Testing for CKD
If you or a loved one belongs to a high-risk group, ask your primary-care physician about these tests and be especially insistent about the last one. Your doctor may want to perform other tests as well.
4 Simple, Life-Saving Tests:
What: Blood Pressure
Why: High blood pressure can damage small blood vessels (glomeruli) in the kidneys.
Good Score: Below 140/90 is good for most people. Below 130/80 is better if you have chronic kidney disease. Below 120/80 is best.
What: Protein in Urine
Why: Traces of a type of protein, albumin in urine (albuminuria) are an early sign of CKD. Persistent amounts of albumin and other proteins in the urine (proteinuria) indicate kidney damage.
Good Score: Less than 30 mg of albumin per gram of urinary creatinine (a normal waste product).
What: Creatinine in Blood (Serum Creatinine)
Why: Healthy kidneys filter creatinine (a waste product from muscle activity) out of the blood. When kidney function is reduced, creatinine levels rise.
Good Score: 0.6 to 1.2 mg per deciliter of blood, depending on other variables.
What: Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Why: This is the most sensitive and accurate gauge of kidney function. Doctors measure blood creatinine levels and perform a calculation based on age, race, and gender.
Good Score: Over 90 is good. 60-89 should be monitored. Less than 60 for 3 months indicates CKD.