How do you test gfr

Because you are at risk, you should get these tests regularly:. Can CKD get better? CKD usually will not get better and is likely to get worse.

Treatment helps slow kidney disease and keep the kidneys healthier longer. How is CKD treated? Treatment includes keeping blood pressure at the level set by your provider, eating foods with less salt and the right amount of protein, and controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Are there medications for CKD? People with CKD often take medicines to lower blood pressure, control blood sugar, and lower blood cholesterol. Will I ever need dialysis? With proper management, you may never need dialysis or, at least, not for a very long time. But if your kidneys fail, we will need to choose a treatment that can replace the job of your kidneys to maintain health. There are two types of dialysis - one is done at home daily and the other is done in a dialysis center three times a week.

Is kidney transplant an option? You may be able to receive a kidney transplant. The donated kidney can come from an anonymous donor who has recently died or from a living person. A kidney transplant is a treatment - not a cure. Your exact GFR cannot be measured directly. Instead, our GFR calculator will give you an estimate using a mathematical formula that most closely determines your kidney function based on certain personal factors and your serum creatinine—which is the amount of creatinine in your blood.

Your estimated glomerular filtration rate eGFR is the calculation that indicates your level of kidney function, based on the results of a creatinine serum test and other factors—such as age, gender, muscle mass, and ethnicity. If your eGFR is below 90, your kidneys may not be functioning as well as they should and you may be at risk for kidney disease. Knowing your eGFR is also important to managing your health at every stage of kidney disease.

Kidney damage with mild to moderate loss of kidney function. Any content provided through our website is informational only and should not be considered medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Any information provided on this page is strictly voluntary and subject to our Website Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Estimating GFR begins with a simple serum creatinine blood test.

Your eGFR helps identify your level of kidney function. This is a simple blood test. The GFR test can indicate how well your kidneys are functioning. Your doctor may order the test if you have symptoms related to kidney disease or if they want to test the effectiveness of a particular treatment.

According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry , examples of kidney disease symptoms include:. Early intervention is vital to preventing further kidney damage. If you have a family history of kidney disease, your doctor may want to run a GFR test to get a sense of the current state of your kidneys. A blood sample will be taken by drawing blood from your arm. This is why the GFR test is an indirect measurement of how well your kidneys may be functioning.

Your doctor can use your GFR to determine the level of kidney damage you have. This is also known as the stage of your kidney damage. The NKF states that the stages of kidney damage are:. Your doctor will likely recommend taking your GFR over the course of several months to establish a pattern. Certain medications can affect your creatinine levels.

When getting your GFR, your doctor will also get a creatinine level. Creatinine is a waste product in your blood that comes from your muscles. Healthy kidneys take creatinine out of your blood and send it out of your body through your urine. If your kidneys are not working the way they should, creatinine will build up in your blood. Your eGFR can change over time and can change based on some other problems, like if you have not been drinking enough water.

As chronic kidney disease gets worse, your eGFR number will go down. If caught early, healthy life changes like following a kidney-friendly eating plan and getting enough exercise may help slow down the progression of CKD and how fast your eGFR changes.

Yes, your eGFR may still be in the normal range even if you have some signs of kidney damage, such as protein in your urine pee or physical damage to your kidneys.