The creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. Creatinine is a chemical waste product produced by muscle metabolism and excreted by the kidneys. This test helps evaluate kidney function and screen for kidney disease.
What Does the Creatinine Test Measure?
Creatinine is a natural byproduct of creatine breakdown in muscles. Healthy kidneys continuously filter creatinine out of the blood into the urine to be eliminated from the body. When the kidneys aren’t working properly, creatinine levels in the blood rise.
Checking serum creatinine along with a BUN test provides important information about how efficiently the kidneys are filtering blood and removing waste. Higher than normal creatinine indicates impaired kidney function.
Who Should Have a Creatinine Test?
Checking creatinine levels is important for:
- Monitoring known kidney disease or injury
- Screening for kidney dysfunction as part of a general health exam
- Evaluating kidney function before or after surgery
- Monitoring side effects of medications that can damage the kidneys
Testing creatinine along with electrolytes provides an overview of kidney function and blood chemistry.
What is Required for a Creatinine Blood Test?
No special preparation is necessary. Blood is typically collected by a simple venipuncture, usually in the morning because creatinine levels can vary during the day.
Medications do not need to be held prior to creatinine testing. However, your doctor should be made aware of any drugs you are taking, as certain medications can impact creatinine levels.
Understanding Creatinine Test Results
Normal serum creatinine ranges between 0.6-1.3 mg/dL for adult men and 0.5-1.1 mg/dL for adult women. Higher levels indicate possible kidney dysfunction or damage. Creatinine levels may be evaluated along with BUN, electrolytes and GFR for a more complete assessment of kidney function.
In some cases, a creatinine clearance test over 24 hours may also be recommended to accurately evaluate kidney filtration rates. Your doctor will interpret your creatinine level based on your medical history and symptoms.
Accessing Creatinine Testing Near Me
Our extensive network of affiliated labs makes creatinine testing fast and convenient to access near home or work. Order your test online and get same-day lab testing at one of 4,000+ locations. We partner with trusted national labs to provide accurate creatinine results securely through our patient portal.
Tests Included:
Estimated Turn Around For Results:
2-10 Business Days
For an exact turnaround time for results, please contact us at Personalabs and we will contact the lab on your behalf as turnaround times vary depending on testing location or lab testing provider.
