Kidney / Renal Function Test

Understanding Kidney Health

With Renal Profile

Renal profile, commonly known as kidney function test or kidney panel, is a set of blood tests that provide crucial and comprehensive information about the functioning and overall health of the kidneys. Kidneys are vital organs that play an important role in the filtration of waste and excess substances from the blood and the body. In addition, kidneys are responsible for maintaining electrolyte balance and regulating the levels of fluid in the blood. Kidney function tests are helpful in diagnosing kidney diseases, monitoring kidney health, and assessing overall kidney health.

Components of the Renal Profile:

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): 

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) measures the amount of nitrogen in the blood that is created from the urea, a waste product of protein metabolism produced by liver and excreted by kidneys. Elevated BUN levels can indicate kidney dysfunction or other issues affecting kidney function. The normal range of blood urea nitrogen in the blood or serum is 5-20 mg/dl but these ranges vary depending on the references used by different laboratories.

Serum Creatinine:

Creatinine is a waste product generated from muscle metabolism. Healthy kidneys remove creatinine from the body and it is excreted from the body in urine. The normal range of creatinine in the blood is 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women. Elevated creatinine levels may suggest impaired kidney function or kidney disease.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR): 

eGFR is a calculated estimation of the kidney's filtration rate, representing the amount of blood filtered by the glomeruli (tiny filtering units in the kidneys) per minute. It provides a comprehensive measure of the kidneys’ ability to filter and eliminate toxins from the blood. The normal eGFR is 60 or more; if the number drops below 60, it is indicative of kidney disease while an eGFR below 15 may indicate kidney failure. It helps classify the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and assess overall kidney function.

Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), and Chloride (Cl-): 

These electrolytes help maintain fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle function in the body. This panel is generally used to assess the renal function and fluid and electrolyte status. This panel is used to diagnose conditions that may be related to high levels of potassium. Abnormal levels can indicate various kidney and metabolic conditions.

Calcium (Ca2+), Phosphate (PO43-), and Magnesium (Mg2+): 

These electrolytes are important for bone health, muscle function, and various physiological processes. The levels of these metabolites are altered in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and thus is helpful in diagnosing end stage kidney diseases.

Uric Acid: 

Uric acid is a waste product of purine metabolism and is a specific component on the kidney function test that measures the level of uric acid in the blood. Elevated levels can be associated with kidney dysfunction, kidney disease, gout, or certain metabolic disorders. The range of uric acid falls between 3.4-7.0 mg/dl for males and 2.4-6.0 mg/dl for females. Elevated levels of uric acid can also be indicative of chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, or preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Albumin: 

Albumin is a protein that helps maintain blood volume and pressure. This test is an important part of the kidney function test panel as it helps in determining the ability of kidneys to prevent the loss of albumin into urine as elevated levels of albumin can be indicative of kidney damage or kidney disease. The normal range of albumin is considered to be between 3.4 mg/dl to 5.4 mg/dl. Low levels of albumin can be indicative of various conditions such as liver disease, malnutrition, inflammatory disorder, or excessive loss of albumin through urine.

Total Protein: 

This test measures the total amount of proteins in the blood, including albumin and globulins. It offers a comprehensive assessment of the overall health of kidneys including kidney functioning. The normal range of total protein is between 6.0-8.3 gm/dl. Low levels of total protein can indicate malnutrition or kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis and high levels of total protein can be indicative of dehydration and other chronic inflammatory diseases.

Procedure: 

●       A trained healthcare professional such as a phlebotomist will prepare a patient's arm for the venipuncture.

●       A tourniquet is tied to the arm and the area to be punctured is cleaned with an antiseptic or rubbing alcohol to make it sterile.

●       A needle is then inserted into the vein in the arm of the patient and blood is drawn into tubes lined with anticoagulants to prevent damage to the blood sample.

●       The tourniquet is removed and a cotton swab is placed to stop the bleeding.

●     The sample is then sent to the laboratory for analysis wherein automated equipment is used to measure the levels of various markers such as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, uric acid, albumin, total protein, and electrolyte panels.

●    A urine sample is also collected to assess the kidney function; for random sample, patients may need to provide a fresh urine sample while for timed collection; patients may need to provide urine sample collected over 24 hours in a sealed container.

●       The results are then interpreted by the healthcare professionals and discussed with the patient to determine the appropriate treatment options.

Reasons to Get a Kidney/Renal Profile Done: 

●       Allows for early detection of kidney diseases or disorders for timely intervention.

●       Helpful for individuals with known chronic kidney disease or diabetes as regular monitoring can help in understanding kidney function and treatment effectiveness.

●       Provides a comprehensive assessment of kidney function including filtration capacity, waste elimination, and electrolyte balance.

●    People with risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and family history of kidney function should get a regular kidney profile done to monitor their kidney health.

●       Crucial for patients with risk-factors or pre-existing medical conditions in maintaining overall health.