Merck Manual

Please confirm that you are not located inside the Russian Federation

honeypot link

Kidney Function Tests

By

Paul H. Chung

, MD, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University

Reviewed/Revised May 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
Topic Resources
The Kidneys
VIDEO

Doctors can assess kidney function by doing tests on blood and urine samples.

Creatinine, a waste product, is increased in the blood when kidney function is decreased by a large amount.

Creatinine clearance—a more accurate test than simply measuring the creatinine level in the blood—can be approximated from a blood sample using a formula that relates the creatinine level in the blood to a person’s age, weight, and sex. Determining creatinine clearance more precisely requires an accurately timed urine collection in conjunction with the blood creatinine determination.

Cystatin C, a protein in the blood, is also sometimes measured as an indicator of kidney function.

The level of urea nitrogen in the blood (BUN) can also indicate how well the kidneys are functioning, although many other factors can alter the BUN level.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Aluvea , BP-50% Urea , BP-K50, Carmol, CEM-Urea, Cerovel, DermacinRx Urea, Epimide-50, Gord Urea, Gordons Urea, Hydro 35 , Hydro 40, Kerafoam, Kerafoam 42, Keralac, Keralac Nailstik, Keratol, Keratol Plus, Kerol, Kerol AD, Kerol ZX, Latrix, Mectalyte, Nutraplus, RE Urea 40, RE Urea 50 , Rea Lo, Remeven, RE-U40, RYNODERM , U40, U-Kera, Ultra Mide 25, Ultralytic-2, Umecta, Umecta Nail Film, URALISS, Uramaxin , Uramaxin GT, Urea, Ureacin-10, Ureacin-20, Urealac , Ureaphil, Uredeb, URE-K , Uremez-40, Ure-Na, Uresol, Utopic, Vanamide, Xurea, X-VIATE
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
quiz link

Test your knowledge

Take a Quiz!
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
TOP