urine analysis
A urinalysis checks for the presence of blood and protein in the urine. Protein in the urine can occur from a variety of causes, not all of which are medical. Both an infection and strenuous physical exertion cause an increase in protein in the urine. After a few weeks, your doctor may want to run this test one more time to see if the results are consistent. Your doctor may also ask you to provide a 24-hour urine sample. This allows medical professionals to control the rate at which a waste substance called creatine leaves your body. Muscle tissue is broken down into creatinine.
Serum creatinine test
This blood test checks if the creatinine level in your blood is rising. Normally, the kidneys completely remove creatinine from the blood. A kidney problem is suggested by a high creatinine level.
The National Renal Foundation (NKF) states that a creatinine level greater than 1.2 mg/dl for women and 1.4 mg/dl for men indicates kidney disease.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Waste levels in your blood are also tested by the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test. BUN tests assess the nitrogen content in the blood and are the most important kidney function tests. A byproduct of protein breakdown is urea nitrogen. But not all elevated BUN levels indicate damaged kidneys. Your BUN may also increase if you use a lot of prescription drugs, such as certain antibiotics and high doses of aspirin. It is essential that you tell your doctor about any vitamins or medications that you regularly take. A few days before the test, you may need to stop using some medicines. Between 7 and 20 mg/dL is considered a normal BUN level. A higher number could indicate various health problems.
Estimated GFR
This test measures how well your kidneys are removing waste. The test looks at several things, including: test results, particularly creatinine levels, as well as age, gender, race, height, and weight. Any result less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 could be a red flag for kidney disease.
How Kidney Function Tests Are Performed
A creatinine clearance test uses a 24-hour urine sample. It gives your doctor an indication of your body’s daily production of creatinine. Use the bathroom as you normally would when you get up the day the test begins. Use the special container your doctor gave you to urinate for the rest of the day and night. During the collection process, make sure the container is sealed and cooled. Tell your family members why the item is in the refrigerator, and clearly label the container. The 24-hour collection process ends at this point. Pay attention to your doctor’s instructions regarding where to send the sample.
Blood samples should be drawn from patients in a laboratory or doctor’s office for BUN and serum creatinine tests. Before drawing blood, the technician secures an elastic band around your upper arm. This highlights the veins. After that, the technician cleans the region around the vein. They penetrate the skin with a hollow needle and insert it into a vein. Once again, the blood will flow into a test tube for analysis. When the needle enters your arm, you may experience a painful pinch or prick. After the test, the professional will cover the puncture site with gauze and a bandage. Over the next few days, a bruise may form at the puncture site. However, you should not experience severe or persistent pain.
Treatment of early kidney disease
If tests reveal early kidney damage, your doctor will focus on treating the underlying disease. If tests reveal high blood pressure, your doctor will prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure. Your doctor might recommend that you see an endocrinologist if you have diabetes. This type of doctor can ensure that you have the best possible blood glucose control because they specialize in metabolic diseases. Your doctor will take steps to treat any conditions that may be causing your abnormal kidney function tests, such as kidney stones and overuse of pain relievers. You will likely need ongoing kidney function tests in the coming months if the test results are abnormal. These will make it easier for your doctor to follow up.
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