Renal (Kidney) Function Panel Popular

Our Renal Function Test Panel includes ten measurements and two calculations that provide valuable information necessary to determine your kidney health. Your kidneys filter over 180 liters of blood every day, removing waste and excess water. Without your kidneys filtering ability, the unwanted waste and water would accumulate in your blood and cause damage. By taking this test, a doctor can use the information gathered to help diagnose kidney-related issues.

What is Included in Our Kidney Function Test?

This Renal Function Test includes the following 12 measurements and calculations:

Albumin - Albumin is a protein found in the blood. If the kidneys are healthy, there should be very little protein in your urine – if any. However, if the kidneys are damaged, albumin may leak out of the kidneys and into your urine.
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) - Urea nitrogen is a byproduct from the breakdown of food proteins. A normal BUN level is between 7 and 20. As kidney function decreases, the BUN level rises.
BUN-to-Creatinine Ratio (calculated)- The ratio of BUN to creatinine (BUN:creatinine) is usually between 10:1 and 20:1. An increased ratio may be due to a condition that causes a decrease in the flow of blood to the kidneys.
Calcium - Measuring calcium can help determine whether the kidneys are excreting the proper amount of calcium. Too much calcium can also help indicate kidney stones.
Carbon Dioxide - Your kidneys and lungs balance the levels of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and carbonic acid in the blood. High carbon dioxide levels can be used to help diagnose kidney disease.
Chloride - Chloride is an important electrolyte used by the body to maintain the proper blood volume, blood pressure, blood acidity, and balance of fluid in cells. An increased level of blood chloride may indicate kidney diseases like tubular acidosis, which is when the kidneys do not remove enough acid.
Creatinine - A waste product that comes from normal wear and tear on the body’s muscles. Creatinine levels in the blood vary depending on age, race, and body size, but a creatinine level greater than 1.2 for women or greater than 1.4 for men may be an indicator that the kidneys are not working properly. The level of creatinine in the blood rises as kidney disease progresses.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (calculated) - This is a calculated measurement of how well the kidneys are removing waste and excess fluid from the blood. Your age, race, sex, and creatinine levels are all considerations when this calculation is made. The normal value for eGFR is 90 or above but this can decrease with age. An eGFR below 60 is a sign that the kidneys are not working properly. An eGFR below 15 indicates kidney failure.
Glucose - Abnormally high levels of glucose in your blood (hyperglycemia) can indicate glycosuria. Renal glycosuria occurs when the renal tubules fail to reabsorb all glucose at a level that is normal.
Phosphorus - Functioning kidneys can remove extra phosphorus from your blood. Individuals with chronic kidney disease often cannot remove phosphorus from the blood very well. High phosphorus levels can cause damage to your body.
Potassium - Potassium is an electrolyte that assists in many bodily functions like water balance, digestion, and nerve impulses. Kidney disease can cause both high and low potassium levels
Sodium - Sodium is the final of the three major electrolytes your body utilizes to control fluid balance inside and out of cells, among other functions. High sodium levels could indicate kidney disease because the body is unable to effectively remove the correct amount.

Do I Need to Take a Renal Function Test?

This test is for those who are concerned that they may have a kidney-related disease, or for those who need to monitor the progression of kidney disease. By looking for unusually high or low test results, this kidney function test can help diagnose various kidney-related issues.

How to interpret results

There are many things that can affect your results and many ways to interpret them, so it is usually best to consult with your healthcare provider. Each test has a unique range for results.

The healthy range of each test is listed below. Results higher or lower than the normal range may indicate issues.

Albumin - 3.4 -5.4g/dL.
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) - 10 - 20 mg/dL
BUN-to-Creatinine Ratio (calculated)- 5 - 18mg/dL
Calcium - 8.5 - 10.3mg/dL
Carbon Dioxide - Given in percentage of total blood composition, an adult’s blood should be made of less than 2.3% (or 0.023) of carbon dioxide. Smokers should have between 2.1% and 4.2% carbon dioxide.
Chloride - 96 - 106MEq/L.
Creatinine - 0.9 to 1.5mg/dL for men and 0.6 to 1.1mg/dL for women.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (calculated) -90 - 120mL/minute.
Glucose - <140mg/dL is ideal. Over 200mg/dl can indicate diabetes.
Phosphorus - 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL.