Question 1

What is Kidney Disorders?

Accepted Answer

Kidney disorders encompass conditions affecting the kidneys' ability to filter waste, regulate fluids, and maintain electrolyte balance. They are caused by chronic disease progression, acute injury, inflammation (nephritis), diabetes, hypertension, and autoimmune conditions damaging kidney tissue. The Urinalysis Complete Profile is the most important test for kidney disorders because it evaluates kidney concentration ability and detects protein loss indicating dysfunction.

Question 2

What causes kidney disorders?

Accepted Answer

Kidney disorders are caused by chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, acute injuries from infections or toxins, autoimmune diseases like lupus, genetic conditions like polycystic kidney disease, and prolonged use of certain medications. Diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys over time, while high blood pressure strains kidney tissue and reduces filtering capacity. Acute kidney injury can develop suddenly from severe dehydration, blood loss, infections, or exposure to contrast dyes used in medical imaging.

Question 3

What is the best test for kidney disorders?

Accepted Answer

The Urinalysis Complete Profile is the most important test for kidney disorders because it detects protein in urine (proteinuria), measures urine concentration ability through specific gravity, and identifies cellular debris or casts indicating kidney damage. This test reveals early signs of kidney dysfunction before symptoms appear. The Chloride blood test is essential for detecting electrolyte imbalances caused by impaired kidney function, while the Protein Electrophoresis test measures total blood protein levels that drop when kidneys leak excessive protein into urine. Together, these tests provide a comprehensive assessment of kidney filtration capacity, electrolyte regulation, and protein handling.

Question 4

When should I get tested for kidney disorders?

Accepted Answer

You should get tested if you notice swelling in your ankles, feet, or hands, experience persistent fatigue or weakness, see foamy or bubbly urine indicating protein loss, notice blood in your urine, or have difficulty urinating or reduced urine output. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney disease should get tested regularly even without symptoms. You should also test if you take medications like NSAIDs or certain antibiotics long-term, as these can damage kidneys over time.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of kidney disorders?

Accepted Answer

Kidney disorder symptoms include persistent fatigue and weakness, swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles, feet, or face, changes in urination patterns like increased frequency at night or decreased output, foamy urine from protein leakage, and blood in urine making it pink or cola-colored. You might experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, difficulty concentrating, muscle cramps, dry and itchy skin, and shortness of breath from fluid buildup. Many people have no symptoms in early stages, which is why testing is crucial for those with risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure.

Question 6

Who is at risk for kidney disorders?

Accepted Answer

People with diabetes and high blood pressure face the highest risk for kidney disorders, as these conditions damage kidney blood vessels over time. You are at increased risk if you have heart disease, obesity, a family history of kidney disease, are over age 60, have autoimmune diseases like lupus, suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections, or use NSAIDs or certain prescription medications regularly. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans have higher genetic susceptibility to kidney disease. Smokers and people with a history of acute kidney injury also face elevated risk.

Question 7

What happens if kidney disorders are left untreated?

Accepted Answer

Untreated kidney disorders progress to chronic kidney disease and eventually end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. Damaged kidneys cannot remove waste products and excess fluid, leading to dangerous toxin buildup in the blood (uremia), severe anemia from reduced production of red blood cells, bone disease from calcium and phosphorus imbalances, and cardiovascular complications including heart attack and stroke. You may develop uncontrolled high blood pressure that further damages kidneys, electrolyte imbalances causing heart rhythm problems, and fluid accumulation in the lungs (pulmonary edema) making breathing difficult.

Question 8

Can kidney disorders be diagnosed with a blood test?

Accepted Answer

Kidney disorders can be diagnosed through blood tests that measure creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) to calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which indicates how well kidneys filter waste. Blood tests also detect electrolyte imbalances like abnormal chloride, potassium, and sodium levels, measure blood protein levels that drop when kidneys leak protein, check for anemia common in kidney disease, and assess calcium and phosphorus levels affected by kidney dysfunction. Combined with urine tests like the Urinalysis Complete Profile, blood work provides a comprehensive picture of kidney function and helps identify the type and severity of kidney damage.

Question 9

How is kidney disorders treated?

Accepted Answer

Kidney disorder treatment focuses on managing underlying causes and slowing disease progression through blood pressure control with ACE inhibitors or ARBs, blood sugar management for diabetic patients, dietary modifications including reduced sodium, protein, and potassium intake, and medications to treat complications like anemia, bone disease, and cholesterol. Treatment may include diuretics to reduce fluid buildup, phosphate binders to control mineral levels, and erythropoietin-stimulating agents to boost red blood cell production. Advanced kidney disease requires dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) or kidney transplant when kidneys can no longer sustain life.

Question 10

How can I prevent kidney disorders?

Accepted Answer

You can prevent kidney disorders by controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes, managing blood pressure through diet and medication, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting salt intake, staying well-hydrated with water, avoiding excessive use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen, and not smoking. Eat a kidney-friendly diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting processed foods. Get regular checkups including blood pressure monitoring and kidney function tests if you have risk factors. Treat urinary tract infections promptly, limit alcohol consumption, and work with your doctor to monitor medications that may affect kidney function.

Question 11

What natural remedies help with kidney disorders?

Accepted Answer

Natural approaches to support kidney health include staying well-hydrated with 8-10 glasses of water daily to help kidneys flush toxins, reducing sodium intake to below 2,300 mg per day to ease kidney workload, consuming antioxidant-rich foods like berries, red grapes, and leafy greens, and limiting protein intake to reduce kidney strain in advanced disease. Herbs like dandelion root may support kidney function, though you should consult your doctor before taking supplements. Regular moderate exercise improves blood flow to kidneys, while stress reduction through meditation or yoga may help lower blood pressure. These natural approaches complement medical treatment but cannot replace it for established kidney disease.

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:
            
                In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want.
                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.
                Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout.
                If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want.
                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.
                Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way.
                You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy!
                If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

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
            support@privatemdlabs.com. Remember to include your order number and let us know the correct information you’d like to update.
            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.
            Our services are strictly self-pay and cannot be submitted to your health insurance provider except for Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Savings Accounts.
            This policy applies to all insurance companies, including federal health insurance programs like Medicare.
            If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.

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.
            If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.
            You can read more about our cancellation policy here.

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!
            You can switch it up later easily and visit any of our authorized locations as long as it’s the same lab company you selected your test for (Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp).
            Before you proceed with your order, feel free to browse through all our lab locations here. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that there's a lab nearby your home, office or your favorite gym.
            If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

Kidney Disorders Blood Test

What is Kidney Disorders?

What causes kidney disorders?

What is the best test for kidney disorders?

When should I get tested for kidney disorders?

References

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