Question 1

What is Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a sudden decline in kidney function that occurs over hours to days, causing waste products to accumulate in the blood. It is caused by serious infections, decreased blood flow to the kidneys, urinary tract blockages, medication toxicity, or direct kidney tissue damage. The Creatinine Serum test is the most important test for diagnosis because a rapid rise in creatinine levels is the hallmark indicator of sudden kidney dysfunction.

Question 2

What causes Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

Acute Kidney Injury is caused by serious infections like sepsis, decreased blood flow to the kidneys from shock or dehydration, urinary tract blockages from kidney stones or enlarged prostate, toxic medications including NSAIDs and certain antibiotics, and direct damage to kidney tissues from contrast dye or autoimmune diseases. These factors suddenly prevent your kidneys from filtering waste products and excess fluid from your blood. Unlike chronic kidney disease that develops slowly over years, AKI happens rapidly within hours to days and requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent kidney damage.

Question 3

What is the best test for Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

The Creatinine Serum test is the most important test for Acute Kidney Injury because it detects the rapid accumulation of creatinine, a waste product that healthy kidneys normally filter from your blood. A sudden spike in creatinine levels within hours to days is the primary diagnostic marker that distinguishes AKI from other kidney conditions. The Cystatin-C test is also essential as it rises even more quickly than creatinine when kidney function suddenly declines, making it valuable for early detection. For comprehensive evaluation, the Beta-2 Microglobulin Serum test provides additional confirmation by measuring small proteins that accumulate when kidneys suddenly lose filtering capacity.

Question 4

When should I get tested for Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

You should get tested immediately if you notice decreased urination or no urination for several hours, swelling in your legs or ankles that appeared suddenly, extreme fatigue or confusion that came on quickly, nausea and vomiting, or shortness of breath. You should also get tested if you recently experienced severe infection, major surgery, significant blood loss, dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea, or took medications known to affect kidneys like high-dose ibuprofen or certain antibiotics. Because AKI develops rapidly and can cause permanent kidney damage or life-threatening complications, testing within hours of symptom onset is critical for prompt treatment and recovery.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury include decreased urine output or complete absence of urination, swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet from fluid retention, shortness of breath from fluid buildup in the lungs, fatigue and weakness, confusion or difficulty concentrating, nausea and vomiting, chest pain or pressure, and irregular heartbeat. Some people experience no symptoms in early stages, which is why blood testing is crucial if you have risk factors. The severity of symptoms depends on how quickly kidney function declines and how much waste accumulates in your blood.

Question 6

Who is at risk for Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

People at highest risk for Acute Kidney Injury include those hospitalized with serious infections or sepsis, older adults over 65, individuals with existing chronic kidney disease or diabetes, those undergoing major surgery especially heart or abdominal procedures, people taking nephrotoxic medications like NSAIDs or certain antibiotics, and anyone experiencing severe dehydration or blood loss. You are also at increased risk if you have heart failure, liver disease, or use contrast dye for imaging tests. Hospital patients in intensive care units have particularly high risk due to critical illness, multiple medications, and invasive procedures that can compromise kidney function.

Question 7

What happens if Acute Kidney Injury is left untreated?

Accepted Answer

Untreated Acute Kidney Injury leads to dangerous accumulation of waste products and excess fluid in your body, causing life-threatening complications including pulmonary edema where fluid fills your lungs, severe electrolyte imbalances that trigger irregular heartbeats or cardiac arrest, metabolic acidosis where blood becomes too acidic, permanent kidney damage requiring lifelong dialysis, and multi-organ failure. The waste buildup can cause seizures, coma, and death within days if not treated promptly. Even with treatment, AKI can progress to chronic kidney disease if the underlying cause is not addressed quickly, which is why immediate medical attention and blood testing are critical for survival and recovery.

Question 8

Can Acute Kidney Injury be diagnosed with a blood test?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Acute Kidney Injury is primarily diagnosed with blood tests that measure waste products and proteins your kidneys normally filter from your blood. The Creatinine Serum test shows how quickly creatinine levels are rising, while the Cystatin-C test detects even earlier changes in kidney function. These blood tests reveal the rapid decline in kidney filtering capacity that defines AKI. Your doctor will also use blood tests to check electrolyte levels like potassium and sodium, measure blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and calculate your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to determine the severity of kidney injury and guide treatment decisions.

Question 9

How is Acute Kidney Injury treated?

Accepted Answer

Acute Kidney Injury treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause while supporting your kidneys during recovery. This includes treating infections with antibiotics, restoring blood flow and hydration with intravenous fluids, removing urinary tract blockages, stopping nephrotoxic medications, and carefully managing fluid and electrolyte balance. Severe cases require temporary dialysis to filter waste products and excess fluid from your blood until kidney function recovers. Your doctor will closely monitor your kidney function with repeated blood tests to track improvement. Most people with AKI can recover full kidney function if the condition is caught early and treated promptly, though recovery time varies from days to weeks depending on the severity and cause.

Question 10

How can I prevent Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

You can prevent Acute Kidney Injury by staying well-hydrated especially during illness or hot weather, carefully following dosing instructions for over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and avoiding prolonged use, telling your doctor about all medications and supplements before procedures requiring contrast dye, managing chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure that increase kidney stress, and seeking prompt treatment for infections before they become severe. If you are hospitalized, ask your medical team about kidney protection strategies. People with existing kidney disease should work closely with their healthcare provider to monitor kidney function regularly and avoid medications or situations that could trigger sudden decline.

Question 11

What can I do at home for Acute Kidney Injury?

Accepted Answer

Acute Kidney Injury is a medical emergency that requires immediate professional treatment and cannot be safely managed at home without medical supervision. However, during recovery after hospitalization, you can support kidney healing by following your prescribed fluid intake limits precisely, eating a kidney-friendly diet low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus as directed by your dietitian, avoiding NSAIDs and other nephrotoxic over-the-counter medications, getting adequate rest to support healing, and attending all follow-up appointments for blood tests to monitor kidney function recovery. Never attempt to self-treat AKI symptoms at home, as delayed medical care can result in permanent kidney damage or death. Always seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of sudden kidney decline.

Question 12

How’s this work?

Accepted Answer

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.Long story short:
            
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                If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test.
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                When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system.
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Question 13

How do I know which test to get?

Accepted Answer

In the test options, find the test you want.
            If you’re not sure which test to get, we can lend a hand in finding the right option.
            Just text or call us at 754-799-7833, email us at support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you. We've got your back and reply quickly.

Question 14

When will my lab results be available?

Accepted Answer

Most test results will be available within 1–3 business days. Once they're ready, we'll send an email and text message to let you know.
            After your blood draw, just hang tight and don't worry – we'll keep you updated and in the loop!
            If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you.

Question 15

Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! We totally understand that errors can happen. No worries, we're here to help you.
            Just reach out to us via text at 754-799-7833 or shoot us an email at
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            Our awesome team will jump right in and make sure everything is sorted out and accurate for you.
            There are no changes necessary if your address is wrong on the requisition though. We don’t mail anything out.
            Our lab requires an address to be listed to generate an order.

Question 16

Do you accept health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Only HSA & FSA is accepted.
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Question 17

Can I cancel my order?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
            We get it – sometimes your needs change.
            As long as your samples haven’t been collected yet, we’re happy to help you cancel your order.
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Question 18

How can I find a lab location near me?

Accepted Answer

During the ordering process, you’ll be able to select a specific lab near you, with no strings attached!
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Acute Kidney Injury Blood Test

What is Acute Kidney Injury?

What causes Acute Kidney Injury?

What is the best test for Acute Kidney Injury?

When should I get tested for Acute Kidney Injury?

References

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