Kidney Function Test Options

A kidney function test commonly measures creatinine, eGFR, and urea nitrogen (BUN) to describe filtration and waste handling. The Kidney Function Profile also measures sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, calcium, phosphate, albumin, and glucose, which help show electrolyte, mineral, and protein-related results alongside filtration measurements.

Creatinine is measured directly in blood, while eGFR is a calculated estimate based on creatinine. Reading them together is more informative than treating either as a diagnosis. Muscle mass can influence creatinine, so changes over time, related laboratory findings, symptoms, and professional review all matter when a result is outside the reference range.

Urea nitrogen (BUN) measures a waste product in blood, and the BUN/creatinine ratio compares it with creatinine. Both values help frame the filtration picture, but either can shift for reasons outside kidney disease. A clinician can interpret an unexpected pattern using hydration status, medical history, symptoms, and other laboratory results.

A Urinalysis, Complete Profile adds findings that blood testing does not measure, including protein, occult blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, nitrite, leukocyte esterase, bacteria, pH, and specific gravity. This is useful when the question includes urine protein or blood, urinary symptoms, or crystal findings. These findings need interpretation in the setting of symptoms and collection conditions.

The Kidney Function Profile focuses on creatinine, eGFR, BUN, electrolytes, calcium, phosphate, albumin, and glucose. Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (includes eGFR) measures creatinine, eGFR, BUN, electrolytes, calcium, albumin, and glucose, then adds ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, total protein, and globulin. That distinction matters when liver-related blood measurements are also relevant.

Cystatin C is an additional blood measurement relevant to filtration assessment, included in the In-Depth Kidney & Liver Checkup alongside creatinine and eGFR. The same profile also measures uric acid and extensive urine findings, including protein, blood, cells, bacteria, crystals, casts, pH, and specific gravity. Multiple results support a fuller professional review.

Urine protein and blood albumin answer different questions. Urinalysis, Complete Profile reports urine protein, which identifies protein detected in a urine sample; the Kidney Function Profile measures albumin in blood. Either finding needs to be considered with creatinine, eGFR, medical history, and repeat testing when a healthcare professional recommends it.

Creatinine can be influenced by muscle mass, while urine concentration affects specific gravity and can influence how urine findings are viewed. Blood and urine results also reflect different samples and different processes, so one unexpected number should not be used alone to identify a cause. Persistent abnormalities, swelling, reduced urine output, or other symptoms warrant prompt professional evaluation.

The Urinalysis, Complete Profile measures calcium oxalate crystals, uric acid crystals, amorphous sediment, casts, granular casts, and hyaline casts. It also measures pH, specific gravity, protein, blood, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Crystal and cast findings are observations, not a stand-alone diagnosis, and are best interpreted with symptoms and related blood or urine results.

You'll receive it via email within 60 seconds of your order unless it requires additional processing (only very complex orders do).

Many general wellness test results are typically available online within 2-3 business days. However, some tests will require additional processing time. You will immediately receive an email & SMS notification when your results are available.

We do not share your results with your physician, insurance company, or any other third party.