Kidneys that work well get rid of waste and extra fluid from the blood. Blood and urine tests determine how well the kidneys are working and how quickly the body is getting rid of waste. Tests of the urine can also find out if the kidneys are leaking too much protein, which is a sign of kidney damage.
Most of the time, you don’t know you have kidney disease until the kidneys are severely damaged. It’s especially important to get tested if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of kidney disease in your family. Reach out to the Best Nephrologist in Coimbatore in case you want your kidneys checked.
Here are the different tests that help determine the health of kidneys:
Blood sample examination:
Serum creatinine:
Creatinine is a waste product that is made when the body’s muscles wear out and break down. The amount of creatinine in the blood can change with age and body size. If the women’s creatinine number is more than 1.2 and a man’s is more than 1.4, it could be an early sign that their kidneys aren’t working right. The amount of creatinine in the blood goes up as kidney disease gets worse.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR):
This test measures how well the kidneys clean the blood of wastes and extra liquids. The serum creatinine amount, age, and gender are used to figure it out. Normal GFR can change with age (it can go down as you get older). GFR should be at least 90, which is the average. If the GFR is less than 60, it means that the kidneys are not acting well. When the GFR falls below 15, a person is very likely to need dialysis or a kidney donation to treat kidney failure.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN):
Protein in the food you eat breaks down into urea nitrogen when it is broken down. Normal levels of BUN are between 7 and 20. The BUN amount goes up as kidney function goes down.
Imaging procedures:
Ultrasound:
With this test, a picture of the kidney is made with the help of sound waves. It can be used to check for problems with the size or position of the kidneys, as well as for things like stones or tumors that could block the flow of urine.
CT Scan:
X-rays are used in this screening method to make a picture of the kidneys. It can also be used to look for problems with the structure or for things that are blocking the way.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) makes high-contrast pictures without using radiation. An MRI can be just as helpful as a CT scan, but it often needs a gadolinium contrast dye, which can give people with poor kidney function a skin disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) that can be fatal.
Kidney biopsy:
A thin needle with a sharp edge is used to cut tiny pieces of kidney tissue that can be examined under a microscope during a kidney biopsy. Sometimes, a biopsy may be done for one of the kidney,
- To find a kidney disease and find out if it will react to Kidney Disease Treatment.
- To figure out how much damage has been done to the kidney.
- To find out why a kidney donor might not be doing well.
If you are someone looking for kidney biopsy, reach out to a kidney specialist hospital in Coimbatore for prompt diagnosis.
Urine sample analysis:
Few urine tests only require a little quantity, few urine analysis require urine collected through the day, at specific mentioned time. A 24-hour urine test shows how much urine your kidneys make, how well they are working, and how much protein leaks from the kidneys into the urine in one day.
Urinalysis:
A urine sample is looked at under a microscope, and a dipstick test is also done. The dipstick is a strip that has been treated with chemicals and is then dipped into a sample of urine. When something is wrong, like when there is too much protein, blood, pus, bacteria, or sugar, the strip changes color. A urinalysis can help find a number of problems with the kidneys and urinary stream, such as diabetes, bladder infections, kidney stones, and chronic kidney disease.
Urine protein:
This can be done with a swab or as part of a urinalysis. Proteinuria is the name for when there is a lot of protein in the urine. A positive dipstick test result (1+ or above) should be confirmed by a more particular dipstick test, such as an albumin-specific dipstick, or a quantitative measurement, such as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio.
Microalbumin:
This dipstick test is more accurate and can find a very small amount of albumin in the urine. People with diabetes or high blood pressure, who are more likely to get kidney disease, should get this test or an albumin-to-creatinine ratio if their normal dipstick test for proteinuria is negative.
Creatinine clearance test:
Creatinine is a waste product that is made when the body’s muscles wear out and break down. The creatinine clearance test compares the quantity of creatinine in your urine after 24 hours to the amount of creatinine in your blood. This shows how much waste your kidneys are filtering out each minute.
What is the best way to detect kidney disease?
A blood test is the main way to detect kidney disease. The test checks how much of a waste product in your blood called creatinine there is. A doctor can figure out how many milliliters of waste the kidneys should be able to filter in a minute based on the results of your blood test, your age, size, gender, and race.
What are the best tips to keep your kidney healthy?
You can lower your chance of getting CKD or keep it from getting worse if you eat well, stay active, and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the range you want them to be. If you are at risk for CKD, take care of your kidneys. If you have diabetes, you should get a test once a year to see if you have kidney disease. The best way to find and treat CKD early is to have your kidneys checked regularly by a best kidney specialist in Coimbatore.
