This test is aslo known as Blood Creatinine, Serum Creatinine.
The Creatinine test is a common blood test used for measuring the creatinine levels in the blood. It is a waste product generated from the breakdown of creatine, a molecule found in muscles. This test gives a valuable info about kidney function which is required to appraise and monitor kidney health.
The test includes one parameter to measure the total amount of the substance in the blood or urine. Creatinine is a waste byproduct of the normal metabolism of creatine, a compound that provides the body’s muscles with the energy they need. In this process, some creatine breaks down into creatinine.
To clear this waste product from the body, the kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood and facilitate its removal from the body in urine.
A serum creatinine test measures the amount of creatinine in a blood sample. And a urine creatinine test measures the total amount of creatinine in all urine produced during a 24-hour period. These two values can also be compared in a creatinine clearance test.
Creatinine may be measured as part of other tests. For example, it may be included as part of a basic metabolic panel (BMP) or comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). These tests help assess the body’s energy use, electrolyte levels, and kidney function.
A healthcare provider may order a Creatinine test for several grounds as below:
- Evaluation of Kidney Function: This test is essentially ordered as part of routine health check-ups or when there is a suspicion of kidney dysfunction. It helps judge the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is a key indicator of how well the kidneys are filtering waste from your blood.
- Monitoring Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): For patients with known kidney disease or conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure that can affect kidney function, so a steady test of Creatinine is necessary for monitoring the improvement of CKD.
- Remedy Management: Some medications, mainly those excreted by the kidneys, may need dosing alterations as per patient's kidney functions. The Creatinine testing assists your physicians to prescribe a suitable drug doses.
- Preoperative Evaluation: In preparation for undergoing surgery, the Creatinine test could be carried out to make sure that the kidneys can hold the anesthesia and possible medications used in the course of the procedure.
For a blood or urine creatinine test, it’s important to follow any pretest instructions provided by your doctor.
If you are being tested for creatinine alone, you usually do not have to fast beforehand. However, you may need to avoid eating meat for around 24 hours before the test because this can affect your creatinine levels. If creatinine is being tested in a panel, you may be told to fast for eight to 12 hours before the test.
Some medications and supplements can alter creatinine levels, so your doctor may adjust your medication schedule before a creatinine test. Review all prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements you take with your doctor before having a creatinine test.
For a 24-hour urine collection, closely review the instructions with your doctor or nurse. While this collection can be inconvenient, accurately obtaining your urine samples over this full period is important to obtaining accurate results.
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