Kidney Profile

What

Measures your creatinine, eGFR, and albumin levels.

Who

Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.

How

Blood and Urine

Where

Find a location near you

Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.

About the Test

Your kidneys play a vital role in keeping your body healthy and functioning properly. The main function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood and excrete them in the urine. This process is known as filtration, and it helps to keep the blood free of toxins. The kidneys also manage fluid levels in the body, control electrolyte concentrations in the blood, regulate blood pressure, and stimulate red blood cell production.

Measure your blood creatinine levels, urine creatinine levels, eGFR levels, albumin levels, and provides your Albumin/Creatinine urine ratio. These measurements indicate your kidneys’ ability to filter waste and toxins. This profile helps identify your risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and in the diagnosis, staging, or monitoring of CKD.

Our kidney profile measures the following components to assess your kidneys’ health and function:

Creatinine-based eGFR:

The liver produces creatine, which the muscles use as an energy source. During normal muscle use, some creatine will be broken down into creatinine as a waste product by the muscles. Creatinine is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is filtered and eliminated from the body through urine.

The kidney test also includes an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which measures how much blood the tiny renal filters (glomeruli) filter every minute based on your body size.

Screening is performed by measuring creatinine-based eGFR levels in the bloodstream. An abnormally high creatinine level may suggest damage to the kidneys or renal blood vessels. The eGFR indicates how efficiently the kidneys remove toxins and excess fluid from the blood. This calculation determines your level of kidney function. The higher the number, the better kidney performance you have.

Albumin/creatinine ratio:

Albumin is a protein produced by the liver and secreted into the bloodstream. Albumin is the main protein circulating in your blood; provides tissue nourishment, carries hormones, medications, and other substances in the blood; and helps keep fluids within the bloodstream rather than leaking into other tissues. When the kidneys become damaged, albumin passes through and ends up in the urine where it should not be.

Screening is performed by measuring the ration of albumin/creatinine in the urine (uACR). This calculation is used to help check whether there is too much albumin in the urine. Albuminuria or proteinuria occurs when albumin is found in the urine. If your kidneys are healthy, they should allow little, if any, protein into your urine. However, if your kidneys are damaged, protein may leak into your urine. People with elevated levels of albumin in their urine are more likely to develop CKD and eventually, kidney failure.

An estimated 37 million people in the United States have CKD, but most are unaware they are affected. In the early stages of kidney disease, you may not experience any symptoms. However, over time, your kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste and fluid out of your blood, and you may experience symptoms, such as:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart disease
Diabetes
Loss of appetite
Unintentional weight loss
Swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet (edema)
Shortness of breath
Increased frequency or need to urinate, especially at night
Insomnia
Itchy, dry skin
Muscle cramps
Headache
Erectile dysfunction
Urine that is foamy, frothy, or contains blood
Back or side (flank) pain
Nausea or vomiting
Fatigue, weakness
Puffiness around the eyes

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test. Please note that this test includes both a blood and urine collection. It may be best not to exercise for 24 hours before the collection.

When your results are ready, we will send them to you in a clear, easy-to-read report. You will have the option to speak with an independent physician to discuss your results. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call to inform you. Your test results will be available to you a few days after we collect your sample.

Understanding your results: Your Albumin/Creatinine ratio will tell you if you have a normal, moderately increased, or severely increased ratio. Additionally, you will be provided with information about which stage of kidney disease you may be in, whether you are at risk for kidney disease, and how often you should repeat testing based on your unique results. We recommend that you speak with your healthcare provider regarding your next steps as well.

How Does it Work?

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After your purchase, schedule an appointment at a nearby Quest Diagnostics location and have your specimen sample collected by a trained healthcare professional.

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Access test results from your phone as soon as they’re available, with the option to discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

Your results are available on our free, secure patient portal that you can access on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. You will receive an email notification when your results are ready. You can also share your results with your healthcare provider, family, or friends.

FAQs

How common is kidney disease?

Kidney Disease, also referred to as Chronic Kidney Disease, or CKD, has been estimated to affect more than 30 million US adults. Most people with kidney disease are not aware they have CKD.

How do I know if I’m at risk for kidney disease?

The most common causes of CKD in adults are diabetes and high blood pressure. Other risk factors include older age, obesity, heart disease, a family history of CKD, inherited kidney disorders, and previous kidney damage.

What is the difference between kidney disease and kidney failure?

Kidney disease is a general term that refers to any condition that affects the function of the kidneys. Kidney failure, on the other hand, is a specific condition in which the kidneys are no longer able to effectively filter waste from the blood. Kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, but not all cases of kidney disease progress to kidney failure. In fact, with early diagnosis and proper treatment, many people with kidney disease can live long, fulfilling lives. However, those who develop kidney failure often require kidney transplantation or dialysis to remove wastes and extra fluid from the blood.

What factors could affect the results of the Kidney Profile?

Creatinine-based eGFR may be affected by unstable creatinine levels caused by diet, increased muscle bulk, or loss of muscle.

Additionally, exercise within 24 hours of collection, infection, fever, congestive heart failure, pronounced high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), significant hypertension, an increased amount of white blood cells in urine (pyuria), and blood in urine (hematuria) may cause elevated urinary albumin levels.

Who can benefit from this test?

Kidney disease is often called a "silent killer" because symptoms do not appear until the advanced stage of the disease. Early detection of CKD is important because it can allow for early treatment, which may help to prevent further damage to the kidneys. Our Kidney Profile can help identify signs of CKD, even before symptoms appear, and is useful for those who:

Want to know their risk for developing CKD
Have been diagnosed with CKD and want to monitor disease progression
Have never had their kidney function tested
Have type-2 diabetes, hypertension, or both
Have a family history of CKD
Smoke, are at an unhealthy weight, or both
Have a history of kidney infections
Have an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus or type-1 diabetes

What testing guidelines are recommended if I have CKD?

If you’ve been diagnosed with CKD, there are certain lab tests that may be recommended by a healthcare provider based on the stage of the disease. These testing recommendations can help to ensure that your kidney function is being monitored properly and that any changes are detected early. If you have questions about how to manage your kidney disease, talk to a healthcare provider about what’s right for you.

What does my stage mean?

CKD is commonly categorized into 5 stages. The higher the stage, the poorer the kidney function. Healthcare teams and physicians use the CKD stage to help determine individualized treatment options.

What is the relationship between kidney function and blood pressure?

There is a close relationship between kidney function and blood pressure. Kidney disease can lead to high blood pressure, and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys.

The kidneys play a vital role in regulating blood pressure by filtering the blood and removing excess fluid from the body. This helps to keep the blood volume at a healthy level, which in turn helps to keep blood pressure from getting too high. However, when the kidneys are not functioning properly, they can’t remove excess fluid from the body and blood pressure can rise. Additionally, the kidneys help to regulate the body’s salt and water balance. When this balance is disturbed, it can lead to high blood pressure.

How does diabetes affect the kidneys?

Diabetes is a health condition that affects the body's ability to produce or use insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, making them less capable of filtering waste from the blood. As a result, individuals living with diabetes are at increased risk for kidney failure.

Our references

¹KDIGO 2012 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. J Intl Soc Nephr. 2013;3(1). https://kdigo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KDIGO_2012_CKD_GL.pdf