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3 Big Tests for CKD
When doctors investigate whether you have CKD, there are ..
“Three big questions to ask, and three big tests to do.”
Three big questions
- What is the kidney function?
- Are the kidneys leaking protein? If it is a lot, the disease may be in the glomeruli
- Do you have 2 kidneys and what do they look like?
Three big tests
To answer these three big questions, people with CKD, will need three big tests. They are:
- Blood GFR level – normal GFR is 90-120 mls/min
- The most important test, and is based on blood creatinine level (60-120 mcmol/L; lower creatinine is better)
- The 5 stages of CKD are based on the blood GFR (glomerular filtration rate) level
- GFR is a blood test which estimates the level of function of the kidney – the higher the GFR, the better the kidney function (and therefore the lower stage of CKD that the patient will be in).
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- Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) – normal = < 3 mg/mmol
- Measures the level of a protein called albumin in urine
- Higher levels indicates strain on the kidneys
- If moderate-high (>70), this will contribute to deciding on need for a kidney biopsy
- It is moderate or high in diabetes and many types of chronic glomerulonephritis.
- Renal (kidney) ultrasound – assesses number (two) and size (10-14 cm long) of kidneys; and may give the cause of CKD, especially polycystic kidney disease, and obstruction (blockage) of the kidneys.
Note 1. Most patients with CKD1-2 or CKD3B will not require a kidney ultrasound.
Note 2. Few patients require a kidney biopsy.
