Kidney Function Tests: Purpose, Types, and Procedure

Do you know we have a natural filter in our body? Yes, you heard it right. I am talking about kidneys.

Kidneys are bean-shaped organs that act as a filter to remove waste products from our bodies in the form of urine. Apart from removing toxic substances from our bodies, kidneys perform many other vital functions like

• maintaining pH balance of blood,
• makes a special protein named renin that increases blood pressure,
• produce hormones calcitriol and erythropoietin that helps in the production of vitamin D and red blood cells, respectively.

However, when the functioning of the kidneys disrupts, different types of problems arise in the form of diseases and disorders like Kidney stones, kidney cysts, kidney cancer, chronic kidney diseases, acute kidney injury, etc., that are life-threatening.

Some warning signs of kidney disease, like fatigue, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, decreased urine volume, etc., may match with symptoms of other health issues that have similar symptoms, like if you have jaundice, you will show signs of fatigue and loss of appetite.

Therefore, to confirm the root cause of the warning signs and symptoms, the doctor recommends kidney function test.

Stay with me to know more about the following points, as it will give a vivid picture of kidney function tests and their purpose for your well-being.

• Kidney Function Test - Overview
• Why Should You Go For a Kidney Function Test?
• What are the conditions that warrant a Kidney Function Test?
• What are the types of Kidney Function tests?
• All you need to know about the kidney function test procedure.
• What to expect before, during, and after a kidney function test?
• How can HealthcareOnTime help?

Kidney Function Test - Overview

Healthcare providers use kidney function tests to evaluate the functions and health of kidneys. Using this test, doctors can determine if a person's kidneys are working properly and if the person has any kidney disease or is at risk of kidney disease. The kidney function test also measures the amount of urine produced by the kidneys.

A kidney test helps diagnose the exact kidney problem and recommends what treatment should be given to the patient.

Why Should You Go For a Kidney Function Test?

Many reasons would require a kidney function test. Here, I will highlight the three best reasons that warrant a kidney function test.

• To check if a person has a kidney problem.
• To see if a person is at risk of having a kidney disease.
• To check if a pre-existing kidney problem has improved or deteriorated.

To check if a person has kidney problems.

Kidney function tests help to find out if a person has kidney disease or not. It tells the healthcare provider which kidney disorder is present.

To see if a person is at risk of having a kidney disease

Certain health problems risk a person from having any kidney disease. For example, a person with Diabetes might get diabetic nephropathy damaging the kidneys. Hence, we can see that a diabetic patient is at risk of kidney damage.

To check if a pre-existing kidney problem has improved or deteriorated

If you have a certain kidney disease, a kidney function test shows if the disease is still present or not. It tells if there is an improvement from the disorder or if the disorder has deteriorated further.

If there is an improvement from the disease, then the treatment is on the right path, and if there is deterioration, then the treatment needs to be adjusted accordingly.

What are the conditions that warrant a Kidney Function Test?

If a person is diagnosed with health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, ureter blockages, obesity, or lupus, it puts them at risk of developing kidney problems.

Also, if you are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease or have the following symptoms that indicate potential kidney problems like kidney stones, kidney infections, etc.

The symptoms of kidney problems that indicate kidney disorders are:

• Abnormal levels of phosphorus, calcium, or vitamin D
• Abnormal urine microscopy test
• Changes in urination
• Decreased appetite
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Itching
• Back pain
• Puffiness around your eyes
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in hands and legs
• Ureter blockages

All the above situations would require a kidney function test to check the overall health of the kidneys.

What are the types of Kidney Function tests?

There are three main types of kidney function tests, and under these three types of tests, there are many important tests that check the functioning of kidneys.

·      Kft Blood Tests

 

Types of Kft Blood Tests	Functions
Blood Pressure Test	It checks the pressure created by the blood flow in the blood vessels of the kidneys. High blood pressure may indicate chronic kidney disease.
Serum Creatinine Test	It measures the presence of creatinine in the blood serum. If the count is greater than 1.2 for women and 1.4 for men, then kidney damage is possible.
BUN test(blood urea nitrogen)	It measures the presence of urea and nitrogen in the blood. If the BUN count is equal to or greater than 20, it indicates decreasing kidney function. It also suggests dehydration.
Renal function panel	It checks the amount of albumin, calcium, carbon dioxide, creatinine, chloride, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and glucose in the blood. Deviation from the normal range of these substances may indicate kidney problems.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)	This test shows how well the kidneys eliminate waste products and excess bodily fluid. If the count is below 60, it indicates that the kidneys are working properly, and if the count drops down to 15, you might need kidney treatment, like a kidney transplant or dialysis.

·      Urine tests

 

Types of Urine Tests	Functions
ACR test (albuminuria to creatinine test)	It measures the concentration of albumin in the urine. If the concentration is higher than 30mg/gm, it could suggest a possible kidney dysfunction.
Urine Protein Test	It measures the amount of protein released by the kidneys in the urine. Results of more than 150mg/day may indicate a kidney problem.
Urinalysis	It checks the pH of urine, the presence of bacteria, blood, WBCs, pus, or excess proteins in the urine.
Microalbuminuria	It is a dipstick test that can detect a small amount of protein in the urine. People with diabetes or hypertension must do this test to detect potential kidney problems.
Creatinine Clearance	This test compares creatinine levels in a 24-hour sample of urine. It helps to know how much waste the kidneys eliminate in a day.

 

·      Imaging tests

 

Different imaging tests	Functions
CT scan	It checks for potential kidney damage or disorders using a series of X-rays.
Ultrasound Imaging	It checks the overall excretory organs like kidneys, ureters, and bladder. It helps detect the presence of cysts, tumors, abscesses, and infections in those excretory organs.

 

·      Kidney Biopsy

It involves the collection of kidney tissue to check the root cause of kidney dysfunction. This test is used when the above fails to detect any kidney abnormality.

All you need to know about the kidney function test procedure.

The procedure of the kidney test is very simple as it mainly consists of urine and blood tests. But before these entire tests, you must choose the best kft test thyrocare near you.

Process of urine test:

• A healthcare provider will give you a container to collect your urine at your chosen diagnostic centre.
• On the day of the test, collect your first urine of the day after you wake up in the given container.
• Then submit the collected urine to the diagnostic center for analysis and testing.

Process of the blood test:

• Visit your chosen diagnostic center.
• At the diagnostic center, a lab technician will wrap a band around your arm and collect your blood using a syringe in a tube.
• Then the lab technician will ask you to sit comfortably for some time to check for pain, swelling, or irritation at the place from where your blood was collected.

What to expect before, during, and after a kidney function test?

Before a kidney test

Before your kidney blood test, the doctor might recommend keeping yourself hydrated, quitting Smoking and drinking, and getting adequate sleep at night.

During a kidney test

On the day of your test, take all the necessary documents to the diagnostic lab.

After a kidney test

After the kft blood test, you might feel dizzy, sleepy, or in pain at the sight of blood collection. If you get severe problems after the kidney test, immediately inform the healthcare provider.

After the test, you must wait patiently for the test reports. After receiving your reports from the lab, consult your doctor for further treatment.

How can HealthcareOnTime help?

There are many laboratories and clinics that provide kidney function tests. The average kft test price in India is between Rs. 600 to Rs. 1000. Although it depends on the location and the diagnostic lab.

But my suggestion would be to opt for HealthcareOnTime.

HealthcareOnTime is the leading diagnostic lab accredited by NABL and is spread across the country. They have various kft test thyrocare facilities at an affordable price. They provide quality service as qualified professionals in CAP-accredited labs perform the tests.

Also, they offer various testing options, including 24/7 online and phone booking, and we provide reliable and accurate results.

If you find it beneficial, share it with your close ones, so they also get benefits. You can call them or visit their Facebook page if you have any queries. Their team will be glad to solve your queries.

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