Test Quick Guide

Creatinine is a byproduct of a chemical compound called creatine, which helps muscles get the
energy that they need. As a waste product, creatinine is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys
and removed from the body in urine.

A creatinine test measures the amount of this chemical in either the blood or urine. Creatinine
levels can provide an indication of how well the kidneys are working.

Creatinine may be measured alone or included in a panel of tests that include other compounds
found in the urine or blood.

About the Test

Purpose of the test
The primary use of a creatinine test is to better understand how well the kidneys are working. A
measurement of creatinine can be employed for screening, diagnosis, and/or monitoring of
kidney problems.

Screening is trying to identify health problems before there are any signs or symptoms. In
people who are at higher risk of kidney problems, a creatinine test may be used to try to detect a
problem early.

Diagnosis involves testing to determine the underlying cause after symptoms have started.
Creatinine may be measured to help diagnose symptoms that can be associated with kidney
problems such as swelling in the feet, urinary changes, loss of appetite, and fatigue. A
measurement of creatinine may also be included in a panel of tests for more general symptoms or
when evaluating a patient in the emergency room.

Monitoring is how doctors track a patient’s condition over time. For people who have kidney
disease, a creatinine test can provide information about how the disease may be progressing.
Tests of kidney function can also be used to watch for potential side effects when a patient is
prescribed medications that can affect the kidneys.

In many cases, screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of kidney problems involve more than just a
creatinine measurement. For example, creatinine may be tested in order to calculate
the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which is an assessment of how effectively the
kidneys are filtering the blood.

What does the test measure?

A creatinine test measures the total amount of the substance creatinine in the blood or the urine.

Creatinine is a waste byproduct of the normal metabolism of creatine, a compound that is

involved in providing the muscles of the body the energy they need. In this process, some
creatine breaks down into creatinine.
In order 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 sample of blood. A urine
creatinine test measures the total amount of creatinine in all of the 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 one 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.

When should I get a creatinine test?

A creatinine test is most often prescribed when your active symptoms or overall health history
reflect an elevated risk of kidney problems.

If you have symptoms that could be caused by an underlying problem that is affecting your
kidneys, a creatinine test may be part of the diagnostic process.

If you don’t have symptoms, your doctor may suggest a creatinine test to screen for kidney
problems if you have an increased risk of kidney disease. Some risk factors for kidney disease
include:

 Diabetes
 A family history of kidney problems
 High blood pressure

If you take a medication that has the potential to disrupt kidney function, you may receive
periodic creatinine testing to check for this side effect.

Creatinine testing can also be used to monitor your kidney health if you’ve had an abnormal
kidney function test before or if you have already been diagnosed with kidney disease.

A creatinine measurement may be taken as part of a basic or comprehensive metabolic panel

during a regular health checkup. Although there is little evidence showing the benefits of this
kind of screening in otherwise healthy people, some doctors prescribe these panels during routine
patient care.

Finding a Creatinine Test

How to get tested
Creatinine tests are normally ordered by a doctor. A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm
in a medical office or hospital is used for a creatinine blood test. For a urine creatinine test, you
use special containers to collect all of your urine over a 24-hour period.

Can I take the test at home?

Some options exist for collecting a sample for a creatinine test at home.

Urine creatinine tests are done with a 24-hour urine sample, so most doctor-prescribed urine
creatinine tests require at-home collection.

Some at-home test kits include measurements of creatinine in several samples of dried urine.
These samples are not analyzed at home but are sent to a lab where creatinine can be measured.

Some commercially available urine test strips change color based on the creatinine level.
However, test samples taken over a longer period, such as a 24-hour urine collection, are
generally considered to be more accurate than a one-time measurement for kidney function tests.

At-home blood test kits are available that include creatinine along with other measurements.
These self-collection tests require mailing a blood sample to a laboratory for analysis.

How much does the test cost?

Several different factors can change the expected cost of a creatinine test. These factors include:

 Whether the test uses a sample of blood or urine

 Whether the test measures creatinine alone or with other substances
 Where testing is done
 Whether you have health insurance coverage

The total cost may include separate charges for office visits, phlebotomy fees, or laboratory
analysis. Health insurance may cover these costs if testing is prescribed by a doctor, but you
should talk with your insurance company to find out about any out-of-pocket costs, such as a
deductible or copay, for creatinine testing.

At-home kidney tests that include creatinine are often available for around $100, but the exact
cost can depend on the manufacturer and the specific measurements included in the test.